Senators Young, Lankford, Banks reintroduce bill to protect babies born after botched abortions

U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), and Jim Banks (R-Ind.) reintroduced the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act to protect newborns that survive abortions by requiring they receive care from health care practitioners.

“Our Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act will give babies who miraculously survive attempted abortions the chance to live the life that they deserve,” said Senator Young. “I find it disturbing that Democrats have blocked this life-saving bill previously, and encourage my colleagues to pass this commonsense legislation.”

“No child should be denied medical care simply because they are ‘unwanted.’ Today, if an abortion procedure fails and a child is born alive, doctors can just ignore the crying baby on the table and watch them slowly die of neglect. That’s not an abortion, that’s infanticide,” said Senator Lankford.

“I've always fought to defend the unborn and will continue to do so in the Senate. It's unconscionable that we even need such a law, but it's essential to protect the most vulnerable among us. Now that Republicans have control of both chambers of Congress and the most pro-life President in my lifetime, we have the opportunity to see this important bill signed into law,” said Senator Banks.

In 2002, Congress passed the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act which codified in law that a newborn, regardless of the circumstances of their birth, is to be legally recognized as a person from the moment of birth if he or she shows any sign of life. The 2002 law did not provide any measures to enforce the protection of these infants, which has allowed the current practice of leaving a child to die after a botched abortion to continue. The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act would add clear expectations of care, hospital transfer requirements, mandatory reporting, private rights of action for moms, and reasonable criminal penalties for health care professionals who violate the law. 

The legislation was also cosponsored by Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kan.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), John Kennedy (R-La.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), and Dave McCormick (R-Pa.).

March for Life Action, AAPLOG Action, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, Concerned Women for America LAC, National Right to Life, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, Live Action, Americans United for Life, Family Research Council, Students for Life Action, Alliance Defending Freedom, US Conference of Catholic Bishops, Heritage Action, Family Policy Alliance, Human Coalition, Liberty Council Action, Ethics and Public Policy Center, Christian Employers Alliance, Advancing American Freedom, Focus on the Family, First Rights Global, AdvanceUSA, Coalition for Jewish Values, National Association of Evangelicals, Eagle Forum, Christian Legal Society, Christian Medical and Dental Associations, Faith and Freedom Coalition, Christ Medicus Foundation, Christians Engaged, Children’s AIDS Funds International, and Capability Consulting endorsed this legislation.