Indy Standard

U.S. Senators Todd Young, James Lankford, and Jim Banks have reintroduced the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act in Washington. This legislation aims to ensure that newborns who survive abortions receive medical care from healthcare practitioners.

Senator Young stated, "Our Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act will give babies who miraculously survive attempted abortions the chance to live the life that they deserve." He expressed concern over previous blocks of the bill by Democrats and urged his colleagues to support the legislation.

Senator Lankford commented on the necessity of medical care for all children, saying, "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."

Senator Banks emphasized his ongoing commitment to defending unborn children. "I’ve always fought to defend the unborn and will continue to do so in the Senate," he said. He noted that with Republican control of Congress and a supportive President, there is an opportunity for this bill to become law.

The Born-Alive Infants Protection Act was passed in 2002, recognizing newborns as persons under law if they show any sign of life after birth. However, it did not include enforcement measures for protecting these infants. The newly reintroduced act proposes specific care expectations, hospital transfer requirements, mandatory reporting procedures, private rights of action for mothers, and penalties for healthcare professionals who fail to comply.

The bill has garnered cosponsorship from several senators including John Thune, Cindy Hyde-Smith, Jim Risch, Cynthia Lummis, Katie Britt among others.

Numerous organizations have endorsed this legislation including March for Life Action, AAPLOG Action, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, Concerned Women for America LAC among others.