The eleventh video

"Tonight's vote is a landmark victory for all who prioritize comprehensive women's health care over abortion industry profits," said Susan B. Anthony List president, Marjorie Dannenfelser, in a statement. "The debate over the reconciliation process has continued the national conversation on Planned Parenthood and established an important precedent for the next administration. If Americans elect a pro-life president next year, and safeguard our pro-life majorities in Congress, this Bill – and many others – could be law by 2017."

The Bill will now go to the House of Representatives , where passage is expected -- the House originally passed a reconciliation bill, but changes in the Senate version will force another vote -- and then on to President Obama's desk, where a veto is almost certain.

The bill eliminates Planned Parenthood's Medicaid funding; the abortion giant's Title X funding would remain intact.

In a statement, Alliance Defending Freedom Legal Counsel Kellie Fiedorek said that "the Senate is right to recognize that taxpayer money should go to fund local community health centers, not to subsidize a scandal-ridden, billion-dollar abortion business. Americans shouldn't be forced to give their money to Planned Parenthood, which has a long track record of abusive and potentially fraudulent billing practices," continued Fiedorek, "not to mention that it has also been caught in authenticated undercover videos trafficking aborted babies' body parts and has repeatedly failed to report the sexual abuse of girls."

Family Research Council president Tony Perkins described the vote as "a huge victory for unborn children, their mothers, and for taxpayers".

"For the first time during the Obama presidency, both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have approved legislation that begins to end the forced partnership between taxpayers and Planned Parenthood.

"President Obama will now bear the moral responsibility for sending our tax dollars to a group that has engaged in the selling of baby body parts. Even if the President vetoes the bill, we've still succeeded," he stressed, "because a Senate precedent has now been set for moving a similar measure forward when America finally has a President who understands the value of every person, born and unborn."

Priests for Life National Director Frank Pavone said, "It's an understatement to say that Planned Parenthood has shown itself unworthy of taxpayer support, the 325,000 lives it destroys every year are 325,000 reasons to redirect taxpayer funds to groups that provide health care without taking innocent lives."

Despite the veto promised by President Obama, Republicans consider the Bill's passage part of the party's effort to show conservative voters that the party will uphold its stated pro-life values and its long-held opposition to the Affordable Care Act.

Republican's are unlikely to make Planned Parenthood funding an issue in the next budget bill, since Democratic opposition to such a measure could force a partial government shutdown.

Defunding Planned Parenthood, a top priority of pro-life groups and advocates, will be a difficult task even if a pro-life President is elected in 2016. Republicans hold a 54-46 margin in the U.S. Senate, but next year's elections could see that change as Democrats are aiming to hold 10 seats -- and Republicans have to defend 24.

The passage of the Bill to defund Planned Parenthood has relevance to Australia. When he was in Opposition, our current Treasurer, the Hon Scott Morrison, was commendably critical of the Labor Government's funding of abortion in our overseas aid to International Planned Parenthood Federation and Marie Stopes International. I have written to him twice asking him what he is doing about such funding now that he is in Government. So far I have had no reply, but I have now sent copies of my letters to my local federal MP, the Hon Kelly O'Dwyer, who is Assistant Treasurer, and again requested a response.

I encourage other Australians who are also concerned about Australia funding abortion in developing countries to write to Mr. Morrison, Parliament House, Canberra, with copies to your local Federal MHR if he or she is in the Coalition, or to your nearest pro-life Senator.

Happy International Human Rights Day to all readers of Online Opinion.