With overwhelming Republican support, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Protect Life Act, which would amend the health care law to bar federal funding for health plans that provide abortion services. Democrats condemned the bill, arguing that the GOP majority was ignoring higher priorities such as the budget and job creation. Abortion rights advocates call the bill unnecessary because taxpayer money is already barred from abortion procedures.
Another concern is that the new bill does not require hospitals without the necessary emergency abortion services to direct patients elsewhere. The bill is expected to fail if it goes to the Senate, and the White House has vowed to veto the measure.
