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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Ben Sasse (R-Nebr.) went to the U.S. Senate floor this evening and sought to pass by unanimous consent S. 311, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) immediately objected --- blocking passage of the legislation that would require health care practitioners to provide life-saving medical care to babies born alive who survive an attempted abortion, just as they would do for other babies born at the same age of development.
Although a similar measure was signed into law by President Bush in 2002, it never had the teeth needed to hold the abortion industry accountable.
Family Research Council President Tony Perkins released the following statement:
“Providing life saving care to an infant who survives an abortion is an issue that everyone should be able to agree on but that’s not the case in the United States Senate. Senator Murray went to the floor this evening and blocked a vote on legislation that ensures babies born alive after a failed abortion are treated with the equal care given to babies born at the same gestational age.
“Infanticide is unacceptable in a civilized society, regardless of what one may think about abortion itself. Whether it’s by negligence or with intentionality, the killing of a baby who has been born alive—even if he or she survives an abortion--is abhorrent. This atrocity must stop. America must be better than this.
“I’m grieved that any senator would in any way stand with Virginia Governor Ralph Northam who left many wondering last week what he believes about infanticide. The governor seems to be perfectly fine with letting babies born-alive die after a botched abortion, so long as that is the wish of the parents and their physician. Additionally, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo should not have signed legislation expanding abortion until birth while also removing care protections for babies born alive after a failed abortion.
“Senator Murray won’t have the final say on whether infants born alive will be fully protected by federal law. One day soon, I’m confident U.S. senators will be forced to take a vote on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act and then voters will hold them accountable for their votes,” concluded Perkins.
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