Maybe because it's an election year, but it is still quite
an amazing feat to have accomplished. A pro-life amendment to the Indian Health Care bill represents the first time that language banning the federal funding of abortion has been written into permanent law. Joyous congratulations to the 52 Senators who supported this important bill. In previous years, the Hyde Amendment banned abortion funding but was a part of the annual appropriations legislation. That meant a fight every year. The Vitter amendment breaks promising new ground.