Why Did Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick Vote Against Protections for Born-Alive Babies?

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - EntSun -- In one of the most emotionally charged and morally significant votes of the year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 21—the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act. This bill requires that infants who survive an attempted abortion receive the same medical care as any other newborn. It's a measure rooted in the basic principle that every life, once born, deserves protection and dignity.

Yet Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick voted against it.

The legislation does not criminalize abortion or restrict a woman's right to choose—it simply mandates that if a child is born alive, regardless of the circumstances, medical professionals must provide appropriate care. To most Americans, this is not a radical or controversial idea. It's common decency.

Opponents of the bill argue that it's unnecessary or that it interferes with the doctor-patient relationship. But H.R. 21 includes clear language ensuring that mothers are not criminalized. The focus is squarely on the responsibility of healthcare providers to treat born-alive infants as patients with a right to life-saving care.

More on EntSun News

• Derrick Dove & The Peacekeepers Win 2026 International Blues Challenge
• Home Prices Just Hit 5X Median Income — So Americans Are Buying Businesses Instead of Houses
• 13th Annual Baton Rouge Mardi Gras Festival Announces Stage Lineup and Sponsors
• Creators' Rights Movement Rhythm, Rights, and MLK: Beach Music
• Grammy Awards 2026 Tickets Date Feb1 Live CBS

Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick's decision to oppose this legislation raises difficult questions. How is it compassionate to withhold care from a living, breathing child? At what point do we, as a society, draw the line in defense of the most vulnerable?

This vote places Rep. McCormick on the extreme end of the abortion debate—a position that many consider not just controversial, but inhumane. While Americans may disagree on abortion policy, there is overwhelming agreement that a baby born alive deserves a chance to live.

This is not a matter of political party, but of fundamental human rights. Share your thoughts on my website https://rodjosephforcongress.com

As constituents, we deserve to understand why our representative opposed a bill that seeks to protect children in their most fragile moment. Silence on this issue is not an option, and voters deserve answers.