The House voted to lift a ban on using taxpayer dollars for needle exchange programs for intravenous drug users intended to prevent the spread of HIV and other diseases.
The vote to lift a long-standing ban on federal aid for such programs -- in place since 1988 -- came after a brief but passionate debate on an amendment by Rep. Mark Souder (R-Ind.) to keep the ban in place. His amendment failed by a 211-218 vote.
