REUTER

May 20, 1997

President Clinton has vowed repeatedly to veto the bill, saying it does not protect a pregnant woman with a serious health problem. The bill does allow an exemption to save a woman's life.

The ban received support from some Democrats, including Minority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota, who traditionally vote for abortion rights.

He failed to win support last week for an alternative bill outlawing all late term abortions, except in cases of health problems.

If enacted, it would have been the first nationwide ban on a specific abortion procedure since the 1973 Supreme Court Roe versus Wade decision upholding a woman's right to abortion.

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