Metro Voice News Celebrating Faith, Family & Community
In a move that has intensified the national abortion debate, Senate Democrats on Wednesday blocked the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, preventing the bill from reaching the required 60-vote threshold. The legislation, which has sparked nationwide discussion, aimed to ensure medical care for infants who survive attempted abortions.
Senators Jim Banks (R-IN) and James Lankford (R-OK) introduced the legislation requiring healthcare practitioners to provide the same level of care to abortion survivors as they would to any other newborn at the same gestational age. The bill also mandated immediate hospital transport for such infants.
“This isn’t about politics. This is basic human dignity,” Senator Banks (R-IN) remarked, expressing dismay at the outcome. Senator Lankford (R-OK) echoed this sentiment, criticizing the partisan nature of the vote. “This bill is straightforward and would save lives. I believe every life is valuable and that no one is disposable,” Lankford asserted.
Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) further emphasized the bill’s intent: “It says a child born after surviving an abortion should receive life-saving medical care. It’s not an abstract concept—it’s a living, breathing child.”
Supporters of the bill, including Senate Republican Leader John Thune (R-SD), argue that it should not be controversial. “A baby born alive after an attempted abortion should be entitled to the same protection and medical care that any other newborn baby is entitled to,” Thune stated.
Critics of the bill, however, argue that existing federal laws already protect infants, rendering the new legislation unnecessary. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 143 infants were born alive following failed abortions between 2003 and 2014, though the actual number is believed to be higher due to underreporting.
Pro-life advocates cite data from states such as Minnesota, Arizona, and Florida, where reports indicate that at least 40 infants survived abortions between 2016 and 2018. The American Center for Law and Justice estimates that the number could be as high as 362 from 2001 to 2010.
Despite the bill’s setback, the debate over its implications continues, with Republicans saying they will bring the bill back until public pressure forces Democrats to allow it to reach full vote.
–Dwight Widaman and LifeSite.org
