House Democrats have blocked the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act for a second time.

The bill aims to give rights to babies who are born after surviving an abortion.

The legislation was introduced by Representative Ann Wagner and cosponsored by House Republican Whip Steve Scalise “to ensure any infant born alive after an abortion receives the same protection of law as any newborn: mandating care and instituting penalties for doctors who allow such infants to die or who intentionally kill a newborn.”

“I have been horrified to watch radical Democratic legislators argue that babies who survive abortions should not be given the same level of medical care that all other newborn babies receive.” said Rep. Wagner in a statement. “Congress must act to protect those who cannot protect themselves. That is why I introduced the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which merely ensures that babies who survive abortions receive immediate, lifesaving care—just as any other baby would. To my colleagues, this is the simplest vote you will ever take: either you support babies being killed after they are born or you don’t. It is time to go on the record and make clear if you think babies born alive deserve medical care, or if you think they should be left to die.”

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The legislation would require abortion clinics to use care to preserve the life and health of the child and transport them to a hospital after a live birth. Currently, many “born-alive abortions” go unreported. The bill would also require health care practitioners and hospital employees to report violations to law enforcement authorities. Abortionists who violate the law would be subject to fines or up to five years in prison — though it would protect the mother from prosecution.

On Wednesday, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy attempted to bring the legislation into consideration, but was blocked. Rep. Scalise asked for the bill to be considered again on Thursday, but was also rejected.

Before the entire House, I asked for immediate consideration of a bill that protects infants born alive during abortions. But Democrats rejected my motion and refused to consider it. Why won’t they go on record and tell the American people where they stand on infanticide? pic.twitter.com/eaqBS17LTl — Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) February 7, 2019

“Innocent life must be defended and protected at every stage, and that includes babies born alive during an abortion. We must immediately extend legal protections to these vulnerable newborns and prosecute any doctor who would leave them to die,” Scalise said in a statement. “I introduced this resolution to begin the process of forcing a vote on Congresswoman Wagner’s important piece of legislation, especially after horrific actions taken in New York and Virginia to permit infanticide. The silence from Congressional Democrats is deafening and shameful. Every Member of Congress, regardless of party, needs to go on record against infanticide, and we must immediately take action to stop it. The American people deserve to know where their representatives stand on this critical issue.”