On Thursday, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a $213 billion fiscal year 2011 spending bill that includes an amendment to permanently repeal the so-called "global gag rule," which prohibits federal funding to international family planning organizations that provide abortion services and information with their own funds, CQ Today reports. The bill -- passed 18-12 along party lines -- would allocate funding to the State Department and other foreign affairs activities. The amendment, introduced by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J...

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