WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, with support from House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Representative Ann Wagner (R-Mo.), Representative Kat Cammack (R-Fl.). filed the discharge petition for the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. Rep. Wagner’s legislation, H.R. 619, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, mandates that any infant born alive after an abortion receives the same standard of care as any newborn baby. This legislation would also institute penalties for abortionists who allow infants to die or who intentionally kill a newborn. 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.
“Protecting newborn babies is about basic decency. I am proud to file this discharge petition today with Representatives Wagner and Cammack and join my fellow House Republicans in making it clear that abortion survivors ought to have the same rights under the law as any other baby entering the world,” said Whip Scalise. “As lawmakers, we swore an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution. All life is sacred and must be treated as such. 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. We will not stand by as she blocks this critical legislation from coming to the floor.”
“This discharge petition brings the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act one step closer to being enshrined in law. I am hopeful that every member of Congress, Democrat or Republican, will do the right thing and add their name to the petition,” said Representative Wagner. “We all have a sacred duty to protect these little ones and ensure they are treated with the love and compassion they deserve.”
“Today’s discharge petition symbolizes our commitment to protecting the sanctity of life for all Americans, including the most vulnerable among us. For too long, Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats have demonstrated their disregard for this most basic right and it’s time we show the American people where their representatives stand on this critical issue,” said Representative Cammack. “I’m proud to stand alongside Whip Scalise and Rep. Wagner in declaring the value of life once and for all.”
Background on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection 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 five 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 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.
Background on the Born Alive Act Discharge Petition:
- 218 signatures are needed for a discharge petition to be successful.
- Discharge petitions do not expire during the 117th Congress. At any point in this Congress, upon receiving 218 signatures, the discharge petition would force floor consideration of the Born Alive Act, with no amendments or procedural tactics in order, and proceed to a final vote.
- Petition signers can be tracked HERE.