Yesterday days vote should have been one of those rare moments where Democrats and Republicans unanimously support a non-controversial bill. Instead, 210 Democrats voted to deny medical care to babies who survive abortions.
In an annoyingly close vote, the House approved new legislation that would stop infanticide and protect babies who survive abortion. This is a similar measure to one that pro-abortion former Speaker Nancy Pelosi blocked 80 times when she ran the House.
The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act requires that, when a baby is born alive following an abortion, health care practitioners must exercise the same degree of professional skill and care that would be offered to any other child born alive at the same gestational age.
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) explained the stakes and recalled former Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D-VA), who endorsed infanticide.
“We all know in 2019, then-Gov. Northam of the state of Virginia stated this: ‘The infant would be delivered, the infant would be kept comfortable, the infant would be resuscitated if that’s what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother,’” Jordan said, adding, “it is simple. Infants born alive following an abortion are kids, are children. All newborns deserve the same level of care.”
“Taking the life of unborn children right up to their birthday, and then as Gov. Northam has pointed out, even after that,” Jordan said, adding “we want to make sure that ‘even after that’ part never happens.”
Frank Pavone, the director of Priests for Life, condemned the Democrats’ extremism.
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“The pro-abortion Democrats, on the other hand, can no longer hide their extremism. The Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act has nothing to do with abortion, other than calling for life-saving care for newborns who survive this brutal procedure. It’s a life-saving bill, but not an abortion restriction. Democrats voted against it. They voted against saving the lives of the most vulnerable,” he told LifeNews.
“Members of the pro-abortion party also turned a blind eye to the more than 200 violent attacks on pregnancy resource centers, churches and pro-life organizations that began in May, when the leak of the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade hit the media,” Pavone continued. “The attacks were cowardly. The lawmakers who refuse to condemn them showed themselves to be equally spineless. Thank God that we have courageous members willing to pass these measures today.”
Brian Burch of Catholic Vote also slammed Democrats for voting against medical care for babies.
“It’s remarkable that something as straightforward as protecting women and children from violent attacks, as well as innocent children from the excruciating trauma of abortion, is controversial in the least. Violence shouldn’t be a partisan issue, and no American should be above the law – even if they conveniently target the political enemies of those accountable for enforcing it,” he said.
But every single Democrat except two voted against it. Rep. Vicente González voted present and pro-life Democrat Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas voted for the bill.
The practice of letting babies die after abortion is widespread and 100-200 cases have been documented over the years by the CDC.
Abortion data from just seven states show babies continue to be born alive in botched abortions every year across the United States. Most states do not keep track of the number of babies who survive abortions, and the few that do provide little information about whether the babies received care, survived or were abandoned to die. LifeNews examined abortion data from seven states between 2020 and 2022 and found reports of 34 babies who were born alive in botched abortions.
Melissa Ohden, who survived a botched abortion, told LifeNews she is grateful for the bill.
“This legislation will save lives. The Abortion Survivors Network is committed to serving survivors of abortion at any gestational age, along with their mothers, who deserve compassionate prenatal and postpartum care, a delivery plan, and emotional support. Let us work together to ensure that infant survivors and their mothers receive the best medical and emotional care possible. We are proud to stand with Congresswoman Wagner in support of this legislation,” she said.
Leading pro-life groups also support the bill.
Hon. Marilyn Musgrave, SBA Pro-Life America’s vice president of government affairs: “The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act showcases the barbaric reality of late-term abortion and ensures that babies who are born alive during a failed abortion receive the same medical care as any other baby born prematurely at the same age. As Democrats in Congress continue to push their radical agenda of abortion on demand until birth, we thank Representatives Ann Wagner, Steve Scalise, and Kat Cammack for their tireless fight for children- born and unborn.”
Carol Tobias, President, National Right to Life: “National Right to Life commends Reps. Wagner, Scalise, and Cammack for reintroducing the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. This reasonable legislation would protect a baby born alive following an abortion. This bill isn’t about interfering with a so-called right to abortion. It is about stopping infanticide. Congress must act now to pass this legislation and protect these vulnerable babies.”
House Democrats refused a vote on the bill 80 times — reading the same statement they read the previous 79 occasions that claims there is no bipartisan agreement to bring the bill up for a vote. Despite the claim, Republican leaders have repeatedly asked Pelosi and top Democrats to reach an agreement for the bill to receive a vote. Democrats also blocked the bill twice in the Senate.
National polling shows Americans — including people who are “pro-choice” on abortion — oppose abortion up to birth and infanticide. And doctors indicate abortions are never needed to protect a woman’s health and women admit having abortions on healthy babies.
