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Bill would require medical care for infants born alive after abortion

Floor activityS. 6Latest action

Sponsor: James Lankford · Senator · OK

AIDecoded by AI · checked against the record
Read the official text

Official title: Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act

119th Congress

Topics: Crime & justice

Introduced:

Read the official bill on Congress.gov

In plain words

The plain-language version comes first. The official text is always the reference.

The bill would require medical care for infants born alive after an abortion, with criminal and civil penalties for noncompliance.

55-second read · 4 questions answered below

What does this do?

This bill would create a federal law requiring doctors and nurses to give an infant born alive during or after an abortion attempt the same medical care as any other newborn at that stage of development, then quickly get the infant to a hospital. Health care workers who know this care wasn't provided must report it to authorities. Failing to provide care could bring fines and up to five years in prison, while intentionally killing such an infant could be charged as murder under federal law.

Who does it affect?

This mainly affects health care providers who perform abortions, especially in rare cases where an infant survives the procedure. Mothers cannot be criminally charged under the law but may sue providers for damages if required care isn't given.

Why does it matter?

The bill narrowly sets legal requirements, criminal penalties, and civil lawsuit options for treating infants born alive after an abortion; supporters and opponents disagree on how often this occurs and on its broader effects on abortion access and medical practice.

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

Read the official bill on Congress.gov

Make the call

The last attempt failed: a Senate vote to end debate on taking it up fell short, 52–47, on January 22, 2025.

Three steps: where you stand, your script, the call.

Where do you stand?

Where does it stand?

  1. IntroducedJan 15, 2025
  2. Senate committee
  3. Senate voteYou are here · Jan 22, 2025
  4. House
  5. The president's desk

Right now: the Senate has not agreed to take it up. The last motion to do so failed. If the House changes it, it goes back to the Senate before reaching the president.

Latest action: — Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 52 - 47. Record Vote Number: 11. (CR S294-295)

Data as of October 9, 2026

Recorded votes

Roll-call votes recorded since January 3, 2025.

  1. Senate · · Roll call 11

    As recorded

    Question
    On S. 6
    Result:
    Cloture on the Motion to Proceed Rejected
    52
    Nay
    47
    0
    1

    Republicans 52 yes, 1 not voting · Democrats 45 no · Independents 2 no

    Official record
    How members voted

    The official record lists how each member voted.Official record

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