Wednesday, Congressman August Pfluger signed a discharge petition for H.R. 629, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, that mandates that any infant born alive after an abortion receives the same standard of care as any newborn baby. This legislation would also institute penalties for abortionists who allow infants to die or who intentionally kill a newborn. If the petition reaches 218 signatures, the bill will be brought up for an immediate vote on the House Floor.

“Leaving a baby born-alive during an abortion to die is not a partisan issue—it is infanticide,” said Congressman Pfluger. “All life is sacred, and Americans deserve to know if their legislators support protecting life after birth. I am proud to stand up for the sanctity of life, and urge all of my colleagues to immediately sign this petition and end infanticide nationwide.”  

The Born-Alive Protection Act requires health care professionals present at the live birth exercise skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of the child and transport the child to a hospital. It will also require health care practitioners and hospital employees to report violations to law enforcement authorities, and penalizes the intentional killing of a born-alive child through fines or imprisonment. Notably, the bill protects the mother of the abortion survivor from prosecution.