The Senate on Thursday rejected an amendment to the ObamaCare repeal bill that would have allowed federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

The measure sponsored by three Senate Republicans would have stripped language from the bill blocking federal funds for Planned Parenthood. It fell short by 3 votes, 48-52.

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Sens. Mark Kirk Mark Steven KirkLiberal veterans group urges Biden to name Duckworth VP On the Trail: Senate GOP hopefuls tie themselves to Trump Biden campaign releases video to explain 'what really happened in Ukraine' MORE (R-Ill.) and Lisa Murkowski Lisa Ann MurkowskiSenate GOP aims to confirm Trump court pick by Oct. 29: report Senate GOP sees early Supreme Court vote as political booster shot Pence defends Trump's 'obligation' to nominate new Supreme Court justice MORE (R-Alaska), who are both up for reelection next year, sponsored the amendment along with centrist Republican Sen. Susan Collins Susan Margaret CollinsSenate GOP aims to confirm Trump court pick by Oct. 29: report The Hill's Campaign Report: GOP set to ask SCOTUS to limit mail-in voting Senate GOP sees early Supreme Court vote as political booster shot MORE (Maine). They were the only three Republicans to back it along with all but one Democrat.

Sen. Joe Manchin Joseph (Joe) ManchinThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Trump, GOP allies prepare for SCOTUS nomination this week Trump meets with potential Supreme Court pick Amy Coney Barrett at White House Names to watch as Trump picks Ginsburg replacement on Supreme Court MORE (D-W.Va.) broke ranks to side with Senate Republicans.

The proposal would have struck the section of the bill that blocks federal funding for Planned Parenthood for one year while redirecting it other community health centers.

The Senate previously tabled an amendment from Sens. Patty Murray Patricia (Patty) Lynn MurraySenate Democrats introduce legislation to probe politicization of pandemic response Trump health officials grilled over reports of politics in COVID-19 response CDC director pushes back on Caputo claim of 'resistance unit' at agency MORE (D-Wash.) and Ron Wyden Ronald (Ron) Lee WydenGOP set to release controversial Biden report Democrats fear Russia interference could spoil bid to retake Senate GOP senator blocks Schumer resolution aimed at Biden probe as tensions run high MORE (D-Ore.) that sought to continue funding for Planned Parenthood. Their bill also would have created a fund to support the safety of women's health clinics for staff and patients in the wake of last week's deadly shooting at a Colorado Planned Parenthood facility.

The Senate will vote later on Thursday for final passage on ObamaCare repeal. If the bill is approved, it faces a certain veto from President Obama and will not become law.

The three GOP senators have remained tightlipped about whether or not they will support the ObamaCare repeal package if the provision defunding Planned Parenthood remains intact.

Kirk previously voted against a stand-alone bill to strip money from the organization.

Collins defended her amendment ahead of the vote, suggesting that without it hundreds of health clinics across the country could close.

“I want to make clear that our amendment does not include any new spending. it does increase taxes, and it retains the current Hyde amendment language which prohibits the use of federal funds for abortions except in cases of rape, incest or when the life of the mother is at risk,” she said.

The centrist senators have repeatedly voiced concerns about tying the larger repeal legislation to the separate battle over Planned Parenthood, which has drawn scrutiny after a series of video suggested it mishandled fetal tissue.

But Republican leadership remained confident that they will have the 51 votes needed to get the reconciliation proposal through the upper chamber on Thursday.

Predicting that the legislation would be successful, Sen. John Cornyn John CornynThe Hill's Campaign Report: GOP set to ask SCOTUS to limit mail-in voting Liberal super PAC launches ads targeting vulnerable GOP senators over SCOTUS fight Senate GOP faces pivotal moment on pick for Supreme Court MORE (R-Texas) said that leadership has been working to unify their members.

“We've been working very closely to try to come up with a consensus piece of legislation,” he told reporters earlier this week.

This story was updated at 3:01 p.m.