From LifeNews.com By Steven Ertelt – January 11, 2023

House Republicans have 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. It also requires that, following appropriate care, health care workers must transport the living child immediately to a hospital.

Current federal law does not sufficiently protect a child born following an abortion.

In addition, the bill applies the existing penalties of 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1111 (the federal murder statute) to anyone who performs “an overt act that kills a child born alive.” Further, the bill provides a civil cause of action to women who are harmed by violations of the act.

Republicans approved the common sense bill on a 220-210 vote with all Republicans voting for the pro-life bill and all Democrats but two voting for infanticide. Three GOP members ere absent, Rep. Vicente González voted present and pro-life Democrat Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas voted for the bill.

Representative Ann Wagner (R-MO) announced the reintroduction of the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), and Representative Kat Cammack (R-FL) joining as original cosponsors. The Born-Alive Act ensures that infants born alive after an attempted abortion receive the same protection of law and degree of care as any newborn.

During debate on the measure, Scalise imporled pro-abortion Democrats to look beyond abortion and protect babies from infanticide.

“The idea that, if a baby is born alive outside the womb, that that baby in America could be killed and called abortion not murder defies logic and defies humanity,” he said.

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“In fact when I’ve talked about this bill to other people over the years … the first thing that people express is shock. They say wait a minute if the baby is born alive outside the womb alive how could you kill that baby and that be legal? I questioned how it wasn’t myself and yet in a number of states it is legal and happening today. You see countries like China and North Korea — there aren’t many countries in the world that allow this practice and the United States should not be one of those countries,” he said.

“All children should have the right to receive lifesaving care, especially those who survive an abortion,” Wagner told LifeNews. “The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act will provide commonsense protections for innocent children and their mothers and will ensure all babies receive the essential care they need at an incredibly vulnerable moment. It pains me that this fight has to be fought at all, but medical care for babies should not be a partisan issue. Now, with Republicans in the Majority, the House will finally take action and vote to protect the fundamental right to life.”

Leading pro-life groups thanked Republicans for approving the bill.

“The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act is reasonable legislation that would protect a baby born alive following an abortion,” said Carol Tobias, president of the National Right to Life Committee. “We thank House pro-life leaders Speaker McCarthy, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, and Rep. Kat Cammack for their leadership on this issue and Rep. Ann Wagner for sponsoring this 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.