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Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) has signed onto a discharge petition that will force a vote on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act if it reaches the required 218 signatures. Republicans in the House have attempted to bring the legislation up for a vote more than 20 times this Congress, but have been blocked by Democratic leadership every time. Unlike most legislation voted on in the House, a discharge petition would require a vote on legislation without the approval of the majority’s leadership. If 218 members of the House sign the petition, the bill will receive a vote on the House floor.

“It’s hard to believe that legislation like the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act wouldn’t receive a vote,” said Latta. “With governors, state legislatures, and presidential candidates continuing to stretch the boundaries of how extreme they can push their abortion agenda, Members of Congress should go on record on this moral legislation. All the bill asks is for a doctor to treat a living, breathing baby that has survived an abortion, in the same way they would treat any other baby. This shouldn’t be a difficult vote, and it wasn’t too long ago that a bill like this would be passed with overwhelming support. Tragically, times have changed. I’m signing this discharge petition, because I’m standing with life. We need a vote on this measure.”

The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act builds on legislation passed by Congress in 2002, the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act. That legislation passed the Senate by unanimous consent at the time and clarified that any baby that is born alive at any stage of development is a “person” in the eyes of the Federal law.
 
The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act further clarifies that a baby that is born alive as the result of an attempted abortion must be administered reasonable care and be transported immediately to a hospital.

Recently, Latta authored an op-ed on the need to pass the legislation.

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