Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act Explained

The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act is a proposed United States law that would penalize healthcare practitioners who fail to provide care for an infant that is born-alive from an abortion attempt.[1] It was introduced in the, and Congresses.

Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act
Fullname:To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit a health care practitioner from failing to exercise the proper degree of care in the case of a child who survives an abortion or attempted abortion.
Introduced In The:118th
Number Of Co-Sponsors:166
Introducedin:House of Representatives
Leghisturl:https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/26
Introducedbill:H.R. 26
Introduceddate:January 9, 2023
Introducedby:Ann Wagner (R–MO)
Committees:House Judiciary
Passedbody1:House
Passeddate1:January 11, 2023
Passedvote1:220–210–1

Background

See also: United States anti-abortion movement. Abortion is a contentious political issue in the United States. The abortion-rights movement which argues that a woman's right to privacy and bodily autonomy extends to the right to an abortion, is predominantly upheld by the Democratic Party. The anti-abortion movement, which argues that an embryo or fetus has rights that must be protected by law, is largely upheld by the Republican Party.

The anti-abortion movement has claimed that viable infants have been left to die following failed abortion procedures. On August 5, 2002, President George W. Bush signed into law the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act, which established that every infant who survives an abortion procedure is considered a person under federal law.[2] However, this law did not establish explicit criminal penalties for failing to treat such infants, and the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act has been introduced in every Congress since the in attempts to remedy it.

Following the reversal of federal abortion rights in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, the anti-abortion movement has called for federal legislation restricting abortion.[3] Dobbs has been blamed for Republican underperformance in the 2022 midterm elections, so the advancement of such legislation is considered to be politically risky for the Republican Party.[4] [5]

Provisions

The bill requires that any infant born from an abortion attempt be given the same amount of care as any other infant born at same gestational age, such as in a preterm birth. Failure for a healthcare practitioner to do can be penalized with up to five years imprisonment under the bill. Violations of the law are required to be reported to a hospital or law enforcement. The bill also authorizes a right to civil action to the mother of which an infant had been neglected care.[1]

Opponents of the bill have called its provisions unnecessary and misleading, with the criminal penalties having the potential to deter a doctor's best judgment.[6]

Legislative history

As of March 21, 2024

CongressShort titleBill number(s)Date introducedSponsor(s)
  1. of cosponsors
Latest status
114th CongressBorn-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection ActSeptember 15, 2015Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ)98Referred to the House Judiciary Committee
Passed the House of Representatives (248-177-1)[7]
September 22, 2015Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE)38Referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee
115th CongressBorn-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection ActJanuary 3, 2017Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ)90Referred to the House Judiciary Committee
January 24, 2017Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE)36Referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee
116th CongressBorn-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection ActFebruary 5, 2019Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO)193Referred to the House Judiciary Committee
January 15, 2019Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE)49Referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee
117th CongressBorn-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection ActMarch 22, 2021Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO)208Referred to the House Judiciary Committee
January 28, 2021Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE)45Referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee
118th CongressBorn-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection ActJanuary 11, 2023Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO)166Referred to the House Judiciary Committee
Passed the House of Representatives (220-210-1)[8]
February 1, 2023Sen. John Thune (R-SD)43Referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wagner, Scalise, Cammack Introduce Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. https://web.archive.org/web/20230114212531/https://wagner.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wagner-scalise-cammack-introduce-born-alive-abortion-survivors. 2023-01-03. 2023-01-14.
  2. Web site: President Signs Born-Alive Infants Protection Act. The White House. 2002-08-05. 2023-01-14. .
  3. Web site: Grabenstein. Hannah. In a post-Roe U.S., what's next for the anti-abortion movement?. PBS News. 2023-01-13. 2023-01-14.
  4. Web site: Radcliffe. Mary. Abortion Was Always Going To Impact The Midterms. 2022-11-17. 2023-01-14. FiveThirtyEight.
  5. Web site: Foran. Clare. Zanona. Melanie. House passes "born alive" abortion bill. CNN Politics. 2023-01-12. 2023-01-14.
  6. Web site: Ayers. Jacquelyn. FACT CHECK: So-Called "Born Alive" is Another Lie To Stigmatize Abortion. Planned Parenthood. 2023-01-11. 2023-01-14.
  7. https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2015506 Roll Call 506 | Bill Number: H. R. 3504
  8. https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/202329 Roll Call 29 | Bill Number: H. R. 26