FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 23, 2020
Prudence Robertson, [email protected], 202-223-8073
Research Shows Extremely Premature Infants Can Survive & Thrive With Active Care
Washington, D.C. – Today President Donald Trump announced an executive order to ensure that newborns, no matter their circumstance, receive the care they deserve and to increase funding for neonatal research.
President Trump has continually used his platform to advocate for vulnerable babies, born and unborn. His special guests at this year’s State of the Union included Ellie Schneider and her mother Robin. Born at just 21 weeks and six days, Ellie is one of the youngest babies to survive in the United States. Today Ellie is a happy, healthy two-year-old. Research shows that survival rates for extremely premature babies have dramatically improved with active care.
The national pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) praised President Trump’s action in a statement:
“President Trump’s order will bring nationwide practices into line with modern science and protect some of the nation’s most vulnerable children,” said SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser. “A growing body of research shows extremely premature babies once written off as hopeless can indeed survive and thrive with active care. Yet too often, local protocols still allow for infants on the cusp of viability to be denied lifesaving intervention – even over the desperate pleas of their parents. Whether a child receives medical care should never be dictated by an arbitrary timeline, zip code, or which doctor happens to be on duty.
“We thank President Trump for safeguarding the dignity of the littlest Americans and ensuring their full and equal protection under the law. We also join him in calling again for Congress to pass legislation ending late-term abortions after five months of pregnancy, a point when science shows unborn children feel pain, and protecting babies born alive during failed abortions. Thanks to extremist Democrats like Senator Kamala Harris who have spent nearly two years blocking the will of the American people, the United States remains one of seven nations where babies more than halfway through pregnancy – the same age as little Ellie Schneider at birth, a time when fetal surgeons routinely treat patients right in the womb – can be aborted for any reason, and one where abortion survivors can be callously left to die.
“President Trump has promised to overcome Democrats’ obstruction and put a stop to infanticide. The contrast is stark and the choice clear. It is time for all Americans concerned about protecting innocent life to come together to stop the Biden-Harris agenda and support President Trump.”
Nationwide polling released by SBA List finds that 77% of voters support (55% strongly support) legislation protecting for babies who survive abortions. Additionally, Marist polling conducted earlier this year shows a strong majority (55%) of Americans support banning abortion after five months of pregnancy. Democrats in Congress have repeatedly blocked both the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act and the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.
SBA List is tracking the pro-life accomplishments of the Trump-Pence administration, as well as the abortion extremism of the Biden-Harris ticket at www.LifeOnTheBallot.com.
SBA List is a network of 900,000 pro-life Americans nationwide, dedicated to ending abortion by electing national leaders and advocating for laws that save lives, with a special calling to promote pro-life women leaders.
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