GOP-led House passes 2 anti-abortion measures [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Two abortion-related measures were passed by the House on Wednesday.
• The Republican-led House passed a measure condemning violence against anti-abortion groups and facilities as well as a bill enforcing healthcare for a newborn infant who lived after a failed abortion.
• Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer countered that the “extreme” measures are “doomed in the Senate.”

Republican House members wasted no time in addressing their priorities by passing two abortion-related measures on Wednesday.

Following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade last year, Republican state leaders and lawmakers have been doubling down by passing more restrictions. Democrats, meanwhile, have been trying to block such measures while pushing for wider access.

A resolution condemning violence against anti-abortion facilities, groups, and churches was passed 222-209, as 219 Republicans were joined by three Democrats: Pennsylvania Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, Texas Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, and Washington Rep. Marie Perez.

Another bill, introduced by Missouri Rep. Ann Wagner, would require healthcare providers to care for an infant who’s born alive after a failed abortion. Rep. Henry Cueller, a Texas Democrat, joined 219 Republicans in passing the measure 220-210.

However, the bills might not pass since Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) declared that the “extreme” measures are “doomed in the Senate.”

Wagner introduced the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which imposes criminal penalties of up to five years imprisonment on health practitioners who fail to care for a fetus carried to term after a failed abortion.

She declared, “It pains me that this fight has to be fought at all, but medical care for babies should not be a partisan issue.”

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) vowed that his party is “committed to defending life and doing everything in our power to keep babies who survive an abortion alive.”

Such cases of an incomplete abortion where the fetus is carried to term, as well as late-term abortions, are rare. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were only 143 cases within 12 years where an infant was born alive after a failed abortion but subsequently died. In 2020, only 0.9% of abortions were conducted after 21 weeks of pregnancy.

Schumer stated on Wednesday, “American women deserve to have their right to healthcare protected, not undermined.” He accused “the MAGA Republican-controlled House” of being “dangerously out of touch” with America by displaying “truly extreme views on women’s health” that are not supported by the general public.

Some Republicans also criticized the push for such restrictive legislation amid concerns that it could alienate voters this early. Pre-midterm polls have shown that a majority of voters believed that abortion should be legal in all or most cases.

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), who is anti-abortion, told MSNBC, “This is probably not the way to start off the week. We should be looking at measures for example making sure every woman has access to birth control.”

Mace said that while she is against abortion and voted with her party, she considers “many exceptions” and looks into alternatives, such as expanding birth control.

Source: ABC News