WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Senate passed a landmark bill on March 13 that bans the partial-birth abortion procedure.

According to Agape Press, a 65-32 vote approved the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003, despite two attempts by a handful of Democrats to water down the legislation. Opponents were turned back each time when several of their own party joined with the Republicans to defeat the amendments.

The bill, sponsored by Republican Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, will outlaw abortions that involve killing full-term babies just minutes before they are born. It specifically prohibits doctors from committing an "overt act" designed to kill a partially delivered baby.

For eight years, pro-life forces pushed for the bill, which was twice vetoed by former President Bill Clinton.

"Who would have thought that a ban on such a harmful procedure … would have taken nearly a decade to enact into law?" asked Sandy Rios, president of Concerned Women for America. "Thanks to the determined and tireless efforts of Senator Rick Santorum in the sometimes stubborn Senate, we are nearly there. Now there's nothing keeping this legislation from the fast track to becoming law."

Reports indicate the bill will easily pass in the House, and the president has already said he will sign it into law.

Despite the partial-birth abortion bill's passage, the Senate voted 52-46 to pass a resolution reaffirming its support for the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. Nine Republicans joined 42 Democrats and one Independent to pass the non-binding resolution, and five Democrats voted against it.