There are moments and dates that are remembered for decades as a watershed moment in history. The 25th of February should be one of those days.

It is a moment when the majority of Democrats showed that their allegiance is not to the men, women and children of this country. Instead, they sided with organizations like Planned Parenthood to endorse and support the ancient and despicable practice of infanticide.

For the past couple of years, Senator Ben Sasse (NE-R) has introduced a bill in the Senate called the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (S. 311), which would protect babies born alive in botched abortion procedures. On February 25th, the Senate voted on the measure.

There is already a law that says that a baby born alive in botched abortion should be considered “a person”— however, this bill doesn’t adequately address the problem of infanticide because there is no punishment for medical professionals if the child doesn’t have proper medical care and dies as a result. To fix this loophole, Senator Sasse introduced S. 311. Under this legislation, medical professionals would be punished by a fine and face a possible prison sentence for neglecting a child born alive after a failed abortion procedure. If an infant is deliberately killed, then a medical professional could face more serious charges of intentionally ending a life, also known as murder.

When it came down to debate on the bill, instead of discussing the merits and potential failings of the bill, abortion supporters portrayed a false image of what the bill was trying to achieve.

“(This bill) would compel physicians to provide unnecessary medical care. It would override physicians’ professional judgement, and it would put physicians in the position of facing criminal penalties if their judgement for what is best for their patients is contrary to what is in this bill…This bill interferes with the doctor patient relationship.” – Tina Smith (MN-D)

“Regardless of what the intent of the regulation is, the way (the bill) is written, it intimidates doctors with the threat of criminal liability for performing safe and legal abortion. It will have a chilling effect on the ability of women to access the services they need in the United States.” – Jeanne Shaheen (NH-D)

“This legislation we’re debating today is the latest salvo in the far-right assault on women’s constitutionally protected right to an abortion…The Senate is not debating this legislation today because there is an epidemic of infanticide in this country. Instead, we are indulging the majority’s use of a false premise to inflame the public, shame women and intimidate health care providers.” – Mazie Hirono (HI-D)

“…(They are) pushing this bill to criminalize reproductive care no matter the cost. If it becomes law, this bill would force doctors to preform ineffective and invasive procedures on fetuses born with fatal abnormalities.” – Tammy Duckworth (IL-D)

None of those statements are true.

For example, Dr. Kermit Gosnell, an abortionist who operated in Philadelphia, didn’t need a law to force him to “perform ineffective and invasive procedures” on preborn and born babies. He did it all on his own.

An incompetent physician more interested in turning a buck than offering anything resembling health care, Gosnell “performed” late-term and sometimes illegal abortions for a steep price. Gosnell was never trained to complete a third-trimester abortion and his skills as a physician in general were subpar at best. As a result, he often had babies who were born alive in his clinic. To “finish” the abortion, Gosnell and his staff members would “snip” a newborn baby’s spinal cord with scissors. It’s unknown how many babies he killed, but it is likely in the thousands. He was eventually found guilty of murdering three of those babies.

A bill like the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act would make it more difficult for doctors like Gosnell to operate. It is a travesty that certain politicians decided to hide behind abortion rights and the relationship between physicians and patients, rather than face the reality that there are a few physicians and medical professionals that are morally and ethically compromised. This bill would protect our most vulnerable, babies and pregnant women who are in difficult situations from people like Gosnell.

Allowing a baby to die after a botched abortion is infanticide. That members of the Senate would vote against such a commonsense life-saving legislation is unthinkable.

Jim Daly, President of Focus on the Family, said, “This is a sad moment for our country. A bill would’ve protected newborns from being murdered failed to pass the Senate today. We must not rest until pre- and newborn babies are guaranteed their God-given right to life!”

If you would like to take a stand for life, consider signing our Declaration for Life. Focus on the Family is also hosting Alive from New York, a celebration of life event where there will be a live 4D ultrasound, musical guests and amazing pro-life speakers. Join us in New York on May 4th in Times Square!

Sign Focus on the Family’s Declaration for Life!