The newest members of Congress, Rep. Mike Garcia (R-Calif.) and Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI), both signed the discharge petition for the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act Tuesday, just hours after being sworn into office. The petition is intended to force a vote on the bill which would end infanticide and protect infants born alive during abortions. With the two additional signatures, the petition now has 205 of the 218 signatures it needs to force a floor vote.
Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) took to Twitter to announce that the pair had signed the petition, calling the news “huge.” Students for Life of America President Kristan Hawkins also hailed the announcement, saying, “This is why the Pro-Life Generation votes pro-life first. The fact that two newly elected legislators in the House will make signing the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act discharge petition one of their first acts in office explains the importance of prioritizing the human rights issue of our day when casting every vote.”
READ: Abortionist at undercover investigators’ hearing: ‘No question’ babies are born alive
Garcia told the Washington Free Beacon that he would “support any initiative to bring this in front of Congress immediately,” saying, “That was a no-brainer for me. I am pro-life through all stages, so the fact that we even have to sign this initiative is frankly offensive to me,” he said. “For a baby to survive out of the womb, alive, and be subsequently murdered, is a complete travesty.”
Tiffany also voiced his support, announcing at a press conference, “I’m proud, as one of my first acts, to sign that petition because I’ve always been proudly pro-life. When I served in the legislature, we voted to end late-term abortions. I’ve always been proudly pro-life and I will continue to be.”
Originally sponsored by Rep. Ann Wagner, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act requires that infants who survive an abortion attempt receive immediate medical attention. The petition effort arose after a Senate version of the bill failed to receive the 60-vote majority threshold it needed to pass. If this petition succeeds, it would force a full-floor vote on the issue. The petition expires at the end of the 116th Congress session in January 2021.
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