Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act

I 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 619 To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit a health care practitioner from failing to exercise the proper degree of care in the case of a child who survives an abortion or attempted abortion. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 28, 2021 Mrs. WAGNER (for herself, Mr. SCALISE, Mr. TAYLOR, Mrs. HINSON, Mr. MOORE of Utah, Mr. MOONEY, Mr. GAETZ, Mr. BUDD, Mr. WESTERMAN, Mr. BROOKS, Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania, Mr. MULLIN, Mr. BURCHETT, Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania, Mrs. MILLER of West Virginia, Mr. NEHLS, Mr. DUNCAN, Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia, Mr. WILLIAMS of Texas, Mr. MCKINLEY, Mr. HUDSON, Mr. FLEISCHMANN, Mr. BERGMAN, Mr. LONG, Mr. TIMMONS, Mr. ADERHOLT, Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio, Mr. ROG- ERS of Alabama, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mr. HILL, Mr. GALLA- GHER, Mr. ZELDIN, Mr. SIMPSON, Mr. GROTHMAN, Mr. WALTZ, Mr. POSEY, Mr. ALLEN, Mr. HUIZENGA, Mr. GUTHRIE, Mr. NORMAN, Mr. PALMER, Mr. RESCHENTHALER, Mr. FULCHER, Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER, Mr. WITTMAN, Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota, Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana, Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. WALBERG, Mrs. ROD- GERS of Washington, Mr. CARL, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. BABIN, Mr. SES- SIONS, Ms. STEFANIK, Mr. LATTA, Mr. BOST, Mr. DIAZ-BALART, Mr. BAIRD, Mr. BISHOP of North Carolina, Mr. GOHMERT, Mr. DUNN, Ms. FOXX, Mr. BANKS, Mr. WENSTRUP, Mrs. WALORSKI, Mrs. FISCHBACH, Mr. CHABOT, Mr. SMITH of Missouri, Mr. RUTHERFORD, Mr. LUETKE- MEYER, Mr. DONALDS, Mr. PFLUGER, Mr. PALAZZO, Miss GONZA´LEZ- COLO´N, Mr. BURGESS, Mr. HERN, Mr. KELLER, Mr. CURTIS, Mr. GARBARINO, Mr. KUSTOFF, Mr. WEBSTER of Florida, Mr. HOLLINGS- WORTH, Mr. ROUZER, Mr. SMITH of Nebraska, Mr. FEENSTRA, Mr. JOR- DAN, Mr. WRIGHT, Mr. ESTES, Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina, Mr. ROSE, Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio, Mr. MOORE of Alabama, Mr. STAUBER, Mr. BUCSHON, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. LAMALFA, Mr. JOYCE of Ohio, Mr. MCHENRY, Mr. FALLON, Mrs. HARSHBARGER, Mr. CAWTHORN, Mr. BARR, Mr. BENTZ, Mr. GRAVES of Missouri, Mr. NEWHOUSE, Mr. STEUBE, Ms. HERRELL, Mr. HAGEDORN, Mr. CLOUD, Mr. MCCLINTOCK, Mr. JACKSON, Mr. SCHWEIKERT, Mr. STEWART, Mr. BACON, Mr. PENCE, Mr. BALDERSON, Mr. HARRIS, Mrs. CAMMACK, Mr. GIBBS, Mr. MOOLENAAR, Mrs. GREENE of Georgia, Mr. HICE of Georgia, Mr. MEUSER, Mr. CRAWFORD, Mr. GOODEN of Texas, Mr. BILIRAKIS, VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:29 Feb 20, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6652 E:\BILLS\H619.IH H619 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 619 IH Mr. GOOD of Virginia, Mr. WEBER of Texas, Mr. GOSAR, Mrs. HARTZLER, Mr. KELLY of Mississippi, Mr. TONY GONZALES of Texas, Mr. GUEST, Mr. WOMACK, Mr. C. SCOTT FRANKLIN of Florida, Mr. ARRINGTON, Mrs. LESKO, Mr. AMODEI, Mr. ROY, Mr. FERGUSON, Mrs. BOEBERT, Mr. DAVIDSON, Mr. CARTER of Georgia, Mrs. BICE of Okla- homa, Mr. BUCK, Mr. SMUCKER, Mr. CRENSHAW, Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania, Mr. MANN, Mrs. STEEL, Mr. VAN DREW, Mr. FITZ- GERALD, Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS, Mr. JACOBS of New York, Mr. BRADY, Mr. BIGGS, Mr. MCCARTHY, Mr. LAHOOD, Mr. YOUNG, Mr. OWENS, Mr. TIFFANY, Mr. GARCIA of California, Mrs. KIM of California, Mr. EMMER, Mr. STIVERS, Mr. VALADAO, Mrs. MILLER of Illinois, Ms. MALLIOTAKIS, Mr. LATURNER, Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky, Mr. ROSENDALE, Mr. ISSA, Mr. KINZINGER, Mr. STEIL, Ms. CHENEY, Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana, Mr. FORTENBERRY, Mr. CLYDE, Ms. MACE, Mr. PERRY, Mr. LUCAS, Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana, Mr. GIMENEZ, Mr. MEIJER, Mr. MAST, Mr. ARM- STRONG, Mr. CLINE, Mr. TURNER, Mrs. SPARTZ, Mr. GREEN of Ten- nessee, and Mr. COLE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit a health care practitioner from failing to exercise the proper de- gree of care in the case of a child who survives an abortion or attempted abortion. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Born-Alive Abortion 4 Survivors Protection Act’’. 5 SEC. 2. FINDINGS; CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY. 6 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds as follows: 7 (1) If an abortion results in the live birth of an 8 infant, the infant is a legal person for all purposes 9 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:29 Feb 20, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H619.IH H619 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 619 IH under the laws of the United States, and entitled to 1 all the protections of such laws. 2 (2) Any infant born alive after an abortion or 3 within a hospital, clinic, or other facility has the 4 same claim to the protection of the law that would 5 arise for any newborn, or for any person who comes 6 to a hospital, clinic, or other facility for screening 7 and treatment or otherwise becomes a patient within 8 its care. 9 (b) CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY.—In accordance 10 with the above findings, Congress enacts the following 11 pursuant to Congress’ power under— 12 (1) section 5 of the 14th Amendment, including 13 the power to enforce the prohibition on government 14 action denying equal protection of the laws; and 15 (2) section 8 of article I to make all laws nec- 16 essary and proper for carrying into execution the 17 powers vested by the Constitution of the United 18 States, including the power to regulate commerce 19 under clause 3 of such section. 20 SEC. 3. BORN-ALIVE INFANTS PROTECTION. 21 (a) REQUIREMENTS PERTAINING TO BORN-ALIVE 22 ABORTION SURVIVORS.—Chapter 74 of title 18, United 23 States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1531 24 the following: 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:29 Feb 20, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H619.IH H619 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 619 IH ‘‘§ 1532. Requirements pertaining to born-alive abor- 1 tion survivors 2 ‘‘(a) REQUIREMENTS FOR HEALTH CARE PRACTI- 3 TIONERS.—In the case of an abortion or attempted abor- 4 tion that results in a child born alive (as defined in section 5 8 of title 1, United States Code (commonly known as the 6 ‘Born-Alive Infants Protection Act’)): 7 ‘‘(1) DEGREE OF CARE REQUIRED; IMMEDIATE 8 ADMISSION TO A HOSPITAL.—Any health care practi- 9 tioner present at the time the child is born alive 10 shall— 11 ‘‘(A) exercise the same degree of profes- 12 sional skill, care, and diligence to preserve the 13 life and health of the child as a reasonably dili- 14 gent and conscientious health care practitioner 15 would render to any other child born alive at 16 the same gestational age; and 17 ‘‘(B) following the exercise of skill, care, 18 and diligence required under subparagraph (A), 19 ensure that the child born alive is immediately 20 transported and admitted to a hospital. 21 ‘‘(2) MANDATORY REPORTING OF VIOLA- 22 TIONS.—A health care practitioner or any employee 23 of a hospital, a physician’s office, or an abortion 24 clinic who has knowledge of a failure to comply with 25 the requirements of paragraph (1) shall immediately 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:29 Feb 20, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H619.IH H619 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 5 •HR 619 IH report the failure to an appropriate State or Federal 1 law enforcement agency, or to both. 2 ‘‘(b) PENALTIES.— 3 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Whoever violates subsection 4 (a) shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for 5 not more than 5 years, or both. 6 ‘‘(2) INTENTIONAL KILLING OF CHILD BORN 7 ALIVE.—Whoever intentionally performs or attempts 8 to perform an overt act that kills a child born alive 9 described under subsection (a), shall be punished as 10 under section 1111 of this title for intentionally kill- 11 ing or attempting to kill a human being. 12 ‘‘(c) BAR TO PROSECUTION.—The mother of a child 13 born alive described under subsection (a) may not be pros- 14 ecuted under this section, for conspiracy to violate this 15 section, or for an offense under section 3 or 4 of this title 16 based on such a violation. 17 ‘‘(d) CIVIL REMEDIES.— 18 ‘‘(1) CIVIL ACTION BY A WOMAN ON WHOM AN 19 ABORTION IS PERFORMED.—If a child is born alive 20 and there is a violation of subsection (a), the woman 21 upon whom the abortion was performed or at- 22 tempted may, in a civil action against any person 23 who committed the violation, obtain appropriate re- 24 lief. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:29 Feb 20, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H619.IH H619 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 6 •HR 619 IH ‘‘(2) APPROPRIATE RELIEF.—Appropriate relief 1 in a civil action under this subsection includes— 2 ‘‘(A) objectively verifiable money damage 3 for all injuries, psychological and physical, occa- 4 sioned by the violation of subsection (a); 5 ‘‘(B) statutory damages equal to 3 times 6 the cost of the abortion or attempted abortion; 7 and 8 ‘‘(C) punitive damages. 9 ‘‘(3) ATTORNEY’S FEE FOR PLAINTIFF.—The 10 court shall award a reasonable attorney’s fee to a 11 prevailing plaintiff in a civil action under this sub- 12 section. 13 ‘‘(4) ATTORNEY’S FEE FOR DEFENDANT.—If a 14 defendant in a civil action under this subsection pre- 15 vails and the court finds that the plaintiff’s suit was 16 frivolous, the court shall award a reasonable attor- 17 ney’s fee in favor of the defendant against the plain- 18 tiff. 19 ‘‘(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section the following 20 definitions apply: 21 ‘‘(1) ABORTION.—The term ‘abortion’ means 22 the use or prescription of any instrument, medicine, 23 drug, or any other substance or device— 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:29 Feb 20, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H619.IH H619 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 7 •HR 619 IH ‘‘(A) to intentionally kill the unborn child 1 of a woman known to be pregnant; or 2 ‘‘(B) to intentionally terminate the preg- 3 nancy of a woman known to be pregnant, with 4 an intention other than— 5 ‘‘(i) after viability, to produce a live 6 birth and preserve the life and health of 7 the child born alive; or 8 ‘‘(ii) to remove a dead unborn child. 9 ‘‘(2) ATTEMPT.—The term ‘attempt’, with re- 10 spect to an abortion, means conduct that, under the 11 circumstances as the actor believes them to be, con- 12 stitutes a substantial step in a course of conduct 13 planned to culminate in performing an abortion.’’. 14 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 15 for chapter 74 of title 18, United States Code, is amended 16 by inserting after the item pertaining to section 1531 the 17 following: 18 ‘‘1532. Requirements pertaining to born-alive abortion survivors.’’. (c) CHAPTER HEADING AMENDMENTS.— 19 (1) CHAPTER HEADING IN CHAPTER.—The 20 chapter heading for chapter 74 of title 18, United 21 States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Partial- 22 Birth Abortions’’ and inserting ‘‘Abortions’’. 23 (2) TABLE OF CHAPTERS FOR PART I.—The 24 item relating to chapter 74 in the table of chapters 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:29 Feb 20, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H619.IH H619 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 8 •HR 619 IH at the beginning of part I of title 18, United States 1 Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Partial-Birth Abor- 2 tions’’ and inserting ‘‘Abortions’’. 3 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:29 Feb 20, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H619.IH H619 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS