Sasse Reintroduces Born-Alive Legislation

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ben Sasse released the following statement after reintroducing the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.

“Everybody loves babies and that love has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with just having a heart,” said Sasse. “This legislation is an opportunity for Congress to find consensus built on common sense, compassion, science, and a simple fact: every baby deserves a fighting chance at life. Providing care for newborns is more important than partisan political divides. Every baby has dignity – every baby deserves protection and love.”

Sasse’s bill, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, would protect newborns that survive abortions by requiring appropriate care and admission to a hospital.

The legislation requires that, when an abortion results in the live birth of an infant, health care practitioners must exercise the same degree of professional skill and care to protect the newborn as would be offered to any other child born alive at the same gestational age. It also requires that the living child, after appropriate care has been given, be immediately transported and admitted to a hospital.

Currently federal law does not adequately protect a born child who survives an abortion.

New bills include climate change, paid family leave, income tax cuts in Nebraska

By: World-Herald News Service

• Climate change. The University of Nebraska would be allocated up to $250,000 to develop an “evidence-based, data-driven, strategic action plan” to adapt and mitigate the impacts of climate change under LB 283, introduced Tuesday by Lincoln Sen. Patty Pansing-Brooks.

• Income tax reductions. Gov. Pete Ricketts, for the first time, didn’t discuss reducing state income taxes in his annual State of the State address, drawing disappointment from the State Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which has advocated for that. The governor is making property tax relief a higher priority this session.

But Elkhorn Sen. Lou Ann Linehan introduced LB 288, which would allow the Legislature to at least discuss income tax cuts.

• Paid family and medical leave. Employees could earn a minimum of one hour of paid “sick and safe time” for every 30 hours worked under a bill introduced by Bellevue Sen. Sue Crawford and Omaha Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh.

A second bill, also introduced by the two senators and 12 cosponsors, would provide workers who qualify for unemployment insurance, partial reimbursement for lost wages through the state to care for others or themselves.

It would allow six weeks to care for a family or a military family member, and up to 12 weeks after the birth of a new child or for one’s own serious health issues. The bills were promoted as helping retain and attract workers.

• Historic horseracing. The State Racing Commission will meet Wednesday in Grand Island to reconsider its controversial vote in October to allow betting via terminals that display previously run thoroughbred races.

The Nebraska Attorney General’s Office said not only had the commission violated public meeting laws in October (and needed to reschedule a vote) but that it didn’t have the power to expand gambling.

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