Reschenthaler Fights to Protect Abortion Survivors, Stop Infanticide

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Tonight, Congressman Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14) furthered Republican efforts to force a vote on H.R. 962, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which protects babies born alive after failed abortions. This marks the seventh time Democrats have said no to protecting these children and stopping infanticide.

"This should not be a partisan issue. It is time for Democrats to show us whether they stand against infanticide or if they think leaving babies to die after being born is acceptable," stated Reschenthaler.

H.R. 962, introduced by Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO), ensures that a baby born alive after a failed or attempted abortion receives the same medical care as any other newborn. It would also penalize doctors who allow such infants to die or who intentionally kill a newborn following a failed abortion. Reschenthaler is a cosponsor of this critical legislation.

Gianna Jessen shared her story of surviving an abortion with the House Judiciary Committee, of which Reschenthaler is a member:

"Instead of dying, after 18 hours of being burned in my mother's womb, I was delivered alive in an abortion clinic in Los Angeles on April the 6th, 1977. My medical records state: ‘Born alive during saline abortion' at 6 am. Thankfully, the abortionist was not at work yet. Had he been there, he would have ended my life with strangulation, suffocation, or leaving me there to die. Instead, a nurse called an ambulance, and I was rushed to a hospital. Doctors did not expect me to live. I did. I was later diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, which was caused by a lack of oxygen to my brain while surviving the abortion. I was never supposed to hold my head up or walk. I do. If abortion is about women's rights, then what were mine?"

A recent Marist poll found that for first time since 2009, as many or more Americans identify as pro-life as those who identify as pro-choice, with the number identifying as pro-choice dropping 8 percent over the last month. This demonstrates a dramatic shift in public opinion on abortion policy following public discussion on the new measures in New York and Virginia.

If the Democrats continue to block consideration of H.R. 962, after 30 legislative days, Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) and Rep. Wagner plan to file a motion to discharge the resolution from the Rules Committee.