U.S. Representative Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) Wednesday led 21 of her colleagues in a Special Order, a one-hour series of speeches on the House floor, on the need to pass legislation to protect the lives of infants born alive after failed abortions.
“This is not a partisan issue – it is simply what’s right,” Congresswoman Walorski said. “We must stand up together against this radical and inhumane agenda, and we must act to protect the rights of all infants. Tonight, the American people heard our call to action: it is time to vote on the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. Will the leadership of this House listen? Or will the Democrat majority continue to allow the march toward legalized infanticide?”
Ahead of the special order, Walorski asked for unanimous consent (UC) that the House consider the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (H.R. 962). House Democrats objected to the request.
Walorski is an original co-sponsor of the legislation, which would prohibit infanticide and ensure babies born alive after abortion attempts receive the same medical care and legal protections as babies born any other way.
Video of Congresswoman Walorski speaking on the House floor is available here.
H.R. 962 would:
- Require that health care practitioners who are present at the live birth exercise skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of the child—the same degree of care that would be offered to any other child born prematurely the same gestational age. After those efforts, the health care workers must transport and admit the child to a hospital.
- Require health care practitioners and hospital employees to report violations to law enforcement authorities, reducing the number of born-alive abortions that go unreported.
- Penalize the intentional killing of a born-alive child through fines or up to 5 years imprisonment.
- Give the mother of the abortion survivor a civil cause of action and protection from prosecution, recognizing that women are the second victims of abortion and promoting the dignity of motherhood.
Walorski represents the 2nd Congressional District of Indiana, serving as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.
