House Democrats again blocked Republican efforts for a vote on an anti-infanticide bill Monday night. The bill, the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, would ensure medical treatment and care for infants who survive abortion and put an end to infanticide nationwide. On Monday, Rep. Mark Walker (R-NC) asked for unanimous consent to bring the bill up for a vote, but Democrats denied his request. The refusal marks the fourth time that House Democrats have blocked the bill from coming to a vote.
On February 6, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy was blocked when he called for a unanimous consent vote. Then on February 7, Democrats denied the request of House Minority Whip Leader Steve Scalise to permit a vote on the bill. On February 8, Missouri Congresswoman Ann Wagner again called for unanimous consent to vote on the bill, but Democrats blocked it.
In an op-ed to LifeSite News, Walker wrote, “Democratic leaders, supporting the abortion industry agenda, refused to even consider the legislation, fearing the thought of allowing their members to vote their conscience and what they know to be morally straight.”
Abortion survivor Melissa Ohden recently voiced her concern, saying, “There was argument about whether medical care would be provided to me. We’re talking about human beings, and what kind of lives are worth living, and what kind of lives are worth saving.”
READ: Report: 19 states don’t protect babies that accidentally survive abortions
Despite the bill’s stall in the House, its presence along with other legislation signals an increasing willingness among Republicans to fight for protections for vulnerable infants, both in and out of the womb. Iowa Senator Joni Ernst wrote passionately about her commitment to protect life in a commentary at the Daily Signal:
… [I]n recent weeks, we have witnessed the ugly truth about the far-reaching grasp of the abortion industry and its increasingly radical political agenda, including the termination of a child after its birth—infanticide. As the president said in his [State of the Union] address, ‘Let us work together to build a culture that cherishes innocent life, and let us reaffirm a fundamental truth: All children—born and unborn—are made in the holy image of God.’ As a mother, and strong defender of life, I couldn’t agree more. It is up to us to ensure these children have the chance to grow up and lead the happy, healthy, and full lives God has granted them.
Walker reiterated the GOP’s commitment to fighting for the protection of the most vulnerable infants. In his op-ed, he wrote:
This is what House Republicans are dedicated to doing. We are dedicated to the value of all human life. We will not stop fighting. For those of you fighting on this issue, there’s no more noble cause than to fight for those who are defenseless. For these children who have no voice, never stop raising yours.
He continued with the vow that Republicans won’t give up on this fight, saying, “Tomorrow, and as long as it takes, we will continue to ask the Democratic House leadership to bring the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act to the floor.”
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