Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 24, 1993 TAG: 9311240033
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Cox News Service
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
But as Congress nears adjournment for the year, legislation to penalize abortion clinic protests still is pending, the Freedom of Choice Act is on the shelf, and the top abortion battle looms as health care reform moves to the top of the agenda.
"I guess we're going to have to wait until the end of next year before we can really assess the situation," said Rep. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, co-chairwoman of the Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues. "It's sort of a mixed record for women and abortion right now."
For Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill., the House's most passionate opponent of abortion rights, this year has been "far better than we anticipated. I couldn't be more pleased. We've lost a few, but we've won big. The victory on the Hyde Amendment virtually stopped the Freedom of Choice Act in its tracks."
Women's advocates do point to successes:
Shortly after taking office, President Clinton abolished the so-called "gag rule," an executive order preventing workers at clinics that receive federal funds from telling clients that abortion is a legal option to pregnancy.
Congress overturned a ban on fetal-tissue research, which had gotten caught up in the battle over abortion.
In addition, women legislators saw passage of a handful of other measures that had dominated their time and energy for years. Those items include the Family and Medical Leave Act, creation of a Office of Women's Health in the National Institute of Health, and increased funding for breast and ovarian cancer research.
"Nobody could know how much time we spent on these bills, and now we don't have to fight for them anymore," said Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., a proponent of abortion rights.
The gains are tempered, however, by delays and defeats of high-profile issues.
In an emotional and embarrassing floor fight, House women were outmaneuvered in an effort to rid the Department of Health and Human Services budget of a longstanding ban on using taxpayer money to finance abortions for poor women.
The ban survived, although it was weakened to allow taxpayer-paid abortions in cases of rape, incest or when the life of the woman is threatened.
"That was a surprise and a major disappointment," Snowe said.
The defeat also caused the women lawmakers to re-evaluate their chances of passing the Freedom of Choice Act, which would guarantee a woman's right to an abortion under federal law.
Rep. Barbara Kennelly, D-Conn., said supporters will not bring the bill to a vote until they are sure they can defeat restrictive amendments.
With the Freedom of Choice Act in limbo, both sides are preparing for an intense battle over abortion in the war over health care reform.
Now, most private health insurance policies cover abortions. To omit that coverage from a national reform bill would be tantamount to offering women less health care than they now receive, advocates argue.
by CNB