Walorski Signs Discharge Petition for Legislation to Protect Newborns

Statement

U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) today signed the discharge petition to bring the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (H.R. 962) to the House floor for a vote.

"This is not a partisan issue, and it shouldn't be controversial -- it is simply what's right," Congresswoman Walorski said. "This is about giving babies born alive after a failed abortion attempt the same chance at life as babies born any other way. When it comes to protecting newborns, the American people deserve to know where their elected representatives stand. It is time for Democrat leaders to let us vote."

BACKGROUND

A discharge petition is a procedural tool to bring legislation to the floor when House leaders are blocking a vote. If a simple majority -- 218 members of the House -- sign the discharge petition, the legislation goes to the House floor for a debate and vote. With all 197 Republicans signing, 21 Democrat signatures will also be needed for the petition on H.R. 962 to succeed. Three Democrats have already co-sponsored the bill.

Walorski recently led 21 of her colleagues in a Special Order, a one-hour series of speeches on the House floor, on the need to pass legislation to protect the lives of infants born alive after failed abortions. She also was one of 25 House Republicans to ask for unanimous consent (UC) that the House consider the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. House Democrats objected to every one of these requests.

Walorski is an original co-sponsor of the legislation, which would prohibit infanticide and ensure babies born alive after abortion attempts receive the same medical care and legal protections as babies born any other way. H.R. 962 would:

Require 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 the same gestational age. After those efforts, the health care workers must transport and admit the child to a hospital.
Require health care practitioners and hospital employees to report violations to law enforcement authorities, reducing the number of born-alive abortions that go unreported.
Penalize the intentional killing of a born-alive child through fines or up to 5 years imprisonment.
Give the mother of the abortion survivor a civil cause of action and protection from prosecution, recognizing that women are the second victims of abortion and promoting the dignity of motherhood.

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