Bill · S. 6· Senate(119-S-6)
Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act
- Introduced
- 1/15/2025
- Last activity
- 1/22/2025 — 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)
- Sponsored by
- James Lankford
- Cosponsors
- - 50 - 0
- Introduced
What this bill would do
The "Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act" aims to amend title 18 of the United States Code. It establishes specific requirements for health care practitioners when a child is born alive following an abortion or attempted abortion. Practitioners must exercise a specific degree of professional skill and care to preserve the child's life and health. Additionally, the bill requires that such children be immediately transported and admitted to a hospital. The legislation includes mandatory reporting requirements for violations and establishes criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment. It also provides for civil remedies and bars the prosecution of the mother for these specific violations.
Yes· 3 of 4
Would children be better off under this?+8
The bill mandates that practitioners provide specific skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life of a child born alive.
Would women be better off under this?+5
The bill protects women from prosecution and provides them the right to seek civil damages for violations.
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?+5
The bill provides civil remedies and damages for women if practitioners fail to follow the required care standards.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
What Congress actually voted on
One recorded vote has been taken on this bill.
None of them settled the bill — every vote so far has been about whether to keep going.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Protection of born-alive infants: Health care practitioners are required to use the same level of skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of a child born alive as they would for any other child of the same gestational age (Section 3(a)(1)(A)).
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Ensured medical transition: The bill requires that a child born alive be immediately transported and admitted to a hospital after the required care is provided (Section 3(a)(1)(B)).
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Right to legal recourse for women: A woman upon whom an abortion was performed or attempted may bring a civil action to obtain relief, including money damages for physical or psychological injuries, statutory damages, and punitive damages (Section 3(c) and Section 3(d)(1)-(2)).
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Legal immunity for mothers: The bill specifies that a mother may not be prosecuted for a violation of this section or related offenses based on a violation involving a child born alive (Section 3(c)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Criminal penalties for practitioners: Health care practitioners who violate the requirements regarding the degree of care or hospital admission can be fined, imprisoned for up to 5 years, or both (Section 3(b)(1)).
-
Severe penalties for intentional acts: Anyone who intentionally performs or attempts an act that kills a child born alive can be punished under the standards for intentionally killing or attempting to kill a human being (Section 3(b)(2)).
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Mandatory reporting burdens: Employees of hospitals, physician's offices, or abortion clinics are required to immediately report any knowledge of a failure to comply with the care requirements to law enforcement (Section 3(a)(2)).
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Financial risks in civil litigation: While plaintiffs can seek damages, defendants in civil actions may be awarded reasonable attorney's fees if the court finds the plaintiff's suit was frivolous (Section 3(d)(4)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Children+8Good For Women+5
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Due Process+5
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+5
- 7/29/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/24/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/28/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/6/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/22/2025
- Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S283)
- 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)
- 1/21/2025
- Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S275-276)
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 1/20/2025
- Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S258)
- Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (CR S258)
- 1/16/2025
- Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 4.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/15/2025
- Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
- 43 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
John BoozmanRepublican · Arkansas
Marsha BlackburnRepublican · Tennessee
John BarrassoRepublican · Wyoming
Jim BanksRepublican · Indiana
Ted BuddRepublican · North Carolina
Katie BrittRepublican · Alabama
Mike CrapoRepublican · Idaho
Shelley CapitoRepublican · West Virginia
John CornynRepublican · Texas
Bill CassidyRepublican · Louisiana
Tom CottonRepublican · Arkansas
Kevin CramerRepublican · North Dakota
Ted CruzRepublican · Texas
John CurtisRepublican · Utah
Steve DainesRepublican · Montana
Joni ErnstRepublican · Iowa
Deb FischerRepublican · Nebraska
Lindsey GrahamRepublican · South Carolina
Chuck GrassleyRepublican · Iowa
- Darline Graham
Republican · South Carolina
Bill HagertyRepublican · Tennessee
John HoevenRepublican · North Dakota
Cindy Hyde-SmithRepublican · Mississippi
Josh HawleyRepublican · Missouri
Ron JohnsonRepublican · Wisconsin
James JusticeRepublican · West Virginia
John KennedyRepublican · Louisiana
Cynthia LummisRepublican · Wyoming
Mike LeeRepublican · Utah
Mitch McConnellRepublican · Kentucky
Jerry MoranRepublican · Kansas
Markwayne MullinRepublican · Oklahoma
Roger MarshallRepublican · Kansas
Bernie MorenoRepublican · Ohio
David McCormickRepublican · Pennsylvania
Ashley MoodyRepublican · Florida
Rand PaulRepublican · Kentucky
James RischRepublican · Idaho
Mike RoundsRepublican · South Dakota
Pete RickettsRepublican · Nebraska
Tim ScottRepublican · South Carolina
Dan SullivanRepublican · Alaska
Rick ScottRepublican · Florida
Eric SchmittRepublican · Missouri
Tim SheehyRepublican · Montana
John ThuneRepublican · South Dakota
Tommy TubervilleRepublican · Alabama
Thomas TillisRepublican · North Carolina
Roger WickerRepublican · Mississippi
Todd YoungRepublican · Indiana