Senate Democrats blocked legislation on Monday meant to respond to a political firestorm sparked in Virginia over "late-term abortion." Senators voted 53-44 on the legislation from Sen. Ben Sasse Ben SasseBiden to meet with Putin next month This week: Senate set for chaotic sprint before break Increase DARPA's funding — and then make sure its projects reach the battlefield MORE (R-Neb. ), which needed 60 votes to advance. ADVERTISEMENT Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin Joe ManchinSchumer tees up vote on Jan. 6 commission bill Senators struggle to save Jan. 6 commission Manchin, Sinema press GOP senators on Jan. 6 commission MORE (W.Va.), Doug Jones (Ala.) and Bob Casey Robert (Bob) Patrick CaseyThe Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - Biden wants Congress to pass abortion bill, pushes for Mideast cease-fire Senators shed masks after CDC lifts mandate Ex-GOP Rep. Lou Barletta launches bid for Pennsylvania governor MORE Jr. (Pa.) voted to proceed to the bill. The legislation would penalize doctors who fail to "exercise the proper degree of care in the case of a child who survives an abortion or attempted abortion." Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellSchumer tees up vote on Jan. 6 commission bill Senators struggle to save Jan. 6 commission GOP leaders face new calls to boot Greene MORE (R-Ky.) touted the bill ahead of Monday night’s vote, where it was widely expected to fall short, urging Democrats to reject “extreme voices” within their own party. “It isn’t about new restrictions on abortion. It isn’t about changing the options available to women. It’s just about recognizing that a newborn baby is a newborn baby. Period,” he said. Democrats blocked a previous attempt to pass the legislation and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerSchumer says Senate will move on Biden's infrastructure agenda in July Senate confirms Biden pick to lead Medicare, Medicaid office Pelosi presses for Senate action on Jan. 6 commission: 'No time to waste' MORE (D-N.Y.) argued on Monday that it's part of a pattern from Republicans, whom he accused of misrepresenting the bill. “This vote does not occur in a vacuum. ... Pay attention to the facts and not false rhetoric. This bill is Washington politics at its worst,” he added. Sen. Tim Kaine Timothy (Tim) Michael KaineMilitary Appreciation month is a time to honor America's bravest heroes Sanders push to block arms sale to Israel doomed in Senate Mask rules spark confusion, tensions in Congress MORE (D-Va.), who is Catholic, released a statement after the vote saying he opposed the bill because GOP statements about it are "misleading." "Congress reaffirmed that fact with its passage of the bipartisan Born-Alive Infants Protection Act in 2002. I support that law, which is still in effect. There is no need for additional federal legislation on this topic," Kaine said. President Trump Donald TrumpTrump lashes out after grand jury seated for New York criminal probe Schumer tees up vote on Jan. 6 commission bill Senators struggle to save Jan. 6 commission MORE sharply condemned the vote in a pair of Monday evening tweets: ....This will be remembered as one of the most shocking votes in the history of Congress. If there is one thing we should all agree on, it’s protecting the lives of innocent babies. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 26, 2019 Monday's vote comes after Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) provoked outrage among anti-abortion groups, GOP lawmakers and the White House over his comments about a bill that would have made it easier for women to get third-trimester abortions if their health was threatened by pregnancy. Kathy Tran, the sponsor of the Virginia bill, fueled the political firestorm when her comments acknowledging that the legislation would allow a woman who is dilating to request an abortion if a doctor determined that childbirth would impair her mental or physical health went viral. Northam further inflamed tensions when he said on a local radio show that third-trimester abortions are rare and typically occur when an infant is severely deformed or unable to survive after birth. "In this particular example, if a mother is in labor, I can tell you exactly what would happen: the infant would be delivered; the infant would be kept comfortable; the infant would be resuscitated if that's what the mother and the family desired. And then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother," Northam said. A spokeswoman for Northam told The Washington Post that his comments were being taken out of context by Republicans. —Updated at 8:54 p.m.<doc-sep>The U.S. Senate will vote on a bill Monday evening that is premised on the false assumption that infants are routinely born alive after abortions and that providers are murdering them afterwards. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) scheduled a vote for Sen. Ben Sasse’s (R-NE) Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, following a manufactured controversy over bills in New York and Virginia that codify abortion rights, but that Republicans have slammed as “infanticide.” Sasse’s bill criminalizes abortion providers by fining or imprisoning them up to five years if they don’t provide “the same degree of professional skill [or] care” or intentionally kill a child “born alive.” The bill uses legislation signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2002 as the basis for the definition of “born alive.” The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, or S. 311, is sponsored by 49 Republican senators. It is unlikely to meet the 60-vote threshold needed to move forward. In a press statement, Sasse said his bill simply asks abortion providers to provide quality care to all infants. The Heritage Foundation, a supporter of the bill, maintains that federal law “insufficiently protects infants who survive an abortion procedure.” Advertisement But the bill isn’t rooted in science or medicine, nor does it aspire to resolve an existing problem. The bill presumes infants are regularly being born after botched abortions and the providers who perform these procedures are murderers. Firstly, the vast majority of abortions are performed within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. In addition to being one of the safest medical procedures, medication or aspiration abortion during the first-trimester almost always effectively terminates a pregnancy. Secondly, abortion providers and clinic staff are the ones actually in danger, with multiple murders carried out by anti-abortion activists over the years. A recent example of a failed abortion suggests anti-abortion laws led to a situation in which a woman wasn’t able to effectively terminate her pregnancy. The woman traveled hundreds of miles to the provider, a Planned Parenthood affiliate, which she is now suing for medical negligence due to its failure to terminate the pregnancy by medication abortion. However, the details in the lawsuit are “curious,” the Guttmacher Institute’s Elizabeth Nash told the Daily Beast, referring to peculiarities in the plaintiff’s claim that restrictive state laws prevented her from seeking an abortion closer to her home. Moreover, Sasse is capitalizing on a manufactured controversy over a New York bill recently signed into law that codifies the right to abortion established in Roe v. Wade. In so doing, he mischaracterizes the bill, saying in his press release that it “repealed protections… for an infant born alive during an abortion.” In reality, New York lawmakers removed abortion from the criminal code, as the state had decided to criminalize the medical procedure before the historic Supreme Court decision in 1973. Lawmakers also created a new section within public health law, solidifying the right to abortion up 24 weeks and access thereafter strictly in cases of fetal non-viability and to preserve the health or life of the pregnant person — as Roe already permits. Advertisement The reason New York lawmakers decided to pass the Reproductive Health Act is because the public is concerned the Supreme Court will overturn Roe given that President Donald Trump appointed two very conservative justices. “It is frustrating that our Senators continue wasting their valuable time even considering medically irresponsible bills like Senator Sasse’s. This bill interferes with the patient-provider relationship and threatens physicians with criminal penalties,” said Physicians for Reproductive Health Board Member Dr. Kristyn Brandi in a statement. “Meanwhile, debate surrounding this bill has created a dangerous platform for disseminating misleading and dishonest information about abortion and the health professionals providing abortion care,” she added. The bill was first introduced in 2015, and has since been introduced annually as a way for Republicans to show solidarity with the anti-abortion movement. A nearly identical version championed by Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ), who recently resigned after being accused of sexual harassment, passed the House in 2015.<doc-sep>WASHINGTON, D.C., February 25, 2019 (LifeSiteNews) – The United States Senate will vote Monday evening on legislation to guarantee medical care to babies who survive failed abortions, following multiple Democrat attempts to block the measure. Under the current federal Born-Alive Infants Protection Act, babies who survive abortions are recognized as “human beings,” “persons,” “individuals,” and “children” with all the rights those terms entail, but specific treatment for them isn’t mandated. The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act would supplement existing law by specifically requiring abortionists to get such babies to hospitals. Originally introduced in 2015, the legislation was brought back this year in response to an interview in which Virginia Democrat Gov. Ralph Northam defended the prospect of letting a disabled or “non-viable” infant die after a failed abortion attempt, for which he later said he had no regrets. So far, Democrats have blocked six attempts in the U.S. House and Senate to pass the bill by unanimous consent, under which a bill automatically passes if no senator objects. This evening, the bill is scheduled for floor consideration and a roll-call vote in the Republican-controlled Senate. #Senate meets at 3pm. Senator Fischer delivers Washington’s Farewell Address. Next, the Senate resumes consideration on the motion to proceed to S.311, Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. At 5:30, the Senate will vote on cloture on the motion to proceed to S.311. — Senate Press Gallery (@SenatePress) February 25, 2019 “Public officials, at all levels and in every party, should be able to condemn infanticide and come to the defense of the weakest members of our society,” Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE), who re-introduced the bill’s Senate version, wrote Monday in a Fox News op-ed. “Recognizing the equality of every person shouldn’t be a cheap campaign line. It is a core American promise. My colleagues know this. They have attested to it eloquently and powerfully in recent weeks. Now is the time to make good on those promises.” “This is something that has distinguished America; we might call it American exceptionalism. We understand that each and every human being has dignity and worth,” Family Research Council Tony Perkins said in a Friday interview with Sasse. “We’ve not always gotten it right in America, but we’ve usually been moving in the right direction. [Infanticide] is stepping backwards, and it will have significant ramifications for us as a country when it comes to the culture, when it comes to the moral standing. This is a defining moment for America.” On Monday the Senate will vote on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. This bill is as commonsense as they come. Democrats should reject their extreme base and vote to support life. pic.twitter.com/S5MI7qCn8j — Sen. Kevin Cramer (@SenKevinCramer) February 24, 2019 Today, the Senate will vote to proceed to the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, a bill that implements protections for babies born alive during abortion. Needs 60 yeas. I hope my friends on the other side of the Capitol say "NO" to infanticide. https://t.co/iTLcrz8XXN — Rep. Martha Roby (@RepMarthaRoby) February 25, 2019 Today at 4 ET the Senate will vote on the #bornaliveact, which requires medical care and mercy for children born alive after a failed abortion. It's a matter of basic human rights. @SenDougJones should join @SenShelby in support. https://t.co/iUVoAXjKu4 — Dana McCain (@dhmccain) February 25, 2019 US Senator Sasse announced that his Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act will get a vote on Monday February 25th in the US Senate. Contact Senator Collins and Senator King to insist they support this legislation. — Christian Civic League of Maine (@CCLMaine) February 15, 2019 As for the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives, GOP Rep. Ann Wagner and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise plan to file a discharge petition, which would force a vote on the bill regardless of leaders’ opposition if it gets at least 218 signatures (a simple majority). In the meantime, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Republicans will continue to press Democrats to give it unanimous consent. The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act is not expected to reach President Trump’s desk; under GOP-approved Senate rules most standalone legislation requires 60 votes to pass. When the House voted on it in 2015 only five Democrats crossed the aisle to support it, and the number of pro-life House Democrats has decreased since then. Still, Republicans and pro-life activists see the vote as an opportunity to force Democrats to demonstrate on the record whether they support infanticide, for which they may pay a price in the 2020 elections. For the next two years, the pro-life agenda in the federal government will be focused on such symbolic or illustrative votes, confirming hopefully-pro-life judges in the Senate, and whatever administrative actions the executive branch can take to further restrict the abortion industry. Earlier this month, the pro-life Susan B. Anthony List released the results of McLaughlin & Associates poll finding that 77 percent of Americans support the protections of the Republican bill, and 62 percent oppose late-term abortions.<doc-sep>
The U.S. Senate voted Monday against the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, that would have criminalized doctors who fail to provide medical care if a fetus is born alive after an abortion. Sen. Doug Jones, D-Ala., was one of three Democrats to vote for the bill. Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Ala., on Tuesday tried to revive the bill and asked for the it’s immediate consideration in the U.S. House of Representatives, but was quickly shut down and wasn't allowed to debate in the Democratic-controlled House. "Every newborn deserves the highest quality of care, regardless of the circumstances of their birth. For this reason, I support the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act," Jones said in statement to AL.com. "Though there are deep disagreements on the issue of abortion, I firmly believe that if we have more dialogues, we will find that we have more in common than not. We should focus on that common ground by working together on policies that can reduce abortions and strengthen families. That means taking steps to ensure that all people have access to affordable, quality health care, and develop policies that reduce unplanned pregnancy, lower the cost of child care, and promote adoption. I would like to see all sides of this debate come together to reduce and even eliminate some of the circumstances that cause women to face this difficult decision.” The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., said it is intended to protect newborn babies. Full coverage of the abortion debate in Alabama “This should not be complicated. But Democrats are making their feelings known by refusing to vote on H.R. 962,” Palmer said in an emailed press release. “They want abortion at any time, even after birth, and they are afraid to allow anyone in their party who might have a different opinion to vote their conscience.” President Donald Trump parroted similar sentiments in a tweet Monday night claiming Democrats are satisfied killing babies after they are born. ....This will be remembered as one of the most shocking votes in the history of Congress. If there is one thing we should all agree on, it’s protecting the lives of innocent babies. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 26, 2019 According to the CDC, 1.3 percent of abortions performed in the U.S. were done at or after 21 weeks. Dr. Hal Lawrence, former executive vice president of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists told reporters in 2015 there is no way a 20-week fetus is viable, even with intensive medical treatment. Cindi Branham, of Alabama Reproductive Rights Advocates, said babies are not being born and then ignored. “There are not medical professionals who will do this when a fetus is viable,” Branham said. “These people are far too compassionate and good to do this.” Branham said bills like these are trotted out every year to criminalize abortion and help politicians win elections. “The goal is to purely win elections. The people that bring it out, the representatives, senators legislators, they’re doing it just to get elected again because none of this is ever rooted in fact, Branham said. “They’re doing it purely because the evangelical voting bloc will vote for them without fail if they cry abortion loud, enough and often enough.” Branham said the bill's failure to pass was a small, but bittersweet victory. “If anti-choice people would take the time to educate themselves on the situations of women who find themselves in a late-term abortion choice, they would shed tears for the women and their families rather than the already-unviable fetus,” Branham said.