The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) lauded the U.S. House of Representatives after it passed two pro-life bills last week.

“We commend the House of Representatives for passing legislation to protect innocent children from infanticide and urge the Senate to follow suit,” Bishop Michael Burbidge, chair of the USCCB’s Committee for Pro-Life Activities, wrote in a letter sent to the U.S. House of Representatives. 

“Babies who are born alive during the process of an abortion deserve compassionate care and medical attention -- just the same as any other newborn baby,” wrote Burbidge, the Bishop of Arlington.

The bills the House passed include the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act (H.R. 26). It passed 220-210, with 220 Republicans supporting it and 210 Democrats opposing it, according to Angelus News. The bill would require that any child who survives an abortion procedure receive the same level of medical care that any other baby born at the same gestational age would get. 

The second bill aims to denounce violence against pro-life facilities, groups and churches. It passed on a 222-209 vote. This bill was deemed necessary, given the violence that began in June 2022 after the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which essentially overturned Roe v. Wade.

Neither proposal is expected to make it to the Senate floor, as Democrats still control the U.S. Senate.