Salem, OR. — Representative Cyrus Javadi (D-Astoria) voted Monday with House Democrats to block a procedural motion that would have advanced House Bill 4087, known as the Born Alive Infants Protection Act, to the House floor.
The motion, introduced by Representative Court Boice (R-Gold Beach) during a House Committee on Health Care hearing, sought to move the bill out of committee. The motion failed after Javadi joined 33 Democrats in opposing it, while 22 Republicans voted in favor.
HB 4087 would have required medical professionals to provide the same standard of care to infants born alive during attempted abortion procedures as is provided to other newborns.
Javadi previously sponsored similar legislation before changing his party affiliation late last year.
During the hearing, Boice introduced Oregon abortion survivor Amy Miles, who was born alive at 28 weeks during an abortion procedure in Ashland. Miles, now an Astoria resident, addressed lawmakers as part of the committee proceedings.
Oregon Right to Life Executive Director Lois Anderson criticized Javadi’s vote, noting his prior endorsement from the organization and previous sponsorship of born-alive legislation.
Rep. Javadi once held Oregon Right to Life PAC’s endorsement. And it wasn’t long ago that he stood on the House floor and actually sponsored Born Alive Infants Protection legislation. His flip-flopping rejection of this widely-supported, common sense bill is yet another disappointing action from a lawmaker whose constituents once trusted him to represent pro-life values. I truly hope that Javadi will return to his formerly held convictions, and am sorry to see him act in such opposition to them.
The group said recent polling shows 80% of Oregonians support protections for infants born alive during abortion attempts.
Federal law, including the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act of 2002, defines infants born alive as persons under federal law but does not establish specific standards of medical care. According to Oregon Right to Life, nine states require reporting of born-alive incidents, and those states recorded 275 cases between 2018 and 2024.
The bill remains in committee following Monday’s vote and will not advance to the House floor unless revived through additional legislative action.
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