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Lawmakers to Hold Hearing on Born-Alive Act

September 9, 2019

WASHINGTON, D.C.— House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), Rep. Ann Wagner (R-Mo.), and Pro-Life Caucus Chair Chris Smith (R-N.J.) announced a hearing on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, featuring expert witnesses on abortion procedures and abortion statistics.

Republicans have spent months asking House Democrats to take up legislation protecting babies born alive during an abortion. Since Democrats have consistently refused to acknowledge or address the dangers faced by abortion survivors, Republicans are holding a hearing to discern the facts and educate the public on the desperate need for legal and medical protections for these most vulnerable members of our society.

Details are as follows:

Hearing on the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act
Tuesday, September 10, 2019
1:00 PM ET
HVC-215
Live Stream: republicanwhip.gov/endinfanticide

Media setup: 12:00 PM ET
Media RSVP to michael.comer@mail.house.gov

Participating Members:
Republican Whip Steve Scalise
Congresswoman Ann Wagner
Pro-Life Caucus Chair Chris Smith
Congresswoman Carol Miller
Congressman Ron Estes
Congresswoman Debbie Lesko
Congressman Dr. Roger Marshall, OBGYN
Congressman Andy Biggs
Congressman John Ratcliffe
Congressman Dr. Brad Wenstrup, DPM
Congressman Dr. John Joyce, MD
Congressman Jody Hice
Congressman Dr. Larry Bucshon, MD
Congressman Robert Aderholt
Congressman Chris Collins
Congressman Dr. Mark Green, MD
Congressman Michael Cloud
Congressman Dr. Andy Harris, MD
Congressman Doug Lamborn
Congressman Ralph Norman
Congressman Jim Jordan
Congressman Buddy Carter
Congressman Jeff Fortenberry
Congressman Doug LaMalfa
Congressman Dr. Brian Babin, DDS
Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers
Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler
Congressman Dr. Michael Burgess, MD
Congressman Jim Banks
Congressman Kevin Hern
Congressman Dr. Phil Roe, MD
Congressman Russ Fulcher

Witnesses:

Dr. Robin Pierucci, M.D., M.A, Clinical Neonatologist

Dr. Robin Pierucci, M.D. is a wife, mother, clinical neonatologist, and medical director of a 50-bed neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). She completed her residency in pediatrics as well as her fellowship in neonatology at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Medical College of Wisconsin. She also has a master's degree in Bioethics and completed the National Catholic Bioethics Center ethics certificate course.

In addition to her clinical duties, Dr. Pierucci remains active in perinatal palliative care, as well as leading ongoing research and care of infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. She has authored multiple publications and has spoken around the country on multiple perinatal and ethical issues. In the last year she has had articles published in The Federalist and National Review Online. Dr. Pierucci has appeared on a number of programs aired on EWTN including, Women of Grace, The Journey Home, EWTN Live, and her documentary about in vitro fertilization. She has also recently become an associate scholar with the Charlotte Lozier Institute.

When not at work, Dr. Pierucci can be found driving one of the kids to or from practices at random fields or hockey rinks or cheering at one of their games.


Dr. Kathi A. Aultman, M.D., Retired Gynecologist

Kathi Aultman, M.D. is a board-certified Ob/Gyn and a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. She obtained her B.A. at Drew University College of Liberal Arts in 1972, earned her medical degree at the University of Florida College of Medicine in 1977, and completed her Ob/Gyn Residency at the University of Florida affiliated Jacksonville Health Education Program in 1981.

Dr. Aultman was a co-founder and co-director of the first Rape Treatment Center in Jacksonville, Florida and performed sexual assault exams on women and children as a medical examiner for Duval and Clay Counties. She performed 1st trimester suction D&C abortions and received special training in 2nd trimester D&E's. She also served as the medical director for Planned Parenthood of Jacksonville from 1981 to 1983.

Her experiences doing abortions, and those in her Ob/Gyn practice, led her to a pro-life position. She subsequently testified extensively before state and congressional bodies, in state courts, and assisted various state attorneys and the Justice Department in defending the ban on partial-birth abortion. She has more recently testified at the state and national level on a variety of pro-life bills.

She participated in Clay County's We Care program and the Healing Hands Clinic in Jacksonville to provide free care for uninsured patients. She cared for the female crew members of Mercy Ships in and out of the country and participated in their medical outreaches overseas.

Dr. Aultman received the Clay County Medical Society's "Award of Excellence" and the Florida Medical Association's Distinguished Physician Certificate, "A Physician Who Cares" and their "Harold Strasser, MD Good Samaritan Award." She served on the Ethics Commission of the Christian Medical and Dental Associations, the Quality Assurance Committee for NF OB/GYN Associates, the Governing Board (Chair for many years), Medical Executive Committee and Quality Assurance Committees of the Orange Park Surgery Center and the Board of Community Health Outreach which provides medical and dental care as well as food and other services to the needy.

She retired from her medical practice in Orange Park, Florida where she worked from 1981-2014. She is currently an associate scholar with the Charlotte Lozier Institute and is a member of the American Association of Pro-life Obstetricians and Gynecologists.


Jill Stanek, Former RN from Illinois

When it would have been easier to look the other way, Jill Stanek's commitment to Christ led her to risk her job, reputation, and friendships to stop the terrible practices of abortion and infanticide. Jill was a registered nurse in the Labor & Delivery Department at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois. She discovered not only were abortions being committed there, but babies were being aborted alive to die without medical care.

When hospital leaders said that they would not stop, Jill went public and has become a national figure in the effort to protect both born and pre-born infants.

Jill has been quoted in the national and international media on television, radio, and in print. There are hundreds of examples, but some include:

Associated Press, CNN, Fox News, The Guardian, Los Angeles Times, London Telegraph, MSNBC, Newsweek, New York Times, O'Reilly Factor, Politico, Time, USA Today, U.S. News and World Report, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Washington Times, and World Magazine

Jill has testified 10 times before Congressional committees and several state legislatures. Jill's testimony was read on multiple occasions during key U.S. Congressional debates on the Partial Birth Abortion Ban and Born Alive Infants Protection Act.

Jill remained at the hospital fighting the fight from the inside until she was terminated in 2001 for reasons related to her public outspokenness to its abortion practices.

On August 5, 2002, President George W. Bush invited Jill to his signing of the Born Alive Infants Protection Act, which will protect live aborted children from infanticide. The president publicly thanked Jill for her help during his speech.

Jill is a member of Parkview Christian Church in Orland Park, Illinois. She is wife to Rich; mother of three children; and grandmother to 12 grandsons and one granddaughter - with another grandbaby on the way! She has addressed many groups at the local, national, and international levels sharing her testimony and giving an insider's view to the atrocity of abortion.


Tessa Longbons, Research Associate, Charlotte Lozier Institute

Tessa Longbons is a research associate with the Charlotte Lozier Institute. Assisting CLI's data analytics department, Tessa focuses on abortion statistics at the state and national levels. Her research tracks U.S. abortion trends and the characteristics of abortions and abortion providers in the United States. She recently coauthored peer-reviewed research on abortion providers' use of hospital admitting privileges and has analyzed abortion statistics from 41 states and New York City.

Tessa earned a B.A. in Communications from Thomas Edison State University. She lives in Washington, D.C.

Background: The Born-Alive Act simply says that any child born alive during an abortion deserves the same degree of care as any other newborn.

Whip Scalise and Rep. Wagner filed a discharge petition on the Born-Alive Act in early April. While all 197 Republicans have signed the petition, only three Democrats have signed on. Only 17 more signatures are needed to bypass Speaker Pelosi and force a vote on the Born-Alive Act.

A full list of the members who have signed the discharge petition can be found on the Whip's website here.