HB 531: A Defining Test for Virginia's Commitment to Life

HB531 should be the rallying cry of the conservative movement in Virginia. Here is a short summary of the bill submitted by Delegate Karen Hamilton Summary: This bill requires health care providers to provide the same medical care to any infant born alive after an attempted abortion as they would to any other newborn of the same gestational age. It also requires the infant to be transferred to a hospital for further treatment, mandates hospitals to establish care protocols, and makes failure to comply a Class 4 felony with possible professional discipline. The progressives that control the Virginia government did not let this bill escape committee instead choosing to give this bill the “pass by indefinitely”. This means that it effectively died before it went to the floor for a vote. The reason why I say that this should be a rallying point for the conservative movement is because the vote on this bill shows you exactly where the progressives stand on the value of life. They do not value life and it is that simple. This bill would have made sure that any child that survives an abortion receives the care that the child deserves to have. The ruling committee was committee on health and human services. Here is a brief summary of the role of this committee: "The House Health and Human Services Committee is responsible for reviewing legislation affecting the health, safety, and welfare of Virginians, including medical practice, hospitals, public health, and social services." A bill that has a direct impact on the care of a new born baby is passed by because that bill deals with a baby that survives an abortion. As we know abortion is a sacrament for the left and the only way forward for them is complete unrestricted access. While it grieves my heart that this bill was not passed. It should be a talking point at every single conservative meeting, political campaign or speech. This is the level of depravity that is now running the government in Virginia. James 4:17: If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. This bill was the right thing to do. It is the right thing to do to bring this to the attention of the people. When you add this bill to the abortion amendment that will be up for vote in November, a culture of death is in full swing. Edited : HB 531 Should Be the Rallying Cry of Virginia's Conservative Movement HB 531 should become a rallying cry for the conservative movement in Virginia. Below is a brief summary of the bill introduced by Delegate Karen Hamilton. Summary: HB 531 requires health care providers to provide the same standard of medical care to any infant born alive following an attempted abortion as they would provide to any other newborn of the same gestational age. The bill also requires the infant to be immediately transferred to a hospital for further treatment, mandates that hospitals establish protocols for the care of these infants, and makes a failure to comply a Class 4 felony, with the possibility of professional disciplinary action. The progressive majority controlling Virginia's government did not allow this bill to advance. Instead, it was given a "pass by indefinitely" recommendation, effectively ending the bill before it ever reached the House floor for a vote. I believe this bill should be a defining issue for the conservative movement because the committee vote clearly reveals where many legislators stand on the value of human life. In my view, they failed to support legislation that would have ensured medical care for infants born alive after an attempted abortion. HB 531 was referred to the House Health and Human Services Committee, whose mission is to review legislation affecting the health, safety, and welfare of Virginians, including matters involving medical practice, hospitals, public health, and social services. Yet a bill directly concerning the treatment of a newborn infant did not advance because it addressed babies who survive attempted abortions. Regardless of where someone stands on abortion policy, this legislation focused on the medical care of infants born alive. While I am deeply grieved that this bill did not pass, I believe it should be discussed at every conservative meeting, campaign event, and political speech across the Commonwealth. Virginians deserve to know how their elected officials voted and what those votes represent. James 4:17 reminds us: "If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them." I believe HB 531 represented the right course of action. Bringing its defeat to the attention of the public is equally important. When considered alongside the proposed constitutional amendment on abortion that Virginians are expected to vote on in November, these issues clearly reveal what I believe is the political left's position on the value of human life. In contrast, Virginia's conservative movement must continue to build its platform on the sanctity of life and never stop advocating for the most vulnerable members of our society. Protecting those who cannot protect themselves should remain one of its defining principles.