Washington, D.C. – Last night, Congressman Tom Emmer (MN-06) joined his House Republican colleagues in signing a discharge petition to force a vote on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.
This legislation would protect children that are born alive during an abortion. When these children are born alive and viable outside of the womb, health care practitioners would be required to perform the same level of care that they would for any other premature child, and provide the necessary life-saving measures.
"I once again signed the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act discharge petition. Last Congress, House Democrats refused over 80 attempts by House Republicans to vote on this legislation. Their refusal has made me more committed than ever to ensure this bill gets a vote. To think that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle would refuse to vote on legislation mandating life-saving measures for a breathing infant is unconscionable," said Emmer.
"It's simple: we are charged with the care and protection of the most vulnerable among us. This bill would prohibit infanticide and ensure babies born alive after abortion attempts receive the medical care and legal protections they deserve. Infanticide will not be tolerated in our country, and I will do everything possible to protect these newborns," Emmer concluded.
Background:
A discharge petition is a procedural tool used to bring a piece of legislation to the House floor. A discharge petition will – if signed by a simple majority of 218 members of the House of Representatives – move the corresponding legislation to the House floor for a debate and, finally, to a vote.
Emmer was a co-sponsor of the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act during the 115th and 116th Congress and is an original co-sponsor in the 117th Congress. During the 116th Congress, House Republicans attempted over 80 times to force a vote on this legislation, and House Democrats refused every attempt.
Congressman Emmer is a member of the Bipartisan Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, which fights for pro-life policies and the elimination of taxpayer funding for abortion. Their ultimate goal is to preserve the sanctity of life.
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