Yesterday, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which was co-sponsored by Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL). The goal of the piece of the legislation is to protect born babies that survive abortions.
Since it was reintroduced from the last Congress on January 9th, the bill has been contentiously debated on the House floor. As Rep. Frederica Wilson (R-FL) stated, “I have heard the women of Congress come to the floor one by one to tell the personal stories about abortion.”
Rep. Wilson’s speech went viral on Twitter, and at the time of writing it has received 1 million views on the social media platform.
Today, I relived one of the most painful times in my life on the House floor. I shared my experience of being forced to carry my dead baby. Prohibited by law to induce labor, I carried my deceased child inside me for two months and almost died. We can't go back. pic.twitter.com/emuWzQDgWX
— Rep. Frederica Wilson (@RepWilson) January 11, 2023
“My Florida, my state, if abortion is banned, nationwide, Florida will be the most impacted state. Seeing maternal deaths increased by 29%; that’s the mother. The nation will see a 24% increase in maternal death with a disproportionate 39% rise in maternal mortality for black women,” Rep. Wilson claimed.
At one point Wilson blames a specific gender in the Republican Party for allowing the passage of the bill.
We cannot put childbearing women at risk because of a group of ludicrous, hateful, majority-male Congress who have never experienced pregnancy or childbirth but take pride in monitoring women's vaginas. How dare you! pic.twitter.com/xUKrxvvbzX
— Rep. Frederica Wilson (@RepWilson) January 11, 2023
“You cannot put young childbearing women at risk because of the group of ludicrous, hateful, majority male Congressmen who have no idea what it feels to even bear the pain of childbirth or even have the courage to carry a child for nine months,” Wilson stated.
Wilson is correct. The Republican conference the U.S. House of Representatives is majority male.
However, two out of three of the original cosponsors (including Rep. Cammack) are female.
Cammack gave a statement following the passage of the bill as herself, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), and Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO) share the title of original cosponsors.
“The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act is a key part of Republicans’ promise to the American people to uphold the value and sanctity of life. Over the last four years, the Democrat-controlled House has failed to vote on this bill, and we’re ready to change this, ensuring that babies born alive during abortion procedures receive the lifesaving care they deserve. All life is sacred and I’m honored to join with Majority Leader Scalise and Rep. Wagner in making this statement so early in this Congress,” stated Cammack.
The bill passed on party lines by a margin of 220-210.
