On July 9th, the Senate voted 53-43 in favor of an amendment to the foreign aid bill that allows federal grantees doing international work to use non-grant funds to provide information about abortion or advocacy on abortion rights. Current policy is known as the “global gag rule” because it bans international aid groups that provide abortion information from receiving federal grants. President Bush issued this policy in a memorandum sent to the Agency for International Development within days of his inauguration. President Ronald Reagan first imposed the global gag rule in 1984, and President Bill Clinton rescinded the policy in 1993. The Senate amendment (S.AMDT.1141), sponsored by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), is the first step in removing the policy legislatively. However, the more conservative House is unlikely to approve the measure. Even if the bill gains House approval, Bush promised to veto the $27 billion foreign aid package if it lifts the gag rule. The Senate vote does not alter existing requirements that federal funds cannot be used for abortions. Nonetheless, the bill is being characterized as pro-abortion, with Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) reported by Reuters as saying, “It’s about the use of taxpayer dollars to fund abortions overseas.”