On Capitol Hill on Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Ross Spano, R-Fla., took part in a GOP-led hearing on the “Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.”
According to Senate sponsor U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., the proposal “protects newborns that are born alive after botched abortions by requiring the same degree of care that would be provided to any other newborn at the same stage of development” including newborns born during an abortion would receive hospital care. Over in the U.S. House, U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Mo., is the sponsor.
The bill was blocked by more than 40 Democrats in the Senate who have filibustered it. It is not expected to clear the Democrat-controlled House.
Spano weighed in after the hearing on Tuesday.
“Saving a baby’s life should not be a partisan issue,” Spano said. “Yet there are 24 states that fail to provide protection for these infants and allow physicians to withhold lifesaving care to babies who miraculously survive an abortion. It just doesn’t pass the common sense test. What we do and what we tolerate says a lot about us as a people and a nation, and I call on my colleagues to help put an end to this heinous practice.”
First elected to Congress last year after three terms in the Florida House, Spano represents parts of Hillsborough, Lake and Polk Counties. He is expected to be a top target for Democrats in the 2020 election cycle.
Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.
