Life Advocacy Briefing

Game On

AMONG THE FIRST LEGISLATION brought before the US House last week was the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, sponsored by Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO), who repeatedly sought to have this proposal considered during the previous Congress.

The bill passed the House by a vote of 220 to 201, with one voting “present.” We publish the voting record at the close of this Life Advocacy Briefing, along with the roll call on the abortion lobby’s attempt to block consideration via a motion to recommit HR-26 to the House Judiciary Committee.

The bill, according to the summary published in the Congressional Record, “establishes requirements for the degree of care a healthcare practitioner must provide in the case of a child born alive following an abortion or attempted abortion. Specifically,” the summary reads, “a healthcare practitioner who is present must (1) exercise the same degree of care as would reasonably be provided to any other child born alive at the same gestational age, and (2) ensure the child is immediately admitted to a hospital.”

The summary further provides: “Additionally, a healthcare practitioner or other employee who has knowledge of a failure to comply with the degree-of-care requirements must immediately report such failure to law enforcement.”

Failure to provide “the required degree of care” or to “report such failure,” the summary indicates, “is subject to criminal penalties – a fine, up to five years in prison or both.”

And the bill goes on to provide, again quoting from the Congressional Record summary, “An individual who intentionally kills or attempts to kill a child born alive is subject to prosecution for murder,” as is surely appropriate!

Criminal prosecution of the aborting mother is barred under the bill, which, notes the summary, “allows her to bring a civil action against a healthcare practitioner or other employee for violations.”

What could be more reasonable or more appropriate under the Constitution’s guarantee of the right to life for every person in the United States. This legislation pertains to babies who are well enough developed to have survived an abortion attempt. How can any reasonable American vote against that?

And Then Another Pro-Life Proposal

JUST MINUTES LATER, the House took up and adopted House Concurrent Resolution 3, which will be subject to Senate consideration in order to be considered officially adopted.

The resolution, offered by Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA), condemns recent attacks on pro-life facilities, groups and churches. We publish the text of the resolution later in this Life Advocacy Briefing, and we thank Rep. Johnson for calling these crimes to the attention of the Congress and the public. We expect to publish the voting record on the resolution in next week’s edition.

Marching for Life, Still

NEXT WEEKEND, THOUSANDS OF PRO-LIFE AMERICANS are expected to descend upon the nation’s capital for the annual March for Life, the first such annual march to celebrate the eclipse of Roe v. Wade and the restored recognition that the people of America – through their state and federal lawmakers – are free to hold abortionists criminally responsible for their deadly acts.

The March for Life will gather on the National Mall on Friday, Jan. 20, for a noon rally and will step off at 1 p.m. for participants to march down Constitution Avenue to the steps of the US Capitol, a change from pre-Dobbs marches, which ended before the Supreme Court.

Associated events include a variety of church services, an “expo” featuring displays from various pro-life organizations and a banquet in the Renaissance DC Downtown Hotel. Information is available at marchforlife.org.

Undermining Progress

THE BIDEN H.H.S. DEPARTMENT HAS PROPOSED A NEW RULE weakening conscience rights protections for medical personnel who cannot participate in such procedures as abortion, abetted suicide, sterilization or sex-change manipulations.

The proposed regulation was posted Dec. 29 in the Federal Register with a mechanism for public comment over the succeeding 60 days.

While seeming to acknowledge conscience rights of medical personnel, the accompanying commentary from the Health & Human Service Department’s Office of Civil Rights “noted,” reports Mark Tapscott for The Epoch Times, “‘patients also have autonomy, rights and moral and religious convictions. And they have health needs, sometimes urgent ones. Our healthcare systems must effectively deliver services – including safe legal abortion – to all who need them in order to protect patients’ health and dignity.’”

We have said it before, and we will continue to say it: Abortion is not health care. Neither is abetted surgery, sterilization or gender bending.

The proposed rule is clearly intended to replace the Conscience Protection Rule promulgated under the Trump Administration by advancing a culture of death and manipulation, a modern brand of Nazi science.

We encourage our readers to call this rule to the attention of their elected Representatives in Congress. [Capitol switchboard: 1-202/224-3121]

Mississippi Takes the Lead Again

THE MANTLE OF LEADERSHIP in the Senate Pro-Life Caucus has passed, for this Congress, to Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith. The Mississippi Republican takes the reins from Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT), who founded the caucus in 2019, notes National Right to Life News.

The purpose of the caucus, according to NRL News, is “to advance pro-life policies, vet legislation through a pro-life lens and facilitate collaboration between pro-life organizations and Senators. The caucus also,” states the NRL report, “provides important oversight to hold the Biden Administration accountable for its radical pro-abortion policies.”

The Mississippi lawmaker appears to be following the lead of her home state, which took the Dobbs case through the Supreme Court, successfully defending its law criminalizing abortion of babies aged 15 weeks and older. “‘I will lead the fight in the Senate,’” she said in the NRL News report, “‘to protect unborn children and their mothers from abortion and to combat the misinformation and extreme agenda of the abortion industry. It is an honor to continue the great work Sen. Daines began,’ she said.”

Stateside

• Four Democratic State Senators in Washington State have filed a constitutional amendment proposal (SJR-8202), reports Bridget Sielicki for Live Action, to “guarantee a right to abortion.” The proposal, which was reportedly filed at the request of Gov. Jay Inslee (D), has been referred to committee.

• State lawmakers in Minnesota, reports Calvin Freiburger for LifeSiteNews, “are currently mulling legislation to establish a ‘right’ to abortion-on-demand … and recently rejected proposed amendments placing modest limits on the practice.” The “Protect Reproductive Options Act” has emerged from committee in the Minnesota House, which rejected attempts by GOP committee members to amend the bill, reports Mr. Freiburger, who writes one of the amendments “would have required second- and third-trimester abortions to be conducted in hospital settings in case of medical risks to the mother.” A second amendment, he reports, “would have prohibited third-trimester abortions outright, and the third … would have prohibited partial-birth abortion procedures.”

Condemning Anti-Life Violence

Text of House Concurrent Resolution 3 adopted Jan. 11, Congressional Record

             Whereas since the May 2, 2022, leak of the Supreme Court’s draft opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Org., individuals professing anti-life views have targeted, destroyed or vandalized numerous pro-life facilities, groups and even churches to further their radical cause;

             Whereas, on June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court issued a final decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Org., which upheld Mississippi’s pro-life law and overturned Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey;

             Whereas, following the leak of the draft Dobbs decision, radical anti-life advocates initiated a pressure campaign designed to influence the Supreme Court’s opinion;

             Whereas, following the leak and issuance of the Dobbs decision, radical anti-life advocates have defaced, vandalized and caused destruction to over 100 pro-life facilities, groups and churches … ;

             [Here, in 35 separate paragraphs, the resolution details incidents of vandalism and violence precipitating the resolution]

             Whereas the Biden Administration has failed to take action to respond to the radical attacks on pro-life facilities, groups and churches, or to protect the rights of these organizations; and

             Whereas these attacks on pro-life facilities, groups and churches have included vandalism, arson, incendiary graffiti and other damage; Now, therefore, be it

             Resolved, by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), that Congress –

1. Condemns recent attacks of vandalism, violence and destruction against pro-life facilities, groups and churches;
2. Recognizes the sanctity of life and the important role pro-life facilities, groups and churches play in supporting pregnant women, infants and families; and
3. Calls upon the Biden Administration to use all appropriate law enforcement authorities to uphold public safety and to protect the rights of pro-life facilities, groups and churches.

House Voting Records

HR 26 – Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act – Motion to Recommit – Jan. 11, 2023 (Failed 219 – 212) [New Members in ALL CAPS; Democrats in italics]

Voting No (pro-life): Aderholt, Carl, Moore, Palmer, Rogers, STRONG/AL; Biggs, CISCOMANI, CRANE, Gosar, Leslo, Schweikert/AZ; Crawford, Hill, Westerman, Womack/AR; Calvert, DUARTE, M. Garcia, Issa, KILEY, Kim, LaMalfa, Speaker McCarthy, McClintock, Obernolte, Steel, Valadao/CA; Boebert, Buck, Lamborn/CO; BEAN, Bilirakis, Cammack, Diaz-Balart, Donalds, Dunn, Franklin, Gaetz, Gimenez, LEE, LUNA, Mast, MILLS, Posey, Rutherford, Salazar, Steube, Waltz, Webster/FL; Allen, Carter, Clyde, COLLINS, Ferguson, Greene, Loudermilk, McCORMICK, A.Scott/GA; Fulcher, Simpson/ID; Bost, LaHood, Miller/IL; Baird, Banks, Bucshon, HOUCHIN, Pence, Spartz, YAKYM/IN; Feenstra, Hinson, Miller-Meeks, NUNN/IA; Estes, LaTurner, Mann/KS; Barr, Comer, Guthrie, Massie, Rogers/KY; Graves, Higgins, Johnson, Letlow, Scalise/LA; Harris/MD; Bergman, Huizenga, JAMES, McClain, Moolenaar, Walberg/MI; Emmer, FINSTAD, Fischbach, Stauber/MN; EZELL, Guest, Kelly/MS; ALFORD, BURLISON, Graves, Leutkemeyer, Smith, Wagner/MO; Rosendale, ZINKE/MT; Bacon, FLOOD, Smith/NE; Amodei/NV; KEAN, Smith, VanDrew/NJ; D’ESPOSITO, Garbarino, LaLOTA, LANGWORTHY, LAWLER, Malliotakis, MOLINARO, SANTOS, Stefanik, Tenney, WILLIAMS/NY; Bishop, EDWARDS, Foxx, Hudson, McHenry, Murphy, Rouzer/NC; Armstrong/ND; Balderson, Carey, Davidson, Johnson, Jordan, Joyce, Latta, MILLER, Turner, Wenstrup/OH; Bice, BRECHEEN, Cole, Hern, Lucas/OK; Bentz, CHAVEZ-DeREMER/OR; Fitzpatrick, Joyce, Kelly, Meuser, Perry, Reschenthaler, Smucker, Thompson/PA; Duncan, FRY, Mace, Norman, Timmons, Wilson/SC; Johnson/SD; Burchett, DesJarlais, Fleischmann, Green, Harshbarger, Kustoff, OGLES, Rose/TN; Arrington, Babin, Burgess, Carter, Cloud, Crenshaw, DeLaCRUZ, Ellzey, Fallon, T.Gonzales, Gooden, Granger, Jackson, LUTTRELL, McCaul, MORAN, Nehls, Pfluger, Roy, SELF, Sessions, VanDuyne, Weber/TX; Curtis, Moore, Owens, Stewart/UT; Cline, Good, Griffith, KIGGANS, Wittman/VA; Newhouse, Rodgers/WA; Miller, Mooney/WV; Fitzgerald, Gallagher, Grothman, Steil, Tiffany, VanORDEN/WI; HAGEMAN/WY.

Voting Yes (anti-life): Sewell/AL; PELTOLA/AK; Gallego, Grijalva, Stanton/AZ; Aguilar, Barragan, Bera, Brownley, Carbajal, Cardenas, Chu, Correa, Costa, DeSaulnier, Eschoo, Garamendi, R.GARCIA, Gomez, Harder, Huffman, Jacobs, KAMLAGER-DOVE, Khanna, Lee, Levin, Lieu, Lofgren, Matsui, MULLIN, Napolitano, Panetta, Pelosi, Peters, Porter, Ruiz, Sanchez, Schiff, Sherman, Swalwell, Takano, Thompson, Torres, Vargas, Waters/CA; CARAVEO, Crow, DeGette, Neguse, PETTERSEN/CO; Courtney, DeLauro, Hayes, Himes, Larson/CT; Blunt-Rochester/DE; Castor, CHERFILUS-McCORMICK, Frankel, FROST, MOSKOWITZ, Soto, Wasserman-Schultz, Wilson/FL; Bishop, Johnson, McBath, D.Scott, Williams/GA; Case, TOKUDA/HI; BUDZINSKI, Casten, Davis, Foster, Garcia, JACKSON, Kelly, Krishnamoorthi, Quigley, RAMIREZ, Schakowsky, Schneider, SORENSEN, Underwood/IL; Carson, Mrvan/IN; Davids/KS; McGARVEY/KY; Carter/LA; Golden, Pingree/ME; Hoyer, IVEY, Mfume, Raskin, Ruppersberger, Sarbanes, Trone/MD; Auchincloss, Clark, Keating, Lynch, McGovern, Moulton, Neal, Pressley, Trahan/MA; Dingell, Kildee, SCHOLTEN, Slotkin, Stevens, THANEDAR, Tlaib/MI; Craig, McCollum, Omar, Phillips/MN; Thompson/MS; Bush, Cleaver/MO; Horsford, Lee, Titus/NV; Kuster, Pappas/NH; Gottheimer, Kim, Menendez, Norcross, Pallone, Pascrell, Payne, Sherrill, Watson-Coleman/NJ; Leger-Fernandez, Stansbury, VASQUEZ/NM; Bowman, Clarke, Espaillat, GOLDMAN, Higgins, Jeffries, Meeks, Meng, Morelle, Nadler, Ocasio-Cortez, RYAN, Tonko, Torres, Velazquez/NY; Adams, DAVIS, FOUSHEE, JACKSON, Manning, NICKEL, Ross/NC; Beatty, BROWN, Kaptur, LANDSMAN, SYKES/OH; Blumenauer, Bonamici, HOYLE, SALINAS/OR; Boyle, Cartwright, Dean, DELUZIO, Evans, Houlahan, LEE, Scanlon, Wild/PA; Cicilline, MAGAZINER/RI; Clyburn/SC; Cohen/TN; Allred, CASAR, Castro, CROCKETT, Cuellar, Doggett, Escobar, Fletcher, Garcia, V.Gonzalez, Green, Jackson-Lee, Veasey/TX; BALINT/VT; Beyer, Connolly, Scott, Spanberger, Wexton/VA; DelBene, Jayapal, Kilmer, Larsen, PEREZ, Schrier, Smith, Strickland/WA; Moore, Pocan/WI.

Not Voting: Buchanan/FL; Hunt, Williams/TX.

HR 26 – Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act – Final Passage – January 11, 2023 (Passed 220 – 210) [Democrats in italics]

Voting Yes (pro-life): Aderholt, Carl, Moore, Palmer, Rogers, Strong/AL; Biggs, Ciscomani, Crane, Gosar, Leslo, Schweikert/AZ; Crawford, Hill, Westerman, Womack/AR; Calvert, Duarte, M.Garcia, Issa, Kiley, Kim, LaMalfa, Speaker McCarthy, McClintock, Obernolte, Steel, Valadao/CA; Boebert, Buck, Lamborn/CO; Bean, Bilirakis, Cammack, Diaz-Balart, Donalds, Dunn, Franklin, Gaetz, Gimenez, Lee, Luna, Mast, Mills, Posey, Rutherford, Salazar, Steube, Waltz, Webster/FL; Allen, Carter, Clyde, Collins, Ferguson, Greene, Loudermilk, McCormick, A.Scott/GA; Fulcher, Simpson/ID; Bost, LaHood, Miller/IL; Baird, Banks, Bucshon, Houchin, Pence, Spartz, Yakym/IN; Feenstra, Hinson, Miller-Meeks, Nunn/IA; Estes, LaTurner, Mann/KS; Barr, Comer, Guthrie, Massie, Rogers/KY; Graves, Higgins, Johnson, Letlow, Scalise/LA; Harris/MD; Bergman, Huizenga, James, McClain, Moolenaar, Walberg/MI; Emmer, Finstad, Fischbach, Stauber/MN; Ezell, Guest, Kelly/MS; Alford, Burlison, Graves, Leutkemeyer, Smith, Wagner/MO; Rosendale, Zinke/MT; Bacon, Flood, Smith/NE; Amodei/NV; Kean, Smith, VanDrew/NJ; D’Esposito, Garbarino, LaLota, Langworthy, Lawler, Malliotakis, Molinaro, Santos, Stefanik, Tenney, Williams/NY; Bishop, Edwards, Foxx, Hudson, McHenry, Murphy, Rouzer/NC; Armstrong/ND; Balderson, Carey, Davidson, Johnson, Jordan, Joyce, Latta, Miller, Turner, Wenstrup/OH; Bice, Brecheen, Cole, Hern, Lucas/OK; Bentz, Chavez-DeRemier/OR; Fitzpatrick, Joyce, Kelly, Meuser, Perry, Reschenthaler, Smucker, Thompson/PA; Duncan, Fry, Mace, Norman, Timmons, Wilson/SC; Johnson/SD; Burchett, DesJarlais, Fleischmann, Green, Harshbarger, Kustoff, Ogles, Rose/TN; Arrington, Babin, Burgess, Carter, Cloud, Crenshaw, Cuellar, DeLaCruz, Ellzey, Fallon, T.Gonzales, Gooden, Granger, Jackson, Luttrell, McCaul, Moran, Nehls, Pfluger, Roy, Self, Sessions, VanDuyne, Weber/TX; Curtis, Moore, Owens, Stewart/UT; Cline, Good, Griffith, Kiggans, Wittman/VA; Newhouse, Rodgers/WA; Miller, Mooney/WV; Fitzgerald, Gallagher, Grothman, Steil, Tiffany, VanOrden/WI; Hageman/WY.

Voting Yes (anti-life): Sewell/AL; Peltola/AK; Gallego, Grijalva, Stanton/AZ; Aguilar, Barragan, Bera, Brownley, Carbajal, Cardenas, Chu, Correa, Costa, DeSaulnier, Eschoo, Garamendi, R.Garcia, Gomez, Harder, Huffman, Jacobs, Kamlager-Dove, Khanna, Lee, Levin, Lieu, Lofgren, Matsui, Mullin, Napolitano, Panetta, Pelosi, Peters, Porter, Ruiz, Sanchez, Schiff, Sherman, Swalwell, Takano, Thompson, Torres, Vargas, Waters/CA; Caraveo, Crow, DeGette, Neguse, Pettersen/CO; Courtney, DeLauro, Hayes, Himes, Larson/CT; Blunt-Rochester/DE; Castor, Cherfilus-McCormick, Frankel, Frost, Moskowitz, Soto, Wasserman-Schultz, Wilson/FL; Bishop, Johnson, McBath, D.Scott, Williams/GA; Case, Tokuda/HI; Budzinski, Casten, Davis, Foster, Garcia, Jackson, Kelly, Krishnamoorthi, Quigley, Ramirez, Schakowsky, Schneider, Sorensen, Underwood/IL; Carson, Mrvan/IN; Davids/KS; McGarvey/KY; Carter/LA; Golden, Pingree/ME; Hoyer, Ivey, Mfume, Raskin, Ruppersberger, Sarbanes, Trone/MD; Auchincloss, Clark, Keating, Lynch, McGovern, Moulton, Neal, Pressley, Trahan/MA; Dingell, Kildee, Scholten, Slotkin, Stevens, Thanedar, Tlaib/MI; Craig, McCollum, Omar, Phillips/MN; Thompson/MS; Bush, Cleaver/MO; Horsford, Lee, Titus/NV; Kuster, Pappas/NH; Gottheimer, Kim, Menendez, Norcross, Pallone, Pascrell, Payne, Sherrill, Watson-Coleman/NJ; Leger-Fernandez, Stansbury, Vasquez/NM; Bowman, Clarke, Espaillat, Goldman, Higgins, Jeffries, Meeks, Meng, Morelle, Nadler, Ocasio-Cortez, Ryan, Tonko, Torres, Velazquez/NY; Adams, Davis, Foushee, Jackson, Manning, Nickel, Ross/NC; Beatty, Brown, Kaptur, Landsman, Sykes/OH; Blumenauer, Bonamici, Hoyle, Salinas/OR; Boyle, Cartwright, Dean, Deluzio, Evans, Houlahan, Lee, Scanlon, Wild/PA; Cicilline, Magaziner/RI; Clyburn/SC; Cohen/TN; Allred, Casar, Castro, Crockett, Doggett, Escobar, Fletcher, Garcia, Green, Jackson-Lee, Veasey/TX; Balint/VT; Beyer, Connolly, Scott, Spanberger, Wexton/VA; DelBene, Jayapal, Kilmer, Larsen, Perez, Schrier, Smith, Strickland/WA; Moore, Pocan/WI.

Present: V.Gonzalez/TX.

Not Voting: Buchanan/FL; Hunt, Williams/TX.