Lankford, Colleagues Look to Protect Babies Born Alive

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE) to reintroduce the Born-Alive Survivors Protection Act.  

“Every life is valuable—born or unborn,” said Lankford. “It shouldn’t be controversial to say that if a child survives an attempted abortion and is living outside his or her mother, that baby deserves to receive care. We should all agree that tax dollars should not fund abortion on demand in the United States or overseas. When science has shown a child can feel pain, they should not be subjected to a dismemberment abortion. And if a healthcare professional has a moral objection to participating in an abortion procedure, which by definition is the taking of life, they should not be forced by their employer to destroy the life they pledged to protect. Protecting life should not be a partisan issue; it should be an American issue. I am proud to speak up for the millions of children who cannot speak for themselves and honor their right to life.”

“Every baby deserves a fighting chance, whether she’s born in a state-of-the-art hospital or an abortion clinic in a strip mall.  A decent society can’t turn its back on these babies because compassion, truth, and love still matter. This bill is really simple: it makes sure newborn babies who survive attempted abortions get the same care any other baby would. We can all agree: every baby deserves our love. A week ago, President Biden stood on the Capitol steps and said ‘with unity we can do great things. Important things. We can right wrongs.’ Well, here’s a chance to do just that.”
 
Lankford and Sasse were joined by 44 co-sponsors. Co-sponsors of the legislation include Senators Barrasso (R-WY), Blackburn (R-TN), Blunt (R-MO), Boozman (R-AR), Braun (R-IN), Burr (R-NC), Cassidy (R-LA), Cornyn (R-TX), Cotton (R-AR), Cramer (R-ND), Crapo (R-ID), Cruz (R-TX), Daines (R-MT), Ernst (R-IA), Fischer (R-NE), Graham (R-SC), Grassley (R-IA), Hagerty (R-TN), Hawley (R-MO), Hoeven (R-ND), Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Inhofe (R-OK), Johnson (R-WI), Kennedy (R-LA), Lee (R-UT), Lummis (R-WY),  Marshall (R-KS), McConnell (R-KY), Moran (R-KS), Paul (R-KY), Portman (R-OH), Risch (R-ID), Rounds (R-SD), Romney (R-UT), Rubio (R-FL), Scott (R-FL), Scott (R-SC), Shelby (R-AL), Sullivan (R-AK), Thune (R-SD), Tillis (R-NC), Toomey (R-PA), Wicker (R-MS), and Young (R-IN). 

The bill would protect newborns that survive abortions by requiring appropriate care and admission to a hospital.  

The legislation requires that, when an abortion results in the live birth of an infant, health care practitioners must exercise the same degree of professional skill and care to protect the newborn as would be offered to any other child born alive at the same gestational age. It also requires that the living child, after appropriate care has been given, be immediately transported and admitted to a hospital. 

Current federal law does not adequately protect a born child who survives an abortion.

In the 116th Congress, the legislation passed the US House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 248 to 177. 

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