Latest news with #H.R.21
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Florida congresswoman's pregnancy termination makes the case for small government
U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack's experience trying to end a pregnancy last year, which she has been publicly discussing, makes an argument for small, limited government. Hear me out: Last May, shortly after Florida's Heartbeat Protection Act became law, the Florida congresswoman suffered a life‑threatening ectopic pregnancy — an embryo implanted outside the womb. The law has limited exceptions for abortions, such as if a woman's life is in danger, but they are vague. At five weeks pregnant, Cammack had to convince doctors to give her medication to end the unviable pregnancy. She was met with resistance from doctors and nurses because they feared prosecution under Florida's six-week abortion ban. The hesitation could have put Cammack's life in danger. Florida's law prohibits abortions after six weeks and has limited exemptions that aren't fully defined. That can leave medical workers in legal gray areas. When healthcare providers face potential felony charges for making split-second medical decisions, caution becomes a matter of self-preservation, not politics. Cammack had to convince her doctors to treat her: She pulled up the Florida statute on her phone. She called the governor's office but got no response. Eventually, she got the shot she needed to end the pregnancy. Her experience could've sparked an honest discussion about of the dangers of government overreach into women's bodies. I'm politically conservative but I think government should stay out of people's personal lives. Cammack, however, didn't use this moment to talk about how the law's vagueness may have put her life at risk. Instead, she deflected, blaming the left and telling the Wall Street Journal it was 'absolute fearmongering at its worst.' Instead of acknowledging the flaws with the law, she insisted to Fox News on Friday, 'the left absolutely played a role in making sure that doctors and women were scared to seek out the help that they needed.' Since the Wall Street Journal article was published, she said her office had to be evacuated due to death threats against her and her family. Cammack's reflexive blaming of the left shows a troubling disconnect from reality. Her providers weren't reacting to headlines. They were navigating serious legal risk. Violating the Florida abortion law can mean up to five years in prison, fines of up to $5,000 and loss of medical licenses for healthcare providers. Cammack's experience hardened her stance against abortion. (She insists she did not have one, though her pregnancy was terminated.) In January 2025 — months after her experience — she co-sponsored H.R. 21, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. The bill passed 220-210 in the House, mandates medical care for infants born alive after an abortion and includes criminal penalties for healthcare providers who fail to comply. She continues to support laws that create barriers to these drugs and procedures — despite having benefited from discretion and flexibility in care. Cammack has said she wants to 'get the politics out of women's health care.' I suggest she start with refusing to pass legislation that allows for the government to have a say in what a woman does with her body. I am not arguing for erasing moral boundaries or allowing late-term abortion. Nor is this about being pro-life or pro-choice. It's about whether we, as conservatives, are willing to apply our principles consistently. We are quick to tout limited government when it comes to business, regulation and taxation. But somehow when it comes to women's bodies and their healthcare, we allow the state to intervene freely. Individual liberty applies to all aspects of life — not just the ones we're comfortable with. While Cammack received life-saving treatment, other Florida women may not be so fortunate. She survived because of her resources and her ability to navigate legal ambiguity that would be overwhelming for many women without her resources. Cammack lived to tell her story. Many other women may not have the same fortune. That is a commentary on the privilege of power and a cautionary tale of what happens when we selectively apply limited government principles. Mary Anna Mancuso is a member of the Miami Herald Editorial Board. Her email: mmancuso@
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Abortion Survivors Network: The World's Only Support Group For The Born-Alive
A little-known but growing nonprofit is working to amplify the stories of individuals who survived abortion procedures — and to challenge long-standing assumptions surrounding the issue. The Abortion Survivors Network (ASN) is the only organization in the world solely dedicated to supporting abortion survivors — people who were born alive after an abortion attempt — and their families. Founded over 20 years ago, ASN offers direct aid, trauma support, and community to survivors, as well as to their mothers and relatives affected by the experience. 'We are the only organization worldwide who serves babies who are surviving abortions still today,' ASN states in its mission video. With a survivor database now exceeding 675 individuals, ASN also works to expose what it calls the 'cultural myth' that abortions never fail. The organization connects survivors with counselors and peer groups, while advocating for public recognition and legal protections. That recognition is starting to reach the national policy stage. In January 2025, the White House released a strongly supporting H.R. 21, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, introduced by Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO). 'The Administration strongly supports H.R. 21 … and applauds the House for its efforts to protect the most vulnerable and prevent infanticide,' the statement reads.'A baby that survives an abortion and is born alive into this world should be treated just like any other baby born alive.' The bill would mandate that any newborn who survives an abortion attempt must receive immediate medical care and be admitted to a hospital. It would also provide legal protections for mothers, while holding practitioners accountable for negligence or failure to report such incidents. ASN's founder and staff say legislation like this affirms the core of their mission — to ensure survivors are seen, valued, and protected. 'Your story matters. And so do you,' the organization tells survivors.
