BRADLEY KLAPPER
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — House appropriators have approved covering abortions for Peace Corps volunteers in cases of rape or a threat to their lives.

The measure offers women in the Peace Corps the same limited coverage for abortions available to military and civilian women serving the United States at home and abroad. Up to now, in cases of rape they’d have to pay out of pocket to terminate a pregnancy.

The amendment was proposed Democratic Rep. Nita Lowey of New York. The House Appropriations Committee included it by voice vote Tuesday in its $48 billion budget for foreign aid and State Department operations overseas next year.

It is unlikely to face a challenge when the GOP-controlled House harmonizes its budget with that of the Democratic-majority Senate.

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