Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) responded to a heckler in Iowa Friday who challenged her over her recent vote against the “Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act” which would have put in place legal protections for infants born alive after an attempted abortion.
During the campaign event, someone in the crowd heckled Warren while she was discussing healthcare asking, “what about the babies that survive abortion — how come they can’t have health care?”
“Infanticide is illegal everywhere in America,” Warren responded.
“But you voted against it,” the person replied.
“Infanticide is illegal everywhere in America,” she repeated.
In a tweet regarding the legislation last week, Warren claimed the bill was about women's health even though it only addresses what occurs after a baby is already born.
Republican politicians just tried (and failed) again to score political points at the expense of women. Enough.
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) February 26, 2019
Women and their doctors should decide what’s best for their health – not the @SenateGOP.
While many of the Democrats who chose not to vote for the bill justified their decision by claiming infanticide is already illegal, the fact remains that the bill would have strengthened existing law in specifically providing protection to infants born alive after an attempted abortion.
The office of Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE), who sponsored the bill, pointed out that “currently, federal law does not adequately protect a born child who survives an abortion. On January 22, 2019, New York repealed protections (section 4164 of the state's public health law) for an infant born alive during an abortion.”
Democrats often point to the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act, which became law in 2002 and ensured full legal rights for infants “born alive at any stage of development,” however, that measure does not specify a requirement of basic medical care for infants born after an abortion or any criminal penalties for doctors who do not comply with it.
The stories of abortion survivors like Gianna Jessen and Melissa Ohden show that infants who survive abortions do exist, contrary to the claims of some abortion advocates.
In addition to Warren, all of the other Senate Democrats running for president in 2020, including Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT), voted against the bill.