Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. CLINE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her remarks.

I am a little bit confused, though, because it wasn't before 2002 when our previous Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Governor Ralph Northam, said on a radio show that if a baby was born alive that the baby would be made comfortable, that then a conversation would ensue between the doctor and the mother about whether or not and how to treat that baby; essentially saying, if you want to go ahead and kill your baby after it is born, go right ahead.

That type of attitude persists, continues. If there are laws that exist to prevent it--the Governor was not aware of them, I am not aware of them--that would apply in that situation.

That is why this legislation is so important, because contrary to House Democrats and the Biden administration, the American people overwhelmingly believe that babies who are born alive should be protected, that a baby born alive, even after an attempted abortion, should be afforded the same constitutional protections as every other American.

I am proud to support the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which would require appropriate medical care for children who survive abortion procedures. It imposes strong criminal penalties for the failure to provide such care.

If a doctor like our former Governor, Dr. Northam, was engaging in the activities that he spoke about on that radio show, he would be subject to those same criminal penalties.

Protecting living and breathing babies outside the womb should not be a partisan issue, it should be one around which we all should unite.

I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

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