In one of the first actions by the 118th Congress, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass two Pro-Life bills.
The first, HCon.Res. 3, condemns the recent attacks on Pro-Life facilities, including churches and pregnancy resource centers. Many of these centers suffered attacks leading up to and after the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization from violent, radical anti-Life organizations angry that preborn children would now be protected.
The second, H.R. 26, known as the “Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act,” would protect babies who are born alive after a “failed” abortion. The bill merely requires “the same degree of professional skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of the child” born alive after abortion as one born when an abortion was not attempted.
Both of these measures passed along party lines and now head to the Senate for a vote. It is shocking and sickening that nearly every Democrat voted against these common sense measures. Only three Democrats, including Vicente Gonzales (D-TX-34), voted in favor of the resolution to condemn the attacks on Pro-Life pregnancy resource centers, and only one Democrat, Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28), voted in favor of the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.
We are living under the most anti-Life presidential administration ever, but the results of the November 2022 general election, giving Republicans the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives once again, will help mitigate the anti-Life efforts.
These two bills now head to the Senate, where Democrats hold a one-member majority over Republicans, as well as the tie breaking vote of Vice President Kamala Harris. This means that at least two Democrats will have to break with their monolithic party in order to pass these bills.
The Republican-held House took quick action to vote on and pass Pro-Life measures. The Regular Session of the 88th Legislature has just begun in Texas. While we have prohibited elective abortion in our state, there is still more work to do to stop illegal abortions, assist pregnant mothers, and defend vulnerable patients. Texas Right to Life will be in the Texas Capitol every day urging the Legislature to take quick action in voting on and passing substantive Pro-Life victories at the state level as well.
