Hearing Today Could Help End Infanticide in America
There is good news out of Washington today – in Congress, to be exact. Yes, you heard me correctly! Today at 1 p.m. ET, House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), bill sponsor Rep. Ann Wagner (R-Mo.) and the Pro-Life Caucus will host a hearing on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.
This “minority hearing” is a rare occurrence on Capitol Hill. Whip Scalise has taken the initiative to hold a hearing with four expert witnesses to accurately demonstrate why legislation is necessary to provide life-saving care to infants born alive during abortions and end infanticide. More than 30 pro-life Members of Congress are scheduled to participate. You can watch the hearing live here.
While many opposed to life would like us to believe that infants never survive abortion, we know that is not the case. According to state health data, at least 40 babies were born alive during abortion attempts in three states since 2016. Unfortunately, those states – Arizona, Florida and Minnesota – plus four more which require statistics but have yet to report any – are the only states in the nation now tracking infants born alive during abortion.
The fact of the matter is, we know that some infants survive abortion attempts. In fact, one witness at today’s hearing – former RN Jill Stanek – will describe her eye-witness account to babies left to die after surviving abortions in an Illinois hospital.
Because we know infants can and do survive abortions, we must ensure they are protected by law.
The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, H.R. 962, will prohibit infanticide. The bill simply requires that a baby born during an abortion attempt receive the same medical care as any other newborn. It’s common-sense and the only humane response to born-alive abortions. Any newborn – wanted or not – has a right to medical care to preserve their life.
When nearly half of all states lack protection for born-alive infants, and several states (New York, Virginia, Illinois and Vermont) have moved recently to legalize late-term abortions and repeal born-alive laws, the time to act is now.
Unfortunately, House Democrats led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Ca.) have blocked a vote on this common-sense legislation 81 times. This action is nothing less than an obstruction of justice for life!
Whip Scalise and Rep. Wagner filed a discharge petition on the Born-Alive Act to force a vote in April, but they are still 17 signatures shy of the necessary 218 to force a vote on this life-saving legislation. To date, two Democrats have joined all 197 Republicans to sign the petition. House members who have signed are listed here.
