U.S. Senate Fails to Defend Infants Born Alive
A newborn baby has just been delivered. Breath has filled her lungs for the first time, and she is crying as oxygen replaces amniotic fluid and rushes over her vocal chords. She is alive in every way. She has a heartbeat. She is breathing. She feels pain. She has a soul, and is made in the image of the Creator. Her right to life is unalienable and granted by God. It’s a right that has been secured for her by the Constitution of the United States.
But one thing she does not yet have is the ability to defend herself and fight for that sacred right. That duty, therefore, is left to us. Today we face the harsh reality that as she leaves the womb in a defenseless state, there is a growing movement to deny her right to life-saving care.
Last night, on the floor of the U.S. Senate—and in the wake of a national discussion that escalated when the Governor of Virginia made comments sympathetic to deferential infanticide—Sen. Ben Sasse (NE) put forward a request asking for unanimous consent for an idea that should have easily been unanimous. The idea was simply that a baby born alive—even after an attempted abortion—must be provided the same legal rights and life-saving care that would be given to any other human being. Not only should this idea be non-controversial, but it is in fact fundamental to the American ideals that every person has a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Surely, even in a partisan environment like the current one, the U.S. Senate should be able to find consensus on this most basic and fundamental issue.
Tragically, consensus was not achieved. Sen. Patty Murray (WA) objected, expressing the opinion that the legislation known as the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, was unnecessary and a political stunt. Because of her objection—almost certainly supported by a great number of her pro-abortion colleagues in the Senate—the unanimous consent request failed and the U.S. Senate missed a critical opportunity to stand against infanticide.
The truth is that the issue of life and abortion deeply divides our nation. It’s a grievous reality and one in which we all must engage on behalf of the most innocent and defenseless among us.
But this debate—the one about whether a fully delivered child will be provided life-saving care—is even more basic. In fact, it shouldn’t be a debate at all. It should be an opportunity for those on all sides of the abortion issue to find consensus. It’s just not a close call.
The tragic reality, however, is that the political arm of the abortion lobby is desperate to avoid any line of demarcation when it comes to the question of when life begins. The reason for this reticence is clear—it’s because once a line has been drawn, one must defend where that line is drawn. The abortion industry knows very well that science is on a steady and sustained march that demonstrates conclusive signs of life at earlier and earlier points of gestation. They know that conceding a line must be drawn somewhere will eventually demonstrate the humanity that exists at conception and drive them out of business. So they resist drawing any line at all.
The debate over where that line is drawn is one we must engage. But first, let’s have an honest discussion about today’s debate, and come together to call it what it is.
It is infanticide. It is the killing of an infant. And we should all stand against it.
The U.S. Senate demonstrated a shocking failure to achieve unanimous consent against infanticide. It must now call up the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act and insist that every member of its body go on the record for or against this barbaric atrocity that marks our time. While it may take political courage for some to buck the radical agenda of the abortion lobby, that is a very small price to pay—and one we should demand from our leaders—in exchange for defending that baby girl (or boy) who is lying on the table and crying out for help.
She has life.
She has a soul.
She has rights under the Constitution of the United States.
It is our job—and our sacred duty—to speak up for her.
Join us in calling for enactment of the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.