House Passes Controversial Bill Mandating Care for Infants Born Alive Post-Abortion

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The U.S. House of Representatives has voted to pass a bill aimed at penalizing doctors who fail to provide life-saving care to infants born alive following attempted abortions. The legislation, which passed with a vote of 217 to 204, garnered support exclusively from Republicans, while nearly all Democrats opposed it. The bill mandates that healthcare practitioners treat these infants with the same level of skill and care they would expect for any newborn.

Under the proposed legislation, non-compliance could lead to fines or imprisonment for up to five years. Republican leaders hailed the measure as a common-sense approach to protect vulnerable infants, while Democrats argued that the bill is unnecessary and could jeopardize medical care for women facing emergencies during late-term abortions.

Opponents, including Democratic Reps. Sara Jacobs and Teresa Leger Fernandez, expressed concerns that the bill could result in harmful consequences for women’s health by instilling fear in healthcare providers. The debate surrounding the bill reflects broader national discussions on abortion rights and healthcare regulations.

This vote follows the Senate's recent failure to advance similar legislation that aimed to declare a "born alive" standard, indicating ongoing partisan divisions over reproductive health issues.

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