WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representative Ann Wagner (R-Mo.) announced the reintroduction of H.R. 619, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, with House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) joining as an original cosponsor. The Born-Alive Act ensures that infants born alive after an abortion receive the same protection of law and degree of care as any newborn.
“Defending innocent life at every stage is more important than ever because — with Democrats in charge — our ability to protect innocent life has never been more in jeopardy. Speaker Pelosi worked tirelessly to prevent us from bringing the Born-Alive Act up for a vote in the House last Congress and her liberal lieutenants are already working overtime with the Biden Administration to roll back protections for the unborn so they can enact the far-left’s most radical pro-abortion policies. We cannot allow this to happen,” said Whip Scalise. “Any Members of Congress who claims to be pro-life, regardless of party, must join us in passing legal protections for babies who survive an abortion. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of Rep. Wagner’s life-saving legislation. All life is sacred and must be protected.”
“I believe that all life is sacred, and one of my most precious duties in Congress is to protect the lives of innocent babies and their mothers. Whether or not America should allow the killing of infants after they have been born is not a matter of debate, nor should it be a partisan issue. At a time when the new Administration and radical lawmakers are rolling back commonsense protections, I am committed to ensuring that all babies receive lifesaving care,” said Rep. Wagner. “My legislation enshrines those vital protections into law so that women and their babies are safe, loved, and empowered, no matter their situation or socioeconomic status. I am proud to once again join with my colleague Republican Whip Steve Scalise to introduce the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act to make certain the lives of the most vulnerable are protected at their time of greatest need.”
Background on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act:
- Requires that health care practitioners who are present at the live birth exercise skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of the child—the same degree of care that would be offered to any other child born prematurely the same gestational age. After those efforts, the health care workers must 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.
- Penalizes the intentional killing of a born-alive child through fines or up to 5 years imprisonment.
- Gives the mother of the abortion survivor a civil cause of action and protection from prosecution, recognizing that women are the second victims of abortion and promoting the dignity of motherhood
- During the 116th Congress, the Born-Alive Act discharge petition set a record for the most signatures within 24 hours of a discharge petition being introduced. Every single House Republican and three House Democrats signed the petition.
Groups Supporting the Born-Alive Act:
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.”
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.”
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 Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act simply requires health care practitioners provide life-saving medical care to babies born alive who survive an attempted abortion, just as they would do for other babies born at the same age of development. It is unthinkable that Democrats would prevent protecting babies born alive following a failed abortion; babies who would otherwise be neglected and allowed to die, then discarded as medical waste. In this new Congress, National Right to Life is proud to support the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act and the discharge petition.”
Full list of supportive outside groups:
- March for Life, Susan B. Anthony List, Concerned Women for America, National Right to Life, Family Research Council, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Faith and Freedom Coalition, Coalition for Jewish Values, Priests for Life, Students for Life, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, American Family Association, Eagle Forum, Missouri Catholic Conference, Knights of Columbus, Campaign Life Missouri, Respect Life Apostolate, Heritage Action, Missouri Right to Life, Concerned Women for America of Missouri, Means Thrive