Senate Democrats block GOP’s ‘born-alive’ abortion bill
by Joseph Choi - 01/22/25 3:21 PM ET
Senate Republicans failed on Wednesday to invoke cloture on a bill legislating care for infants “born alive” during attempted abortions, with the motion largely serving to get Democrats on the record as voting against a bill being framed as anti-infanticide.
Republicans sought cloture on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, a bill that requires health care practitioners to provide the “same degree of professional skill, care, and diligence” for a child born alive during an attempted abortion, as they would during normal childbirth.
Health care practitioners who fail to comply with the law would face fines and up to five years in jail or both. House Republicans passed their version of the bill when they retook control in 2023. Democrats have routinely criticized “born-alive” bills as being redundant because killing an infant who was born alive following an attempted abortion is already illegal.
Though Republicans gained control of the Senate, their 53-47 majority does not give them enough votes for the three-fifths majority — 60 votes — needed for cloture.
The motion for cloture Wednesday failed with a vote of 52-47. Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) did not vote.
“Senator Hagerty was responding to a family health matter that required his presence. He is a staunch pro-life advocate and would have voted aye,” a spokesperson for the senator told The Hill.
more
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5100557-senate-abortion-bill-born-alive/
