Republican lawmakers vowed to pursue efforts to stop reproductive health care provider Planned Parenthood from getting federal financing after the Congress recess following their failure to muster enough votes to pass a defunding bill on Monday.
The heated debate on the controversial issue will resume next month when Congress resumes session.
Republicans wanted to deprive Planned Parenthood of federal dollars after videos were released by anti-abortion activists that purportedly show the organisation's officials discussing the illegal sale of foetal parts to medical researchers.
On Monday, 53 senators voted "yes" to the bill against 46 who voted "no." Although there were more senators who supported the bill, the "yes" camp still fell short of seven votes needed to pass the measure.
Some Republicans said they actually expected to lose the vote but were not at all disheartened since they expected political gain from the controversy, with the continued release of the videos further inflaming the passion of conservative, anti-abortion voters.
These Republicans said the next fight will be next month when Congress resumes and lawmakers consider legislation keeping government agencies open after their budgets expire on Oct. 1.
This gives the Republicans the opportunity to cut government financing to Planned Parenthood. The Republican bill seeks to transfer federal aid for Planned Parenthood to other women health care providers, including hospitals, state and local agencies and federally financed community health centers.
National Right to Life President Carol Tobias said the campaign against Planned Parenthood was gaining momentum even as she described the organisation as "a major backer of many Democratic senators."
According to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, Planned Parenthood spent $4.2 million in the 2014 elections to support Democrats and oppose Republican candidates.
Planned Parenthood receives more than $500 million a year in government funds.
As expected, Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards defended the organisation, saying that the "extremists who oppose Planned Parenthood's mission and services are making outrageous and completely false claims." She accused critics of engaging in "fraud, and other claims they've made have been discredited and disproven."
Planned Parenthood said if the organisation loses federal financing, this would result in 2.7 million of its annual clients, mostly low-income women, losing health care.
