WASHINGTON (AP) - A bill to overturn the administration's policy banning federal aid for groups that advocate abortion rights was approved by a Senate committee Wednesday.

By a 12-7 vote, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed the bill. Sens. Gordon Smith of Oregon and Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island were the lone Republicans supporting the bill.

"This is a step forward in our fight to end this policy, which is resulting in more back-alley abortions and less family planning around the world," said Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and the measure's sponsor.

Democrats have been seething over the policy since President Bush imposed it during his first week in office.

The policy bars U.S. aid to international groups that use their own money to support abortion through performing the surgery, counseling about it as a family planning option or lobbying foreign governments on abortion policy.

The House has already voted to preserve Bush's policy, so Senate Democrats face an uphill battle to reverse the rule.

GOP leaders have accused foreign organizations of shifting money around to pay for abortion efforts.

Democrats have said the measure, which they call a global gag rule, isn't needed since a 1973 law already prevents foreign organizations from using U.S.-provided money to finance abortions. They complain the bill violates free-speech rights while causing scores of international family planning organizations to lose money needed for Pap smears and HIV testing.