Abortion survivors on-hand to witness Democratic lawmakers blocking duty of care for living North Carolinians, sponsors “horrified”
Raleigh, N.C. – A final vote to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act failed on Wednesday as state House Democrats successfully prevented a duty of care for all living, breathing North Carolinians born alive in the state.
After a federal judge struck down North Carolina’s limitations on late-term abortions after five months, General Assembly leaders moved to protect children who survive abortions and are living on their own outside the womb with a mandatory duty of care.
The final House vote of 67-53 drew two Democratic votes but failed to reach the requisite three-fifths of members present to override Gov. Cooper’s veto.
“We hoped North Carolina is not New York, that even if liberal judges block late-term abortion limitations we won’t allow living children who are breathing on their own outside the womb, with their eyes open and little limbs moving around, to be left to die in this state,” said Rep. Pat McElraft (R-Carteret).
“Blocking this bill became Democrats’ top priority of the session and we are obviously horrified this veto override failed in the North Carolina House of Representatives today.”
Abortion survivors Gianna Jensen and Claire Culwell were in the state House gallery to witness Democrats’ prevent a duty of care for people like them by joining Gov. Roy Cooper to block Senate Bill 359 Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.
North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) said he hoped a judge’s decision to strike down the state’s limitations on abortion after 5 months would be still appealed to protect born alive children.
“This is completely different from bills in Alabama and Missouri – this legislation has no provisions regarding pre-birth abortion procedures and only protects North Carolinians after they are born alive and surviving, breathing on their own,” Moore said Wednesday.
“I’ve served in this House since 2003 and heard a lot of bills and debates, but this one was literally life and death, and a vote North Carolinians will never forget.”