When the pro-life community heard Virginia Governor Ralph Northam openly condone infanticide on a live radio interview, it was rightly horrified. The backlash was immediate, and the politicians who have long vowed to protect the unborn at all costs sprung into action. One of these characters was Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), who responded to the crisis by introducing a crucial piece of legislation called “The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act,” or H.R.4712.
A new video, exclusively on Faithwire, courtesy of Paul Alexander of ACM Ventures, powerfully shows how dangerous some democrats are sounding when it comes to their rhetoric on infanticide. Seeing the images next to the words really hits home:
What is H.R.4712?
The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act is a simple piece of legislation that essentailly protects babies who have survived an attempted termination. It stipulates prison sentences of up to five years for medical personnel who knowingly allow the death of babies born alive after a failed abortion. In addition, the bill notes that any individual “who commits an overt act that kills a child born alive” will be “subject to criminal prosecution for murder.”
Tragically, shortly after being introduced this year, the Senate voted 53 to 44 in favor of the bill, but failed to reach the 60-vote threshold required to pass the measure.
What is the bill’s current status?
After failing to pass in the January vote, the crucial bill has been voted on a whopping 24 times. Unfortunately, the provision has been shot down by the Democrats on every single occasion. Unfazed by the left’s opposition, the GOP is taking things further — by introducing a “discharge petition.”
The petition, introduced by House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), will force members of the lower chamber to declare their position on the bill and will force the legislation onto the House floor for a vote. In order for the petition to be successful, Rep. Scalise will require 218 signatures and will need to sway 21 Democrats in his direction.
“We need to get to 218, so it’s going to take a national effort,” Scalise explained at a press conference Tuesday, as reported by Conservative Review. “But the country’s watching.”
“People say it should be easy to get 218 signatures,” he continued. “Frankly, it should be easy to get all 435 members of Congress to sign this, but it’s not. In fact, it’s going to be hard. We know it’s an uphill battle.”
Many Republicans hope the rare petition will force Democrats to stop hiding behind party leadership and show their true colors on this most pressing of issues.
“Now, more than ever, the American people need clarification – where exactly does the Democratic party stand on the issue of abortion? Are they really comfortable letting already born infants die?” asked Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.) on Tuesday. “This is not a trifling matter.”
Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) tweeted that he was “proud” to sign the discharge petition, noting that it was high time to say “enough to Pelosi” and the Democrats over their blatant disregard for infant life.
House Republicans asked Dem leadership to consider Born-Alive legislation 25 times, each time we were rejected.
Today we said “enough” to Pelosi.
Proud to sign @SteveScalise’s discharge petition to force a vote on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.#LetUsVote pic.twitter.com/2lmgS1UJ5W
— Rep. Dan Crenshaw (@RepDanCrenshaw) April 2, 2019
As the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi has continued to refuse a vote on this vital bill.
Why are the Democrats against it?
Many of the opposing Democrats argued that due to the original bipartisan legislation first signed by President George W. Bush in 2002, there is simply no need for this additional bill. They claim that not only does the bill put healthcare professionals in exceedingly difficult positions, but that infants born alive already have adequate legal protections.
“Congress reaffirmed that fact with its passage of the bipartisan Born-Alive Infants Protection Act in 2002,” said Hillary Clinton’s 2016 running mate, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) after Sasse introduced the bill, according to The Hill. “I support that law, which is still in effect. There is no need for additional federal legislation on this topic.”
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) went further, arguing that the goal of the legislation was “to bully doctors out of giving reproductive care, to scare them out of business one potential lawsuit or jail sentence at a time.”
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) added that the bill “intimidates doctors with the threat of criminal liability for performing safe and legal abortion.”
Following the announcement of Rep. Scalise’s latest petition, Democrats showed their frustration.
“Oh, my god. They just will not quit,” said Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) when asked about the move, as reported by Politico. “I think politically, it’s a really bad move for them, and substantively, it’s a disaster.”