House Republicans Push Forward With Anti-Abortion Agenda Despite Midterm Losses

House Republicans have been pushing forward with their legislative agenda in the new Congress, with a focus on abortion. This week, the GOP-led House voted to pass a bill that would require health care providers to attempt to preserve the life of an infant in the rare case that a baby is born alive during or after an attempted abortion. Those who fail to comply with the requirements for care could face fines or up to five years in prison.

The move follows a letter sent to Republicans in the House from dozens of conservative and religious groups, which included a list of anti-choice demands such as passing a law to protect infants born alive during an abortion and a national ban after six weeks. It also follows last year’s Supreme Court decision repealing federal abortion rights, which played a huge role in boosting Democratic turnout in the 2022 midterm elections.

The abortion bills come after the Republican Party’s disappointing performance in the midterms, which even former President Donald Trump attributed to extreme abortion policies. Despite the push for anti-abortion legislation, the bills are unlikely to pass in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

The debate over abortion rights has been a contentious issue in the United States for decades, and the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling last summer has only further complicated the issue. As the debate continues, House Republicans are making it clear that they are committed to pushing their anti-abortion agenda.