Incoming House leadership set to introduce pro-life legislation

Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), the incoming House majority leader, announced on Friday that upcoming legislation will include two bills regarding abortion as well as a resolution in regard to recent attacks on pro-life centers and churches.

Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act

Scalise revealed plans to introduce the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which would require that medical care be given to any newborn who survives an abortion. Pro-abortion legislators have voted against similar measures in the past, arguing that such protections already exist despite evidence that infants are being left to die after surviving abortions.

The bill states, “If an abortion results in the live birth of an infant, the infant is a legal person for all purposes under the laws of the United States, and entitled to all the protections of such laws.”

It requires abortionists to “(A) exercise the same degree of professional skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of the child as a reasonably diligent and conscientious health care practitioner would render to any other child born alive at the same gestational age; and (B) following the exercise of skill, care, and diligence required under subparagraph (A), ensure that the child born alive is immediately transported and admitted to a hospital.”

Anyone who violates the law could be fined and imprisoned for up to five years.

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The Hyde Amendment

In addition, Scalise plans a bill to codify the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits the use of federal dollars to fund abortion. The amendment would also be expanded to prohibit federal funding for insurance plans that cover elective abortions. The bill would not apply to abortions of children conceived in acts of rape or incest or in cases in which the woman “suffers from a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness that would, as certified by a physician, place the woman in danger of death unless an abortion is performed, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself.”

Induced abortion intentionally kills a preborn human being and is not medically necessary.

Attacks against pregnancy centers

Scalise also said he will introduce a resolution condemning the recent attacks against pro-life pregnancy centers and churches. Such attacks have escalated in 2022 and have included firebombings, threats, and vandalism. The pro-life movement faced 22 times the violent attacks that pro-abortion groups did in 2022, yet the government has failed to condemn the violence. Sen. Elizabeth Warren even introduced legislation to attempt to shut down pregnancy centers.

“We understand that developing a good process will lead to better legislative outcomes. Returning to work in person, empowering each committee, moving legislation through regular order, encouraging Member input, and allowing adequate time to read legislation will be major priorities of our incoming majority. We are excited to make those principles a reality in the House,” said Scalise.

He added, “We do also recognize that it will take some time for our committees to organize and start moving legislation through regular order. In the meantime, we will begin bringing up meaningful, ‘ready-to-go’ legislation in the House.”

It is unlikely that the pro-life bills will pass the Democratic-controlled Senate.