On February 26, the Senate approved, 83-10, a bill (S. 1200) to reauthorize the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (P.L. 94-437) through FY2017. The Senate debated the measure for several weeks before final passage (see The Source, 2/15/08). The Senate Finance Committee approved the bill on September 12 (see The Source 9/14/07); the Senate Indian Affairs Committee approved it on May 10 (see The Source, 5/11/07).
During debate on the measure, the Senate approved, 52-42, an amendment by Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) that would prohibit any Indian Health Services facilities or funds from being used to provide abortion services, except in cases of rape, incest, or life endangerment.
