Senate Democrats put a stop to a Republican-led bill on Wednesday that sought to impose criminal penalties on doctors who perform abortions. The measure, which failed to advance, would have required medical providers to give the same level of care to infants born alive after an abortion as they would to any other newborn. Failure to do so could have landed doctors in prison for up to five years.

The vote fell along party lines, with all 52 Republicans supporting the bill and all 47 Democrats opposing it. The proposal needed 60 votes to move forward but fell short, effectively blocking its progress. The timing of the vote was no coincidence—it coincided with the 52nd anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision and the annual March for Life event in Washington, D.C.

The bill, dubbed the “Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act,” aimed to strengthen existing federal laws that already mandate emergency care for infants who survive abortion attempts. However, critics argued that the legislation was unnecessary, as live births during abortions are extremely rare. They also warned that the bill could create legal risks for doctors treating women facing severe late-pregnancy complications, where the fetus has no chance of survival.

Democrats, led by Senator Chuck Schumer, framed the bill as part of a broader Republican effort to chip away at abortion rights. They pointed to the GOP’s history of pushing similar measures whenever they control Congress, often presenting them as non-negotiable moral issues.

The House had already passed a version of the bill last year and is expected to revisit it soon. Meanwhile, conservative groups continue to push for stricter abortion restrictions, despite growing public opposition to outright bans in recent elections.

This latest clash highlights the ongoing divide over reproductive rights in the U.S., with both sides digging in as the debate shows no signs of cooling down.