Jerry Nadler: “That is why I voted in the committee in favor of the bill. That is why I will vote again and urge my colleagues to vote…”

“That is why I voted in the committee in favor of the bill. That is why I will vote again and urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the bill so we do not step into this trap. Now, the manager's amendment, which was withdrawn, but certainly the rhetoric of the sponsors, which we heard again today, are full of untruths. They say that newborns do not receive full legal protection. But there exists a common law born-alive rule imposing liability to anyone who harms a person who was born and was alive at the time of the harmful act. The Federal statute known as the Baby Doe law already requires that appropriate care be administered to a newborn. They say that the Carhart decision, they grossly distort the Carhart decision, striking down Nebraska's ban on abortion procedures, Stenburg v. Carhart. The Supreme Court found the Nebraska ban unconstitutional because it imposed an undue burden on a woman's right to choose by banning safe and common abortion procedures and it lacked an exception to protect women's health. To suggest that Carhart is about the legal rights of newborns is deceptive and irresponsible; and it is untrue, outrageous, and insulting to suggest that pro-choice Members of the Congress wish to deprive newborns of legal rights. Carhart did not expand Roe, and recent court rulings have not put newborns in jeopardy. They deal only with pregnancy. They do not have any bearing on newborns. In summary, Mr. Speaker, this bill is unnecessary.”