H.R. 4712Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act

1 recorded action150 of these members are on the 2026 ballotWhat the measure does Read on Congress.gov

Sponsor: Marsha Blackburn [R-TN-07]
Cosponsors: 131 · 130 Republicans · 1 Democrat
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Committee: Judiciary Committee
Latest action: Jan 20, 2018 · Received in the Senate.

IntroducedDec 21, 2017
Passed the HouseJan 19, 2018
Passed the SenateNot yet reached
Sent to the PresidentNot yet reached
Became lawNot yet reached

What the measure doesCRS summary

Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act

This bill amends the federal criminal code to require any health care practitioner who is present when a child is born alive following an abortion or attempted abortion to: (1) exercise the same degree of care as reasonably provided to any other child born alive at the same gestational age, and (2) ensure that such child is immediately admitted to a hospital. The term "born alive" means the complete expulsion or extraction from his or her mother, at any stage of development, who after such expulsion or extraction breathes or has a beating heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles, regardless of whether the umbilical cord has been cut.

Also, a health care practitioner or other employee who has knowledge of a failure to comply with these requirements must immediately report such failure to an appropriate law enforcement agency.

An individual who violates the provisions of this bill is subject to a criminal fine, up to five years in prison, or both.

An individual who commits an overt act that kills a child born alive is subject to criminal prosecution for murder.

The bill bars the criminal prosecution of a mother of a child born alive for conspiracy to violate these provisions, for being an accessory after the fact, or for concealment of felony.

A woman who undergoes an abortion or attempted abortion may file a civil action for damages against an individual who violates this bill.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, describing H.R. 4712 as introduced in House on Dec 21, 2017. It is not the text of the measure; a later amendment may have changed what it does.

How every member votedHouse roll call 36

House Jan 19, 2018

On Passage

Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act

Passed

241 Yea 183 Nay 6 not voting

Party-line vote 6 of 424 voting members broke with their own party: 6 Democrats.

Open the official roll call

How the chamber split

One dot per member. Select a seat or a bar to filter the list.

DemocratsRepublicansFilled: YeaRing: NayGrey: not voting or present

By party select a segment to filter

All members430 members

Democratic193 members

Republican237 members

marks half of the votes cast. A party’s majority is the side most of its voting members took.

Cosponsors131 · 130 Republicans · 1 Democrat

Signing on is not a vote: a member can cosponsor H.R. 4712 and vote against it. 56 signed when it was filed.

RRalph Abraham [R-LA-05]Original

RRobert B. Aderholt [R-AL-04]Original2026 profile

RJodey C. Arrington [R-TX-19]Original

RBrian Babin [R-TX-36]Original2026 profile

RDon Bacon [R-NE-02]Original

RJim Banks [R-IN-03]Original

RLou Barletta [R-PA-11]Original

RMike Bost [R-IL-12]Original2026 profile

RKEVIN BRADY [R-TX-08]Original

RSTEVE CHABOT [R-OH-01]Original

RChris Collins [R-NY-27]Original

RDoug Collins [R-GA-09]Original

Loading the public record

Who lobbied on H.R. 471210 organizations

Organizations that named H.R. 4712 in a lobbying disclosure. Only those that cited the bill by number appear, so this is a floor, not a full list.

NATIONAL RIGHT LIFE COMMITTEEfiled by NATIONAL RIGHT TO LIFE COMMITTEE

Family issues/Abortion/Adoption · Constitution · Health Issues · Foreign Relations +6 more5 filings · 4th Quarter (Oct 1 - Dec 31) 2018Filing

AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION

Civil Rights/Civil Liberties2 filings · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2018Filing

FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL

Health Issues · Family issues/Abortion/Adoption · Religion · Taxation/Internal Revenue Code2 filings · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2018Filing

SUSAN B ANTHONY LIST

Science/Technology · Constitution · Foreign Relations · Health Issues +4 more2 filings · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2018Filing

AMERICAN COLLEGE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNECOLOGISTS

Veterans · Environment/Superfund · Immigration · Defense +4 more1 filing · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2018Filing

CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

Foreign Relations · Family issues/Abortion/Adoption1 filing · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2018Filing

HERITAGE ACTION FOR AMERICA

Roads/Highway · Family issues/Abortion/Adoption · Law Enforcement/Crime/Criminal Justice · Financial Institutions/Investments/Securities +12 more1 filing · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2018Filing

PLANNED PARENTHOOD ACTION FUND INCfiled by PLANNED PARENTHOOD ACTION FUND, INC.Its PAC: Planned Parenthood Action Fund Inc PAC, DBA Planned Parenthood Federal PAC

Family issues/Abortion/Adoption · Immigration · Health Issues · Budget/Appropriations +1 more1 filing · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2018Filing

PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA INCfiled by PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA, INC.

Foreign Relations · Family issues/Abortion/Adoption · Immigration · Budget/Appropriations +3 more1 filing · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2018Filing

REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM FOR ALLIts PAC: Reproductive Freedom for All PAC

Budget/Appropriations · Family issues/Abortion/Adoption · Government Issues1 filing · 1st Quarter (Jan 1 - Mar 31) 2018Filing

17 disclosures name this measure. Retrieved from LDA.gov on 2026-10-05. Senate Office of Public Records cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from LDA.gov.