WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Ashley Moody is fighting to protect babies born after botched abortions by joining Senator James Lankford in cosponsoring the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. This legislation will protect these newborns by requiring them to receive care from health care practitioners. Under this proposed legislation, a health care practitioner who fails to provide the required degree of care is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, up to five years in prison, or both. The bill also proposes that an individual who intentionally kills or attempts to kill a child born alive is subject to prosecution for murder.
Senator Ashley Moody said, “We will always fight for life, and earlier this Congress, I was proud to cast my very first vote as Florida’s newest U.S. Senator in support of this important legislation. Unfortunately, Democrats blocked this bill’s passage, refusing to acknowledge the humanity of an innocent baby in need of life-saving medical care. The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act is a critical step to ensure these vulnerable infants receive the care they need and the chance to live a healthy life.”
The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act builds upon earlier legislation to further protect survivors of botched abortions. In 2002, Congress passed the Born-Alive Infants Protect Act which established in law that a newborn, regardless of the circumstances of their birth, is to be legally recognized as a person from birth if he or she shows any sign of life. This earlier law did not provide any measures to enforce the protection of these infants. The Born-Alive Infants Protection Act adds clear expectations of care, hospital transfer requirements, mandatory reporting, private rights of action for moms, and reasonable criminal penalties for health care professionals who violate the law.
The legislation is cosponsored by Senators Ashley Moody (R-FL), Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), James Lankford (R-OK), Jim Banks (R-IN), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Jim Risch (R-ID), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Katie Britt (R-AL), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Roger Wicker, R-MS), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), John Hoeven (R-ND), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Ted Budd (R-NC), Tim Scott (R-SC), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Curtis (R-UT), Todd Young (R-IN), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), John Barrasso (R-WY), John Kennedy (R-LA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Rick Scott (R-FL), Steve Daines (R-MT), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Mike Lee (R-UT), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Josh Hawley (R-MO), and Dave McCormick (R-PA).
March for Life Action, AAPLOG Action, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, Concerned Women for America LAC, National Right to Life, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, Live Action, Americans United for Life, Family Research Council, Students for Life Action, Alliance Defending Freedom, US Conference of Catholic Bishops, Heritage Action, Family Policy Alliance, Human Coalition, Liberty Council Action, Ethics and Public Policy Center, Christian Employers Alliance, Advancing American Freedom, Focus on the Family, First Rights Global, AdvanceUSA, Coalition for Jewish Values, National Association of Evangelicals, Eagle Forum, Christian Legal Society, Christian Medical and Dental Associations, Faith and Freedom Coalition, Christ Medicus Foundation, Christians Engaged, Children’s AIDS Funds International, Capability Consulting, and Catholic Health Care Leadership Alliance endorsed this legislation.
Read the full bill text here.
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