Every Democrat in the U.S Senate on Wednesday voted against legislation that would have required doctors to provide lifesaving health care to infants who are born after a failed abortion attempt, effectively dooming the bill. The “Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act,” which was introduced by Republican Sen. James Lankford, would have guaranteed equal protection under the law for “any infant born alive after an abortion.”
The proposed legislation would have required all health care practitioners present during such a birth to “exercise the same degree of professional skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of the child as a… health care practitioner would render to any other child born alive at the same gestational age.” The vote was 52-47 with every voting Republican supporting the bill and every Democrat in opposition. One Republican was not available for the vote.
“I am disappointed that every Senate Democrat voted against my [bill], making something that should be common sense completely partisan for the first time,” Lankford said. “This bill is straightforward and would save lives. I believe every life is valuable and that no one is disposable.”
Further details can be found here at the Catholic News Agency website.