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WASHINGTON—Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) signed a discharge petition today to force a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives on the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. The bill requires health care practitioners to give the same care to an infant who has survived an abortion as they would to any other newborn. Republicans have repeatedly called on Speaker Nancy Pelosi for a vote on this bill, but that request has been denied 25 times this year. Today's discharge petition seeks to force a vote on the bill once 218 Members sign on to it.

"The American people deserve to know where their Members of Congress stand on protecting life and infants who have survived a botched abortion," said Rep. Estes. "As radical politicians around the country advocate for late-term abortions and openly discuss infanticide, the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act is needed to save lives and protect the most vulnerable in our society. Sadly, Speaker Pelosi has blocked a vote on this bill 25 times, but today's discharge petition cannot be ignored."

Current federal law recognizing infants born during an abortion does not require health care professionals to care for those babies, as the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act would. Additionally, 24 states lack protections for born-alive infants, while legislatures in states like New York, Virginia and Vermont have taken steps to legalize late-term abortions. While the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protect Act would penalize health care practitioners who fail to care for a born-alive infant, mothers of abortion survivors are protected from prosecution.

Rep. Estes has cosponsored the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act and spoke about the need for it from the House Floor during a recent speech commemorating World Down Syndrome Day. President Donald Trump also called for passage of the legislation in his State of the Union Address.

Ron Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas’ 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.