House Republicans held a hearing Tuesday to showcase a vital bill, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. While it’s unlikely to pass, the measure not only highlights the dignity of human life, regardless of age, but the disingenuous arguments Democrats make for abortion.
Democrats will often argue that life begins at birth. Yet when presented with a bill that would protect life at birth, they stonewall.
Rep. Ann Wagner of Missouri, introduced the Born-Alive bill, which mandates that physicians “exercise the same degree of professional skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of the child as a reasonably diligent and conscientious health care practitioner would render to any other child born alive at the same gestational age.” The bill also offers protection to healthcare professionals who would care for that newborn and the mother from prosecution against the failed abortionist. Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska, took up the bill in the Senate.
The hearing included several representatives who support the bill, including House Republican Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana. There were also experts, including Dr. Robin Pierucci, a clinical neonatologist; Dr. Kathi Aultman, a board-certified OB-GYN, former abortionist, and former director of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Jacksonville; Jill Stanek, a nurse; and Tessa Longbons, a research associate at the Charlotte Lozier Institute. In testimonies, experts at the hearing revealed only a handful of states have reported botched abortions and that fewer than 200 babies had survived abortions. However, it was also quite clear that the numbers were grossly underreported. Even one baby deserves to have a chance at life following a botched abortion.
In her brief opening statement, Piercucci said, “I wish to present the medical standard of care every baby who is born alive is supposed to receive. This standard of care is equally applicable to babies who are born prematurely as it is to those at term. The medical standard of care is sufficiently wise to include an intrinsic understanding that not every baby can be rescued but that never negates our obligation to care for these most vulnerable little ones. It is a fallacy to equate the degree of wantedness with the baby’s humaneness.”
Democrats blocked the bill when it came to the Senate floor in February. In the House, Republicans have made at least 80 requests to bring it to the floor — Democrats denied those too.
If Scalise’s discharge petition can collect the signatures of a majority of House members, the bill can at least make it to the floor for a vote. As of now, only three Democrats have signed the petition.
If Democrats truly believe life begins at birth, why not let the Born-Alive bill come to a vote? The bill isn’t even about abortion, but the protection of human life. If Democrats really believe life begins at birth, then protecting these tiny humans, gasping for air after a botched abortion, would be a non-partisan issue — just a human one. The fact that Democrats don’t want this bill to see the light of day shows just how hypocritical Democrats are when it comes not just to unborn rights but basic human rights.
Nicole Russell (@russell_nm) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner‘s Beltway Confidential blog. She is a journalist who previously worked in Republican politics in Minnesota.
