Wagner Born Alive Legislation Included in 119th Congress Rules Package

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) released the following statement on reintroduction of the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which was included in today’s Rules Package.  The legislation ensures that infants born alive after an attempted abortion receive the same protection of law and degree of care as any newborn.

“I am proud that one of the first things the 119th Congress did was prioritize consideration of my legislation to protect the lives of innocent children.  It’s about to be a new day in Washington with a Presidential Administration who will make it their mission to restore respect for the dignity of all life. Newborn infants, who are among the most vulnerable Americans, need us to defend their lives and safety, and we in Congress will be strong partners in providing essential protections for infants who cannot fight for themselves.   

“This cannot and should not be a complicated issue.  Every child deserves a chance to live and thrive. If babies survive an abortion, doctors must treat them like they would any other patient and provide lifesaving medical care to make sure they can grow up to have fulfilling lives like any other.  It’s time innocent children are treated like the blessings they are.”

Background on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act:

1. Requires that health care practitioners who are present at the live birth exercise skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of the child—the same degree of care that would be offered to any other child born prematurely of the same gestational age. After those efforts, the health care workers must transport and admit the child to a hospital.
2. Requires health care practitioners and hospital employees to report violations to law enforcement authorities, reducing the number of born-alive abortions that go unreported.
3. Penalizes the intentional killing of a born-alive child through fines or up to 5 years imprisonment.
4. Gives the mother of the abortion survivor a civil cause of action against the abortionist and protection from prosecution, recognizing that women are the second victims of abortion and promoting the dignity of motherhood.