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House bill requires medical care for infants born alive after abortion attempts

Passed one chamberH.R. 21Latest action

Sponsor: Ann Wagner · Representative · MO

AIDecoded by AI · checked against the record
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Official title: Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act

119th Congress

Topics: Crime & justice

Introduced:

Read the official bill on Congress.gov

In plain words

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Bill would mandate medical care for babies born alive during abortions and create new criminal penalties for noncompliance.

45-second read · 4 questions answered below

What does this do?

The bill requires healthcare workers to give any baby born alive during or after an abortion attempt the same medical care as any other newborn at that developmental stage, and to promptly transport the baby to a hospital. Practitioners who know this care wasn't provided must report it to law enforcement, and violations carry fines or up to 5 years in prison, with intentional killing treated like murder.

Who does it affect?

Doctors, nurses, and clinic staff who perform or are present during abortions face new federal duties and penalties. Women who have abortions gain the right to sue for damages but cannot themselves be prosecuted under this law.

Why does it matter?

The law would create new federal criminal liability and reporting obligations for healthcare practitioners involved in abortions. It also opens a new civil legal avenue for women to pursue damages if care requirements aren't met.

AI-drafted summary. Check it against the official text before you act on it.

Read the official bill on Congress.gov

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Where does it stand?

  1. IntroducedJan 3, 2025
  2. House committee
  3. House vote
  4. SenateYou are here · Jan 24, 2025
  5. The president's desk

Right now: it passed the House, and the official record shows nothing new since. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the president.

Latest action: — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Data as of October 9, 2026

Recorded votes

Roll-call votes recorded since January 3, 2025.

  1. House · · Roll call 27

    As recorded

    Question
    On Passage
    Result:
    Passed
    217
    Nay
    204
    1
    11

    Republicans 216 yes, 2 not voting · Democrats 1 yes, 204 no, 1 present, 9 not voting

    Official record
    How members voted

    The official record lists how each member voted.Official record

  2. House · · Roll call 26

    As recorded

    Question
    On
    Result:
    Failed
    205
    Nay
    216
    0
    12

    Republicans 216 no, 2 not voting · Democrats 205 yes, 10 not voting

    Official record
    How members voted

    The official record lists how each member voted.Official record

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