Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) called the measure a "solution in search of a problem," and that i could force doctors to provide "unnecessary" or even "harmful" care to patients. She was not clear if she was referring to the child or the mother as the "patient."
Speaking after the vote, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) said it was "unconscionable" that "protecting innocent, newborn abortion survivors is now a partisan issue."
"Every infant that is born alive despite a botched abortion deserves the same proper medical care and treatment that doctors are required to give to other newborns," Rubio said.
The Florida senator was an original co-sponsor of the bill.
Rubio said that the vote "made it crystal clear" that Democratic senators "support the legalization of infanticide" and "openly embraced the growing extremism" within their party.
(Story continues below)
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Sasse told CNA on Feb. 1 that he did not think there was "any legitimate argument" that could be made against his legislation, and that he hoped that nobody in the Senate would oppose the bill.
The Nebraska senator brought the fast-track the legislation in response to comments by Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) that appeared to endorse neglecting infants who survived late-term abortions. Northam's spokesperson later said that the governor was only referring to infants with "severe" birth defects or other disabilities.
Sasse said that objecting to his bill would be a sign of support for infanticide.