Call To Action
Federal and State

Please take a moment to review the action alerts below. Most are time sensitive and require you to take immediate action. Thank you for your help. Together we are a loud voice. We can make a difference!

For Catholics, public virtue is as important as private virtue in building up the common good.  In the Catholic tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue; participation in the political process is a moral obligation.  -- Faithful Citizenship, USCCB

 

 

 

Pence Amendment to Defund Planned Parenthood Passes Rules Committee, Up for House Vote Friday

Calls to Representatives must be made now

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 23, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - An amendment introduced to strip Planned Parenthood of its  taxpayer funding has passed the Rules Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives, and is up for a vote on the House floor  Friday, reports Jim Sedlak of the American Life League. 

U.S. House Representative Mike Pence (R-Ind.) submitted, as part of the Health and Human Services appropriations bill, an amendment to render Planned Parenthood ineligible to receive Title X funds for  "family planning" services.

The Pence Amendment states: "None of the funds made available under this Act shall be available to Planned Parenthood for any purpose under Title X of the Public Health Services  Act."

American Life League president Jim Sedlak announced the breaking news during the "Stop the Abortion Mandate" webcast Thursday evening dedicated to fighting the vast expansion of abortion hidden in President Obama's healthcare bill. 

Sedlak said the amendment's success in the Rules Committee "has to be an act of God," and strongly urged pro-lifers to deluge their representatives with calls and emails asking them to support the Pence amendment.

"You can bet that if the vote happens tomorrow and there is a significant turnout of votes against Planned Parenthood, that that  is going to start to derail all of Planned Parenthood's plans," he said.  "It will have a ripple effect throughout Congress, and a ripple effect into the health bill." 

U.S. Capitol switchboard:
202.224.3121

To contact House representatives

To contact Senators

 

Giant Webcast Thursday to Educate and Mobilize Pro-Life Americans Against Great Dangers of Obama Health Care Bill

"Help block one of the greatest threats to human life since the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision imposed abortion on America..."

You are invited to participate in a one-time-only LIVE webcast event this Thursday, July 23,
at 9 PM Eastern (6 PM Pacific, 7 PM Mountain, 8 PM Central.)

The live event will be approximately 70 minutes long. If you have access to the Internet -- even with a dial-up connection -- you can listen in on the live webcast audio and ask questions.

During this nationwide event, you will discover:

For more information go to Stop the Abortion Mandate

 

Update: House Appropriations Committee Fails to Prohibit Taxpayer Funding of Abortions in DC

NARAL thanks Catholic Congressman Jose Serrano for leading the effort in opposing the pro-life amendment

Bill goes to full House next week - Rules cmte to decide if pro-life amendment can be re-introducd in House

On Tuesday, July 7, the House Appropriations Committee voted 26-33 against reinstating the Dornan amendment in the budget bill for the District of Columbia. The Tiahrt-Davis Amendment was offered after the Dornan amendment was left out of the bill at the president's request. The Dornan amendment has prohibited public funding of abortion for 18 years.

In an email to supporters, Nancy Keenan, the president of NARAL praises Catholic Congressman Jose Serrano (D-NY) for leading the effort to oppose the pro-life amendment, "We cleared an important hurdle, thanks to the leadership of subcommittee chairman Rep. Jose Serrano and our pro-choice allies on the House Appropriations Committee," Keenan said.

LifeNews reported the following on the defeat of the pro-life amendment and a last effort to amend the bill:

When the Financial Services Appropriations bill heads to the House floor, as is expected next week, pro-life advocates may have one more chance to stop abortion funding -- but only if House Democrats allow a vote on the Tiahrt/Davis amendment.

The Rules Committee, which is under the control of pro-abortion Democrats, would need to authorize the bipartisan pair to offer their amendment again on the House floor.

Led by pro-abortion Rep. Louise Slaughter of New York, the Rules Committee has already stopped one pro-life amendment from receiving a debate and vote.

The bill is scheduled to be marked up by the full Senate Appropriations Committee today.

Please contact members of the Rules Committee and ask that the they allow the Tiahart-Davis amendment to be offered for a vote on the House floor.

Committee Members
Chairwoman Louise M. Slaughter New York
 
David Dreier California
Ranking Minority Member
 
 
   
 
 
 
 

Contact members of the House and ask that they oppose the Financial Services Appropriations Bill unless an amendment is approved that prohibits abortion funding.

To contact New York Congressman Jose Serrano By email

WASHINGTON OFFICE
2227 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3216
(202) 225-4361
Fax: (202) 225-6001

Cardinal Rigali: No Public Funding for Abortions in DC

President Obama's request to include public funding for abortion in his budget for the District of Columbia has received a rebuking from the Catholic Diocese of DC and from Cardinal Rigali, Chairman of Pro-life Activities for the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops.The House subcommittee honored Obama's request to fund abortions in DC thereby nullifying the Dornan Amendment which has prohibited this funding for 18 years. In a letter to Congress Cardinal Rigali urged the full House Appropriations Committee to reverse the subcommittee's action.

Please contact members of the House Appropriations Cmte who will address this issue.

Statement from DC Diocese: "More than 40 percent of all pregnancies in the District of Columbia already end in abortion. In fact, Washington, DC has one of the highest abortion rates in the country. President Obama is on record as saying he wants to reduce the number of abortions. Removing restrictions on its funding will do nothing to achieve that goal, but will likely increase the number of abortions performed in the District of Columbia."

Statement from Cardinal Rigali: "No lawmaker or Administration can support such a policy change and still claim to support 'reducing abortions.' The evidence is overwhelming, and universally recognized by groups on all sides of the abortion issue, that the availability of public funds for abortion greatly increases abortions."

 

Obama's words vs actions on reducing abortions

The Dornan amendment must be retained if the President is committed to abortion reduction

Two weeks ago speaking to thousands of Catholics at the University of Notre Dame, President Obama reiterated his commitment to finding "common ground" on abortion policy through abortion reduction. He did this while knowing his budget called for funding abortions in the District of Columbia.

In the Inside blog Deal Hudson reports that the presidents budget of May 7, 2009 asks for a repeal of the Dornan amendment which prohibits taxpayer funds for abortion in the District of Columbia.

In 2005 as reported by the Guttmacher Institute (GI) , DC led the nation with 37% of pregnancies ending in abortion. GI also reported that abortions are significantly reduced -- by 30%, when federal funding is not available.

To make things worse, the District of Columbia does not have a parental notification law. Teen girls may acquire an abortion without parental notification. Teen abortions account for 40% of abortions in the District of Columbia currently.

Making federal funds available for abortion will increase the number of abortions performed.

Please contact your member of Congress and ask them to retain the Dornan amendment in the 2009-2010 budget proposal..

 

 

Call Your U.S. House Member's Office Today
Urge a "NO" Vote on H.R. 2410, "Global Women's Issues" Bill

This is an urgent congressional alert from National Right to Life (NRLC) in Washington, D.C.


On Wednesday, June 10, or Thursday, June 11, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to take up H.R. 2410, a bill that would create a new "Office for Global Women's Issues" in the State Department. 

In congressional testimony on April 22, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a strong pro-abortion advocate, left no doubt that this new sub-agency would be involved in seeking to legalize abortion on demand in foreign countries.  Clinton said that the Obama Administration is "entitled to advocate [legal abortion] . . . anywhere in the world," and that the Adminstration believes "reproductive health includes access to abortion."

Please take a few minutes to urge your representative to oppose this bill.  We make it easy for you -- just go to the NRLC website's "Legislative Action Center," here.  

Then, enter your zip code into the "Call Now" box.  You will then be shown the name and phone number of your representative in the U.S. House, along with suggestions on what you should say when you call the representative's staff in Washington to oppose the bill.

We also provide an easy-to-use form that allows you to send us a quick e-mail report on how your conversation went.

For more information on H.R. 2410, read the letter sent by NRLC to members of the U.S. House of Representatives, here.

 

 

Comments needed by May 26, 2009 on NIH Draft Guidelines on Human Stem Cells

The National Institutes of Health have released Draft Guidelines on Human Stem Cell Research.  Read the Guidelines.    Comments are needed by May 26, 2009.  To submit comments, please click here.

The Guidelines would allow the use of our federal tax dollars on stem cells derived from human embryos which kills a human being at the earliest stage of his/her existence.   Section II (B) of the guidelines specifies eligibility:  "if the cells were derived from human embryos that were created for reproductive purposes, were no longer needed for this purpose, were donated for research purposes, and for which documentation of all of the following can be assured."  There are alo provisions which clarify that these Guidelines do not include funding for research on embryos derived by somatic cell nuclear transfer (cloning) or human-animal hybrid embryos.

Although these guidelines may appear limiting, they leave room for revision or expansion if Congress passes any future laws to allow human cloning or takes steps to amend or repeal  the Dickey-Wicker law.   Section II (A) of the Guidelines state that "The Director of the NIH, may support and conduct responsible, scientifically worthy human stem cell research, including human embryonic stem cell research, to th extent permitted by law."  Further, President Obama's Executive Order of March 9th specifically states that "the NIH shall review and update these Guidelines periodically, as appropriate."

Also of concern is the fact that Section II (B) part 6 says, "Whenever it was practicable, the attending physician responsible for  reproductive clinical care and the researcher deriving and/or proposing to utilize human embryonic stem cells should not have been the same person."  This could create a potential conflict of interest and financial incentive for the researcher if the same researcher performing the IVF is also involved with embryonic stem cell research.  

Human embryonic stem cells have provided zero cures. These guidelines do not include any criteria to promote adult stem cell research which has the greatest potential for human benefit and is already showing positive results in treating patients. 

Please go to the website below and fill out the form to oppose the use of federal funds for research on human embryonic stem cell cells.  Please submit your comments by May 26, 2009 and pass this alert on to pro-life friends and family who don't want their tax dollars used to kill human embryos. (NJRight to Life)
 

http://nihoerextra.nih.gov/stem_cells/add.htm

 

A Global Call to Pray the Rosary on Good Friday

Father John F. Campoli, a priest of the Voluntas Dei Institute writes the following:

Imagine what might happen if every Catholic in the world would pray a Rosary on the same day!

We have an example in October of 1573, when Europe was saved from the invasion of the mighty Turkish fleet. Europe was saved by the praying of the Rosary by all Christians! So, on Good Friday, let's all pray a Rosary for the intention of ending abortion, including an end to Terrorism.

If possible, please pray your Rosary between noon and 3:00pm on Good Friday.

 

 

Senate Could Vote on Conscience Clause Today

Please Contact Your Senators

LifeNews reports that Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) could propose a conscience clause amendment to the budget bill that would protect the religious freedom of health care workers allowing them to opt out of abortion practices.

President Bush put the provision into place to provide more enforcement for the three federal laws that make it so medical professionals and facilities are not required to do abortions.

However, President Obama has proposed overturning those conscience protections and will likely do so after a 30-day public comment window expires on April 9.

Action: Please call your Senators today. It only takes a moment. Ask them to suppport Senator Coburn's amendment. There are sixteen Catholic senators who have failed to protect life on four previous pro-life votes. Remind them that as Catholics they must support the doctrine of the Church.

From Evangelium vitae:

“...in the case of an intrinsically unjust law, such as a law permitting abortion or euthanasia, it is therefore never licit to obey it, or to "take part in a propaganda campaign in favour of such a law, or vote for it…abortion and euthanasia are thus crimes which no human law can claim to legitimize. There is no obligation in conscience to obey such laws; instead there is a grave and clear obligation to oppose them by conscientious objection.”

 

How Much Federal Funding does Planned Parenthood Receive?

Rep. Olson Seeks Co-Signers for Letter to GAO Requesting Family Planning Info

Rep. Pete Olson (TX-22) is sending a letter to Gene Dodaro, the Acting Comptroller General of the GAO, requesting the amount of federal funding that has gone to Planned Parenthood and other specific organizations, from FY2002-2009.  As many folks are aware, this letter has been sent on an annual basis to them the last several years, and they have not reported any information regarding funding since FY2001.

Action: Ask your Representative to sign Rep. Olson's letter

Representatives emails

How Much Federal Funding does Planned Parenthood Receive?

Rep. Olson Seeks Co-Signers for Letter to GAO Requesting Family Planning Info

Rep. Pete Olson (TX-22) is sending a letter to Gene Dodaro, the Acting Comptroller General of the GAO, requesting the amount of federal funding that has gone to Planned Parenthood and other specific organizations, from FY2002-2009.  As many folks are aware, this letter has been sent on an annual basis to them the last several years, and they have not reported any information regarding funding since FY2001.

Action: Ask your Representative to sign Rep. Olson's letter

Representatives emails

 

 

Protect the "Conscinece" clause for Health Care Workers

Cardinal Francis George is urging Catholics in the United States to tell the Obama Administration to retain Health and Human Services regulations governing conscience protections for health care workers.

The deadline for submitting comments is April 9

He delivered the message via video available on the Web at http://www.usccb.org/conscienceprotection  and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NoCRwMqVzQ

“Respect for personal conscience and freedom of religion as such ensures our basic freedom from government oppression.  No government should come between an individual person and God—that’s what America is supposed to be about,” Cardinal Francis George said. “This is the true common ground for us as Americans. We therefore need legal protection for freedom of conscience and of religion—including freedom for religious health care institutions to be true to themselves.”

“I ask you please to let the government know that you want conscience protections to remain strongly in place.  In particular, let the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington know that you stand for the protection of conscience, especially now for those who provide the health care services so necessary for a good society,” he said.
This is vital to keep the government from “moving our country from democracy to despotism,” said Cardinal George, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.   

Pro-life advocates can now respond to President Barack Obama's decision to dump the Provider Conscience Clause. That is the regulation President Bush put in place to protect doctors and medical centers not wanting to do abortions.

Three different federal laws provide legal protections for medical professionals. After determining those laws were not always followed by local governments and some medical centers, the Bush administration sought to strengthen them.

The Bush administration put the rules in place to require a written agreement to follow the conscience laws and gave victims better access to federal employment discrimination agencies to consider legal action if their rights were violated.

Relying on claims from leading pro-abortion groups like Planned Parenthood, Obama instructed his administration to overturn the new rules.

The Obama administration published its proposal and provided an email address the public could use to comment on his plan to dump the rule. The email address has not been working since it was first made public last Friday. http://www.lifenews.com/nat4893.html

That has changed and, now, LifeNews

To Send email from USCCB Site: The Catholic community must speak out to protect Catholic doctors, nurses and hospitals.

 

 

Pro-Abortion Catholic Gov. Sebelius (KS-D) Nominated as HHS Secretary

Many Catholic groups are calling to stop Governor Sebelius from being confirmed as Secretary of Health due to her long record as a staunch abortion advocate

Sebelius' local ordinary Archbishop Naumann has previously asked her not to present herself for Communion due to this ongoing rejection of Church teaching.

A Washington Examiner columnist, proclaims that a Sebelius Secretary of HHS means a boost for abortion and embryonic stem cell research. Note the folowing from Timothy Carney:

As HHS chief - especially with a Democratic Congress - Sebelius would be in position to expand Medicaid coverage of contraception and abortion, increase NIH’s focus on embryonic stem-cell research, and require hospitals to perform abortions as a condition of receiving federal money.

A record of her support for abortion rights may be viewed here: CatholicsAgainstSebelius

From Fr. Euteneuer, President of HLI:

The situation is atrocious. An extremist abortion hack (called the most pro-abortion governor in the nation by many), who falsely calls herself "Catholic," is given the opportunity to preside over the nation's healthcare system and normalize abortion even further; this radical is then endorsed by a US senator who also calls himself "Catholic" and who, many believe, wants her job back home when she becomes the abortion queen in DC.

From Archbishop Naumann on the CNSblog:

Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, Kan., has been questioning Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a Catholic, for her support of legalized abortion for a year and a half now, and he has asked her on at least two occasions not to present herself for Communion in Kansas.

In his latest public comment, he now says her nomination by President Barack Obama as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services is “troubling” because of her abortion stance.

The archbishop offered his most recent comments about Sebelius — summarized in a Catholice News Service report – in his column in the March 6 issue of The Leaven, the archdiocesan newspaper.

In an interview with Our Sunday Visitor, he further explains his stance.

While calling Sebelius a gifted leader who represents Catholic social teaching well when it comes to concerns such as the development of affordable housing and increasing access to health care for poor children, Archbishop Naumann strongly takes the governor to task for her long-held support for abortion.

In the interview the archbishop said he can understand why Sebelius was nominated to the federal post but reiterated that he finds it troubling. An excerpt:

“But I think from the church’s point of view, it’s sad because it places another high-profile, pro-abortion Catholic into national leadership along with Vice President (Joe) Biden and Speaker (Nancy) Pelosi and a raft of others that are in the Congress. And so I think it makes our job as bishops more challenging, because we have to be even more clear that this is not acceptable for a person in public service to say that they are Catholic and then to support these policies that are anti-life, you know go against the most fundamental of all human rights, the preservation of innocent life."

TAke Action: Contact your Senator - Ask that they Oppose Sebelius

 

 

UPDATE: Vote next week - Call your Senators

Senator Vitter introduces amendment to Omnibus bill
HR 1105, prohibiting funds to Planned Parenthood

Vitter says it is "outlandish" that current federal regulations do not make Planned Parenthood separate the federal funds it receives for family planning from its abortion business money.

Senator David Vitter (LA-R) has introduced an amendment to the Appropriations bill currenty being debated in the Senate. The House approved HR 1105 last week shortly after being released from the appropriations committee. The committee attached stipulations that no amendments could be introduced during negotiations in the full House, thus prohibiting Rep. Chris Smith from offering two pro-life amendments.

The House bill included $150 million for abortion measures. Included in this is an increase inTitle X funding. It is believed that most of the Title X funding will go to Planned Parenthood. The money Planned Parenthood receives from Title X funds doesn't pay for abortions directly, but Senator Vitter says it still helps the abortion business.

"This ambiguity has allowed organizations, such as Planned Parenthood, to receive large sums of federal funding for 'reproductive health activity' programs and often channel these federal dollars to clinics that perform abortions to pay for overhead expenses like electricity bills and office support staff -– freeing up other funds for abortions," he said.

In 2007 Planned Parenthood received $300 million in taxpayer funding. This same year Planned Parenthood serviced record numbers of patients and earned over $1 billion in profits. They also reported the largest percentage increase in abortions in over a decade. In 2007 PP performed 289,570 abortions, an increase of nearly 25,000.

The House bill also includes $50 million for funds to UNFPA. Bush had prohibitied this funding while president because of their support for China’s one-child policy that utilizes forced abortion.

Ask your Senator to support the Vitter amendment - Senate Amendment 601

To Thank Senator Vitter: email

 

Retain Pro-Life Policies in Appropriations Bill

"In a society that wants to reduce abortions, it makes no sense for government to force its citizens to fund and promote abortion."  - Cardinal Rigali, Chairman of the Bishops' Committee for Pro-Life Activities

 

171 Lawmakers, 150 Republicans and 21 Democrats are fighting to maintain anti-abortion measures called riders that are added to spending bills to prevent taxpayer money from being spent on funding abortions in the U.S. or abroad.

 

Reps. Heath Shuler, D-N.C., and Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, are collecting signatures from fellow lawmakers for a letter asking for the annual riders to be included for the $410 billion omnibus spending bill that Congress will use as the remainder of the 2009 fiscal year budget.

Last fall, Congress approved only three of the twelve must-pass Fiscal Year 2009 appropriations bills. A Continuing Resolution temporarily extended funding for the nine remaining bills until March 6. By that time Congress must act to extend appropriations for these nine bills to the end of the fiscal year, September 30, 2009. The appropriations committees are preparing an omnibus appropriations bill to extend this funding (there is no bill number until a measure is reported out of committee).

In conjunction with President's Day, Congress will be in recess during the week of February 16. Some expect bills to reach the House and Senate floors after the recess, perhaps as early as the week of February 23. On February 5, Cardinal Justin Rigali, Chairman of the Bishops' Committee for Pro-Life Activities, wrote a letter to all Senators and Representatives, urging them "not to use this legislation to weaken or rescind longstanding provisions that protect U.S. taxpayers from being forced to fund and promote the destruction of innocent human life."

Cardinal Rigali's letter highlighted several pro-life provisions, including: the Hyde amendment and similar measures protecting American taxpayers from being forced to subsidize abortions; the Dickey/Wicker amendment preventing federal funding for research in which human embryos are created, harmed and destroyed; and the Kemp-Kasten amendment preventing U.S. funding of organizations that support or help manage programs of coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization.

The Cardinal describes these and similar laws as "modest, common-sense policies that are widely supported even among people who disagree on the legal status of abortion." He concludes: "In a society that wants to reduce abortions, it makes no sense for government to force its citizens to fund and promote abortion." 

Action: Please contact your Representative and two Senators by e-mail, phone call, or FAX letter. Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121, or call your Members' local offices.

Message: "When you take up the Fiscal Year 2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill, please retain all longstanding provisions that protect taxpayers from having to fund and promote abortion."

When: The Fiscal Year 2009 Omnibus Appropriations bill could be brought to the House and Senate floors as early as the week of February 23. The bill must be signed into law by March 6. Please act today! Thanks!

Alert from RIRTL

 

 

Reported at CBN, Brody File:

Conservative Groups Lose Battle on "Religious Discrimination" Language in Stimulus Bill

Senator Jim DeMint’s amendment to strip out what he considered religious discrimination language in the stimulus bill was rejected by a 54-43 vote. That means it stays in the stimulus bill.

Below you can see how our Catholic Senators voted - Please thank these senators for voting to Protect Religious Freeedom

Section 803 of the stimulus bill would create a multi-billion dollar grant program to renovate and repair colleges and universities, but there's one exception to this provision.  The funds cannot be used for facilities used for "sectarian instruction, religious worship, or a school or department of divinity; or in which a substantial portion of the functions of the facilities are subsumed in a religious mission."

The Traditional Values Coalition just issued this statement:

“Democrats showed their anti-Christian bias by rejecting South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint’s amendment that would have protected religious freedom in colleges and universities receiving federal funds,” said Traditional Values Coalition Executive Director, Andrea Lafferty today. “DeMint’s amendment simply struck the anti-Christian discrimination section from the bill.

The so-called stimulus package contained a section that forbids federal tax dollars from being used to modernize or repair any educational facility that permits religious services on its premises.

It discriminates not only against Christian schools by forbidding funds, but targets secular schools as well – including universities with divinity schools. This bill shuts off secular colleges from permitting religious services on campus if they receive any federal money from this stimulus bill.

“This is just the beginning of aggressive anti-Christian bigotry that we will see over the next four years,” said Lafferty.  “We suffered a significant defeat to our First Amendment’s guarantee of religious freedom and free speech today.”

How did Catholics Senators Vote? YEA - 8, NAY - 17

Catholic Republicans:

YEA - 8 Murkowski (AK), Martinez (FL), Risch (ID), Brownback (KS), Bunning (KY), Vitter (LA), Johanns (NE), Voinovich (OH)

NAY - 1 Collins (R-ME),

Catholic Democrats:

YEA - 0

NAY - 16 Begich (AK), Dodd (CT), Kaufman (DE), Durbin (IL), Harkin (IA), Landrieu (LA), Mikulski (MD), Kerry (MA), McCaskill (MO), Menedez (NJ), Gillibrand (NY), Casey (PA), Reed (RI), Leahy (VT), Cantwell (WA), Murray (WA)

Not Voting -1 Kennedy (MA)

 

Members of Congress are listening on FOCA - contact your Senator and Member of Congress

Last Friday, I visited the offices of several members of Congress and spoke to their legislative staff on the Freedom of Choice Act. Many stated that their Representative had signed the letter written to President Obama asking that he withdraw his campaign pledge to sign the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) and other pro-abortion rights laws. Others stated that the communication they were receiving most from those within their district was on FOCA. Members of Congress are recording these calls and emails. It is important that you counter the efforts of groups like Planned Parenthood, NARAL and Emily's List.

Please contact your legislators. It only takes a moment. You may contact them by phone or email. Identify FOCA by name and your position; include key information, using examples to support your position.

What FOCA would do (talking points)

FOCA states that every woman has a "fundamental right" to an abortion and prohibits any government - federal, state or local - from denying or interfering with this right. FOCA would nullify a wide range of laws enacted by the people and their elected representatives over 36 years, and upheld by the courts under Roe, including:

- Abortion clinic regulations

- Laws banning partial-birth abortion

- Laws requiring that only doctors may do abortions

- Laws that protect the conscience rights of doctors, nurses, and hospitals

- Laws that require parental consent for a minor child to have an abortion

- Laws that prevent taxpayer funding of abortion

- Laws requiring informed consent

To contact U.S. Senators

To contact U.S. Representatives

Remember that telephone calls are usually taken by a staff member, not the member of Congress. Ask to speak with the aide who handles the issue about which you wish to comment.

Addressing Correspondence if by writing letter or email.

To a Senator:

The Honorable (full name)
__(Rm.#)__(name of)Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator:

To a Representative:

The Honorable (full name)
__(Rm.#)__(name of)House Office Building
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative:

 

 

The "Prevention First Act" gives millions to Abortion Providers

Three Catholic Senators Join Senator Harry Reid in this abortion bailout

On the first day of the 111th Congress, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) sent a very clear message about what pro-lifers can expect from the next two years by introducing S. 21, "The Prevention First Act" that would direct hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to the abortion industry, a business that already receives over $286 million each year from federal taxpayers.

It should come as no surprise that Planned Parenthood, the largest supporter of unrestricted abortion, praised the bill. And why not? The abortion merchant will likely be the largest beneficiary of Reid's abortion bailout. Among other things, the legislation would use taxpayer funds to mislead people about the potential of the "morning after pill" (known as Plan B) to act as an abortifacient. It also encourages the use of Plan B for victims of sexual assault yet has no reporting requirement in place for young girls who may have been victims of abuse and/or rape.

When you get right down to it, the bill does nothing to support parental involvement--let alone consent--for dispensing the morning after pill and other "contraception" to minors. In addition to funding Plan B, the measure would also: subsidize birth control for college and low-income women; expand Title X, the main federal family planning program that requires abortion referrals; expand Planned Parenthood targeting of low-income women through Medicaid; target teens' with "comprehensive" sex education; and spread emergency contraception. FamilyResearchCouncil

Contact these 3 Catholic Senators and ask them to withdraw their support.

Remind them of Pope John Paul II words in Evangelium vitae,

In Evangelium vitae John Paul II makes clear the constant teaching of the Church, that those who are directly involved in lawmaking bodies have a grave and clear obligation to oppose any law that attacks human life. Catholic politicians cannot claim that their legal toleration of abortion is based on respect for the conscience of others.

Catholic Senators Co--sponsoring the "Prevention First Act"

Sen Kerry, John F. (D-MA) Date Sponsored: 1/6/2009
Office Locations Washington D.C.
304 Russell Bldg.
Third Floor
Washington D.C. 20510
(202) 224-2742 - Phone
(202) 224-8525 - Fax

To email Senator Kerry

Sen Menendez, Robert (D-NJ) Date Sponsored: 1/6/2009
317 Senate Hart Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
202.224.4744
202.228.2197 fax

To email Senator Menendez

Sen Murray, Patty (D-WA) Date Sponsored: 1/6/2009
Washington, D.C. Office
173 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-2621
Fax: (202) 224-0238
Toll Free: (866) 481-9186

Te email Senator Murray

 

Senate Must Act on Nominations to Federal Courts and Agencies

senate_logo

180 Nominees Waiting for Confirmation Process in the Senate

Yesterday President Bush met with Nominees and Senators at the White House to encourage hearings for his nominees. Many courts and federal agencies have vacancies due to the Senate's inability to schedule hearings and give the nominess an up or down vote.

President Bush called on the Senate to uphold their constitutional responsibility and fill these vacancies.

"I have nominated skilled and faithful public servants to lead federal agencies and sit on the federal bench. The Constitution also gives senators an important responsibility. They must provide advice and consent by voting up or down on these nominees. Unfortunately, the Senate is not fulfilling its duty."

"The confirmation process has turned into a never ending political game, where everyone loses. With more than a 180 of my nominees waiting for the confirmation process in the Senate, it is clear that the process is not working. About half these nominees have been waiting for more than a hundred days. More than 30 have been waiting a year or more. And nine have been waiting for more than two years."

President Bush said that the backlog was creating a strain on the government. Vacant positions are affecting issues from the economy to public safety to national security.

Contact Senator Patrick Leahy and Senator Harry Reid

Ask Sens. Patrick Leahy and Harry Reid to schedule hearings for President Bush's judicial nominees.

Senator Patrick Leahy

Washington
433 Russell Senate Office Bldg
(at Constitution and Delaware)
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-4242

Email Senator Leahy: senator_leahy@leahy.senate.gov

Senator Harry Reid

Washington
528 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-3542 / Fax: 202-224-7327
Toll Free for Nevadans: 1-866-SEN-REID (736-7343) -Restricted to calls originating from area codes 775 and 702

Email Senator Reid: http://reid.senate.gov/contact/email_form.cfm