TOPLINE: Last Congress, Speaker Pelosi directed her radical caucus to block the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act more than 75 times. The Born-Alive Act states that a baby who survives an abortion deserves the same degree of medical care as any other newborn. Why are House Democrats refusing to allow a vote on this commonsense legislation? What is the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act? After horrific actions taken in New York, Virginia, and Vermont to permit infanticide, Representative Ann Wagner introduced the Born Alive Act to ban abortionists from murdering newborns following a failed abortion. The Born Alive Act is supported by 77% of Americans. It is not only common sense, it has strong bipartisan support among voters: 86% of Republicans, 70% of Democrats, and 75% of independents support this legislation. This legislation transcends the debate over abortion. Every single Member of Congress should be able to agree that newborn babies deserve protection regardless of the circumstances in which they are born. The Born Alive Act:

• Requires that health care practitioners who are present at a live birth during an attempted abortion exercise the same degree of skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of the child that would be offered to any other child born prematurely at the same gestational age and then immediately transport and admit the child to a hospital.
• Requires health care practitioners and hospital employees to report violations to law enforcement authorities, reducing the number of born-alive abortions that go unreported.
• Failure to exercise the required degree of care, or report a failure to comply can be penalized through fines or up to 5 years imprisonment.
• Penalizes the intentional killing of a born-alive child as murder.
• Gives the mother of the abortion survivor a civil cause of action against the abortionist and protection from prosecution, recognizing that women are the second victims of abortion and promoting the dignity of motherhood.
• Last Congress, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act discharge petition received bipartisan support, with all House Republicans and three House Democrats signing the petition.

Shortcomings in current law:

• The 2002 born-alive law recognized infants born during an abortion as “persons” but did not provide a duty to care for abortionists and health care professionals to treat the born-alive infant with the same degree of care given to any other baby. Many infants born alive during an abortion do not die by direct homicide, but by neglect.
• Any newborn child, wanted or not, has a right to proper medical care. The Born Alive Act is desperately needed as 24 states lack protection for born-alive infants. Legislatures in states like New York, Virginia, and Vermont have moved to legalize late-term abortions, virtually guaranteeing more born-alive abortion survivors.

Today, Representative Kat Cammack filed the discharge petition for the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. Upon being signed by 218 members of the House, the discharge petition will force a vote on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act on the House Floor. Real Examples and Testimony: 

• Kermit Gosnell: an abortionist in Philadelphia routinely carried out late-term abortions resulting in the deaths of at least one woman and an untold number of born alive infants. He was eventually convicted of murdering three newly born infants and involuntary manslaughter.
• Jill Stanek: a former nurse in Illinois testified before Congress that she saw an aborted fetus with Down syndrome survive for 45 minutes, then die after being denied care during a late-term labor-induced abortion.

Click here or on the image above to watch Jill’s important story.

 

• Gianna Jessen: an abortion survivor who testified before Congress. Gianna was born alive during a late-term saline abortion and rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. She recovered, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, and forgave her biological mother.

 

Click here or on the image above to watch Gianna’s heart-wrenching testimony.

 

• Melissa Ohden: another abortion survivor who testified before Congress. Melissa survived a late-term saline abortion and was rushed to the hospital by two nurses. Melissa went on to become a wife, mother, and social worker.

Click here or on the image below to watch Melissa’s powerful message.

  Is Pelosi Listening? Broad Coalition Supports Protecting Infants Born Alive Marilyn Musgrave, Vice President of Government Affairs for Susan B. Anthony List: “We are grateful to Whip Steve Scalise, Representative Ann Wagner, and the entire Pro-life Caucus for their tireless advocacy on behalf of children, born and unborn, including those born alive during failed abortions. The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act shines a light on the gruesome reality of late-term abortion in our nation, and would ensure these children receive all the medical attention and care afforded to other children born prematurely. As we prepare to defend unborn babies and their mothers against the reckless agenda of the most pro-abortion Congress in American history, we resolve, along with our pro-life allies on the Hill, to never back down until every life is welcomed and protected under the law.” Thomas McClusky, President of March for Life Action: “We ask you to join the majority of Americans in recognizing that a child born alive, even if it has been marked for abortion, also has a right to life that should not be ignored. Again, we ask that you vote in favor of H.R. 619, the Born-Alive Survivors Protection Act and sign H. Res. 274, the discharge petition asking for a vote on H.R. 619.” Timothy Head, Executive Director, Faith & Freedom Coalition: “On behalf of the over 2.5 million members of the Faith & Freedom Coalition, I applaud Rep. Ann Wagner for reintroducing the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. This commonsense bill would simply require that a child born alive after an attempted abortion receive appropriate medical treatment and be transferred to a hospital — the same as would be done for any other human being at the same level of development. This bill does not limit access to abortion options or prevent the procedural effort to end a life before it is born. It is truly a reasonable and ethical approach to how we, as a nation, should expect that any innocent human beings would be treated in a medical setting.” Tony Perkins, President, Family Research Council: “Every baby born alive is a person and deserves to be protected. Babies should be greeted with the warmth of a thermal cap, not a cold operation table. I applaud Minority Whip Steve Scalise and Representative Ann Wagner for their leadership in promoting legislation that protects infants that survive failed abortions.”  Fr. Frank Pavone, President of the National Pro-life Religious Council and National Director for Priests for Life: "The priests, pastors, and lay supporters of Priests for Life and the National Pro-life Religious Council urge the Democrat members of Congress to join their Republican colleagues in ending the killing of born-alive babies who survive abortion. We urge every citizen to inform their fellow voters about how their Representative stands on HR 619." Penny Young Nance, CEO and President of Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee: “Our humanity demands that we stand and protect the least of these, so why won’t a Democrat majority allow a vote on a bill to protect babies born alive from attempted abortion?  These innocent ones are human beings with inherent dignity and worth. We urge every member of Congress to sign the discharge petition for the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. A vote to prevent infanticide shouldn’t be an act of courage, it should be a requirement for service.” Jordan Sekulow, Executive Director of the American Center for Law and Justice: "There is no higher duty for a society than to protect its most vulnerable members. When a child is born alive, there should be absolutely no disputing the fact that he or she is entitled to full rights under the law — including being provided with life-saving or life-sustaining care. We call on Congress to come together and pass the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act." Russell Moore, President, Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission: “The fact that the Born Alive bill is even necessary is chilling. Every elected official should recognize that denying basic medical care to born-alive infants is wrong. The lives of babies deserve the full extent of legal protection and medical care. Protecting the lives of the most vulnerable around us ought not be a partisan issue. Children have intrinsic value that is defined not by their power, nor by the whim of doctors, but by the image of God each one of them bears.” Kat Talalas, Assistant Director for Pro-Life Communications, Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: “There should be no bill easier for Congress to pass than one that makes clear that killing newborn babies is wrong and will not be tolerated. Infants who are born alive after an abortion attempt should be given the same degree of care to preserve their life and health as would be given to any other newborn baby.” Steve Rupp, President, Missouri Right to Life: “Missouri Right to Life supports the Born-Alive Abortion Survivor’s Protection Act. A baby born alive after an attempted abortion deserves all the medical care afforded to all of us. Please protect these innocent little human beings by supporting the Born-Alive Abortion Survivor’s Protection Act.” Carol Tobias, President, National Right to Life Committee: “The National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), the nationwide federation of state right-to-life organizations, strongly urges you to sign the discharge petition. The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (H.R. 619) is crucial given that evidences have multiplied that some abortion providers do not regard babies born alive during abortions as persons, and do not provide them with appropriate healthcare. Congress must act to protect these babies.”  Jessica Anderson, Executive Director of Heritage Action for America: "A baby’s right to life and medical care does not change because he or she was born in an abortion clinic instead of a delivery room. While Congress should continue working to limit abortions at every turn, this bill is not about abortion. This bill is about protecting living, breathing children who were fortunate enough to survive the horrors of abortion. All Members, regardless of their party, should sign this common-sense discharge petition." BOTTOM LINE: House Republicans have made it clear that all life is sacred and must be protected. The Born-Alive Act deserves a vote on the House Floor. Tragically, Speaker Pelosi and her far-left caucus will not uphold the most basic right — the right to life — or defend newborn babies from being killed by abortionists.