[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 21 (Monday, February 4, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S817-S818]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 S. 130

  Mr. McCONNELL. First, Mr. President, later today, the junior Senator 
from Nebraska will give the Senate an opportunity to address an issue 
of profound moral importance. I understand that he plans to ask consent 
to pass legislation that ought to be the very definition of something 
that receives unanimous consent in this body. It would help ensure that 
all baby girls and boys who are born alive--all of

[[Page S818]]

them--have their right to life respected and receive the medical care 
they need.
  It builds on the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act of 2002, which did 
indeed pass this body by unanimous consent, and creates enforcement 
mechanisms if abortion providers fail to give these newborn babies the 
medical attention and care they so obviously deserve.
  Completely apart from the rest of our debate on the issue of life, 
how could this question be any clearer? What could be more unanimous 
than this: What medical professionals owe every single newborn American 
citizen, regardless of the circumstances of their birth, is attention 
and care--not neglect and certainly not violence. Frankly, it is 
harrowing that this legislation is even necessary.
  What is even more disturbing when, last week, a Democratic Governor 
was unable to clearly and simply state that, of course--of course--
these newborn babies have human rights that must be respected.
  I have been a proud cosponsor of Senator Sasse's legislation, and I 
hope none of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle invent any 
reasons to block this request later today. That would make quite a 
disturbing statement.
  If they do inexplicably block Senator Sasse's effort, I can assure 
them this will not be the last time we try to afford newborns this 
fundamental legal protection.

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