PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 236.
Congressional Research Service
Version 81 · Passed House without amendment · Sep 18, 2015
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act
(Sec. 3) This bill amends the federal criminal code to require any health care practitioner who is present when a child is born alive following an abortion or attempted abortion to: (1) exercise the same degree of care as reasonably provided to any other child born alive at the same gestational age, and (2) ensure that such child is immediately admitted to a hospital. The term "born alive" means the complete expulsion or extraction from his or her mother, at any stage of development, who after such expulsion or extraction breathes or has a beating heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles, regardless of whether the umbilical cord has been cut.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
Also, a health care practitioner or other employee who has knowledge of a failure to comply with these requirements must immediately report such failure to an appropriate law enforcement agency.
An individual who violates the provisions of this Act is subject to a criminal fine, up to five years in prison, or both.
An individual who commits an overt act that kills a child born alive is subject to criminal prosecution for murder.
The legislation bars the criminal prosecution of a mother of a child born alive for conspiracy to violate the provisions of this Act, for being an accessory after the fact, or for concealment of felony.
A woman who undergoes an abortion or attempted abortion may file a civil action for damages against an individual who violates this Act.
People & committees
Rep. Franks, Trent [R-AZ-8] · R–AZ
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 236.
Received in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 248 - 177, 1 Present (Roll no. 506). (text: CR H6143-6144)
House roll call 506 · Individual votesPassed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 248 - 177, 1 Present (Roll no. 506).(text: CR H6143-6144)
House roll call 506 · Individual votesConsidered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H6167)
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 3504, the Chair put the question on passage of the bill and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Chu demanded the yeas and nays, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on passage of the bill until later in the legislative day.
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H6152)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 3504.
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3134 and H.R. 3504.
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 421. (consideration: CR H6143-6152)
Rule H. Res. 421 passed House.
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 421 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3134 and H.R. 3504.
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.
Source last updated: Dec 5, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
AI Conversation Starters
Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.
Analyze H.R.3504 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
Examine H.R.3504 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
Examine H.R.3504 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.
Examine H.R.3504 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.