Senate Blocks Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Act in Party-Line Vote

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Senate on Wednesday blocked the “Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act” in a 52-47 party-line vote, with all Senate Democrats and two independents opposing the measure. The bill, which sought to mandate medical care for infants born alive after attempted abortions, failed to advance despite Republican support.

The legislation would have required healthcare providers to offer the same level of care to infants born alive during or after an abortion as they would to any other newborn. It also stipulated that such infants be immediately transported to a hospital. The bill explicitly prohibited prosecuting the mother of the child.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., a vocal opponent of the bill, defended his stance on social media. “I’ve always stood on the side of Roe and a woman’s right to make her own health care choices. It’s absurd to mandate criminalization because of those choices. Any bill that does so, including the Born-Alive Survivors Protection Act, is a NO from me,” Fetterman wrote on X.

Pro-life advocates condemned the vote. Lila Rose, president of Live Action, criticized Fetterman, stating, “You just voted against medical care for a crying infant, begging for help, struggling to survive after a failed abortion. You have believed the leftist lie that killing babies – in this case now a BORN baby struggling for his life – is ever acceptable. Pure evil.”

Katie Glenn Daniel of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America also responded to Fetterman, writing, “My dude, it’s literally called the Born-ALIVE Abortion SURVIVORS Protection Act. A baby is born, breathing and squirming, and you voted to deny her the life-sustaining healthcare that she would be owed if she was born under any other circumstance.”

The bill’s failure highlights the ongoing partisan divide over abortion rights, a contentious issue since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. While Republicans argue the legislation is a matter of basic human decency, Democrats contend it is unnecessary and could further restrict abortion access.

In the House, Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, was the sole Democrat to join Republicans in supporting a similar bill. Cuellar, who represents a swing district, has often taken moderate positions on cultural issues. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, another Texas Democrat, voted “present” on the measure.

Critics of the bill argue that existing laws already require doctors to provide care to infants born alive, making the legislation redundant. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., stated, “The so-called Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act would do nothing other than create a situation where doctors cannot properly care for high-risk patients.”

Despite the bill’s failure in the Senate, Republicans remain committed to advancing pro-life legislation. Sen. Tom Cole, R-Okla., called the measure “common sense and basic human decency,” while Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Mo., emphasized the need to protect “innocent children at their most vulnerable.”

The debate over the Born-Alive Act underscores the broader political struggle over abortion rights, which continues to shape elections and legislative agendas across the country.