US Senate Democrats have blocked a controversial measure that would ban and criminalise abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy, scuttling a longtime priority of conservatives in Congress President Donald Trump described the failure of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act as disappointing, and urged senators to reconsider.<br/><br/>The measure fell short of the 60 votes needed to advance the bill in the 100-member Senate, although it earned a narrow majority in the chamber, 51 to 46. <br/><br/>Congressional Republicans have for years sought to pass legislation that restricts abortion in the United States, despite the Supreme Court's landmark 1973 ruling upholding a woman's right to end a pregnancy.<br/><br/>The bill, which would ban abortions after 20 weeks but provide exceptions for rape, incest and critical health risks to the mother, passed the Republican-controlled House of Representatives in October. <br/><br/>But it faced a higher bar in the Senate, where opponents blocking tactics can force a 60-vote threshold.<br/><br/>