Two women’s health victories to celebrate today!

Immediately after approving the women’s health amendment offered by Senators Mikulski and Snowe, the Senate voted on another amendment with important consequences for women’s health – this one offered by Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.  The Murkowski amendment would have added language to the health reform bill preventing any government entity from defining abortion services as preventive care.  It would also have prevented the Secretary of HHS from using any recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Health Services Task Force to deny coverage in federal health care programs or in other insurance coverage.

The Murkowski amendment was withdrawn after it failed to get 60 votes -- the vote was 41-59.