Senate Passes NIH Funding Bill Enabling Human-Animal Chimera Research

On June 9, the US Senate passed the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA), also known as the "Endless Frontier Act," by a vote of 68-32. The bill grants billions of dollars to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) but does not ban the use of aborted baby cells to create human-animal hybrid embryos. Since the NIH is expected to end its moratorium on this research, and American universities are already conducting it, some federal tax dollars could go directly to this disturbing research.

Indiana Sen. Mike Braun introduced an amendment to the bill that would have banned the creation of human-animal embryos, but it failed by a vote of 49-48.

The problem that this legislation creates is amplified by the fact that Biden has reversed Trump policies which blocked research using tissue harvested from elective abortions.

“Currently the National Institutes of Health does not do this research and we need to keep it that way,” Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) said, “Researchers who are attempting these horrific once-science-fiction experiments should focus on valuing the dignity of human life, not trying to genetically merge and manipulate humans and animals.”

If "The Endless Frontier Act" also passes the House of Representatives, billions of dollars will be available for NIH use in immoral experiments.

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6 Ohio Pro-Life Activists Arrested at Abortion Clinic

Police arresting Father Fidelis Moschinki on June 4

Six Ohio pro-life activists were arrested on June 4 and 5 on charges of trespassing after they entered abortion businesses and counseled women against abortion.

Those arrested include a Catholic priest and an 18-year old.

The activists were participating in a Red Rose Rescue mission; inspired by Canadian pro-life activist Mary Wagner. She repeatedly enters abortion businesses and offered red roses to pregnant mothers inside. In this instance, the Red Rose Rescuers offered roses and cards with the phone numbers of local pregnancy centers. The card includes the message: “You were made to love and to be loved ... your goodness is greater than the difficulties of your situation. Circumstances in life change. A new life, however tiny, brings the promise of unrepeatable joy.”

Dr. Monica Migliorino Miller, who organized the Red Rose Rescue missions, was one of the people arrested during the event. She was held for five hours before being released by police. When describing the rescue missions, she said, “Our goal is to talk to moms one on one and give them a hope that they otherwise wouldn’t have. They’ve already gone past the sidewalk counselors on the sidewalk and so this is our last effort to reach them before they walk down a hallway to abort their baby.”

“They deserve a defense,” Miller said. “They deserve someone to stand up and witness for them. So that’s why we don’t leave them. We remain in solidarity with the victims of abortion. And that’s why we don’t leave. And that’s where the possibility of arrest is going to come in, because when the police order us to leave we very politely refuse and tell them why.”

Miller has a pretrial hearing set for June 22.

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C-Section Saves Five-Month Pregnant Woman and Child After Stabbing Attack

A five-month pregnant Georgia mother was walking on a nature trail with her three-year-old son when she was stabbed in the back by a stranger. Luckily, doctors were able to administer an emergency C-Section to save the lives of both the mother and her baby.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote that the 34-year-old mother and her baby boy are both stable and expected to survive. The three-year-old was not injured. A suspect with a history of mental illness was arrested last Thursday.

"From everything we can tell, this is a completely unprovoked attack," Brookhaven Lt. David Snively told the Journal-Constitution. "I recognize that's probably the scariest of the possible explanations... We're very troubled by what led up to this because this is one of those cases where it appears the victim did everything right."

This horrifying attack clearly threatened the lives of both the mother and her child, but doctors were able to save both. This is because emergency C-sections are faster and more efficient at saving lives than abortions are. Doctors can attempt to save preterm children by bringing them to the NICU, and the mother can receive the treatment she needs immediately. Surgical abortions, on the other hand, require appointments over at least two days to complete. Emergency C-sections are also not done with the intent to kill an unborn child.

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TV Networks Reject Pro-Life Ad

Three major television networks recently rejected a 30-second pro-life ad created by the Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List). The networks argued that the advertisement, which argues that unborn babies are valuable human lives, is "controversial" and "unacceptable."

CBS, CMT, and the Hallmark channel all rejected the spot.

SBA List created the ad as part of a $2 million ad campaign "highlighting the humanity of unborn children as the Supreme Court prepares to review a landmark abortion case," (referring to the Mississippi law banning abortion at 15 weeks).

Click here to view the advertisement if it does not appear below.

After the ad was rejected, the SBA list responded that the ad, “doesn’t issue any calls to action to Congress or attack any candidate or politician.”

“It simply praises the modern miracles of medicine and health care tech which have increased opportunities for every generation in the last 50 years, except for the unborn because the U.S. allows abortion on-demand through birth.”

Click here to read more.

Appeals Court Upholds Injunction Against “Missouri Stands For the Unborn Act”

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt

On Wednesday, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a district judge's injunction against the "Missouri Stands for the Unborn Act." Among other things, this law bans discriminatory abortions, requires Missouri doctors who refer patients out-of-state for abortions to still fulfill the state's informed consent requirements, and has tiered abortion bans at 8, 14, and 18 weeks. It is written this way so that a ban might still exist if a court blocks one or two of them.

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt responded to the 8th Circuit's decision by vowing to challenge it before the Supreme Court. Schmitt said in a statement, “While we’re disappointed in the Eighth Circuit’s decision, their decision does provide an avenue for this case to be heard by the Supreme Court, and we plan to seek review in the Supreme Court. I have never and will never stop fighting to ensure that all life is protected.”

The three-judge panel from the 8th Circuit voted 2-1 to maintain District Judge Howard F. Sachs’s injunction.

Click here to read more.

Congress Introduces Bill Allow Abortion through Birth and Get Rid of Pro-Life Protections

photo credit: John Brighenti / Flickr

On Tuesday, pro-abortion Congress members re-introduced legislation that would allow abortion up to birth for any reason, require taxpayers to pay for abortions, and wipe out nearly all pro-life protections throughout the country.

The Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA) would ensure that women can have an abortion at all points in pregnancy for any reason, and it has the potential to destroy conscience protections, parental notification laws, and informed consent laws.

If pro-abortion politicians pass the WHPA into law, states will no longer be able to enforce even simple protections such as mandatory waiting periods, abortion counseling, or ultrasounds. Mandatory ultrasounds mainly exist to protect women by ensuring that pregnancies are correctly dated and diagnosed for conditions such as ectopic pregnancy. By doing this, abortionists can pick abortion methods that correspond with these conditions. If these things are assumed incorrectly, then the mother can be at risk of severe complications.

Illinois pro-lifers should make sure to follow this law closely, as it could easily accomplish the same goal as legislation in the General Assembly that would repeal the Parental Notice of Abortion Act. If federal legislation renders parental notification unenforceable, then abortion businesses will no longer be required to tell a minor's guardian(s) when she has scheduled an abortion. This one pro-life protection in Illinois not only allows parents to talk to their daughters about a life-changing decision, but it also helps protect young girls from sexual abuse and trafficking.

Click here to read more.

New IDPH Stats Show 10% Abortion Increase from 2018 to 2019

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) recently released data showing that abortions increased by 10% from 2018 to 2019.

According to the Chicago Tribune, About 42,400 babies were aborted in 2018, while over 46,500 were aborted in 2019. The number of women coming to Illinois from other states to have abortions also increased. 13% of women who had abortions in 2018 (about 5,500) came from out of state. This increased to 16% (about 7,500) in 2019.

The passage of the 2019 Reproductive Health Act cemented Illinois's image as an "abortion haven" in the midst of other midwestern states that take action to regulate abortion. The law ended a variety of abortion restrictions and made abortion a right under state law. As other nearby states continually work to save lives, Illinois lawmakers and abortion businesses are undercutting their efforts.

Two major Planned Parenthood clinics have opened since then as well. In late 2019, Planned Parenthood opened its "mega-clinic" that it had secretly constructed in Fairview Heights by using a shell company. A major purpose for this clinic was to offer abortion to Missouri women, since Planned Parenthood's St. Louis clinic faced the threat of closure due to health violations. Planned Parenthood also opened a major clinic in Waukegan just last year.

If Illinois continues to pass pro-abortion legislation and repeal pro-life protections, the number of children killed by abortion only stands to increase even more.

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New Online Pharmacies Sell Abortion Pills for Mail Delivery

When the Biden administration announced that it would stop enforcing FDA rules requiring abortion pills to be distributed in person by certified physicians, online abortion pill pharmacies started popping up across the nation.

A service called "Hey Jane" offers abortion pills to women in New York and Washington for $199, which is roughly $300 less than what clinics normally charge to initiate a chemical abortion in person. Hey Jane delivers abortion pills are delivered within three days in an unmarked box, but it does so at significantly increased risk to the pregnant mother.

Women who purchase abortion pills online will rarely have an ultrasound beforehand. If they date their pregnancy inaccurately or have an undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy, taking the abortion pill regimen could pose significant health risks and even lead to death through severe hemorrhaging. Hey Jane even notes this on its website, but mainly argues that its service offers savings and convenience compared to in-person abortion businesses.

Some states are enacting laws that prevent abortion pill distributors from sending abortion pills to customers through the mail, but these are very recent (and certainly don't apply to Illinois).

Click here to read more.

National Right to Life Convention Extends Early Registration Through June 21

National Right to Life announced Tuesday that early registration for the 2021 National Right to Life Convention in Herndon, Virginia has been extended to June 21! Registration prices will increase after that point, so register early if you plan to attend!

The June 25-26 event will feature a variety of workshops to teach pro-lifers how they can help advance the pro-life cause, an opening prayer breakfast, a showing of the pro-life play Viable: The Truth in One Act a teens for life convention, and a closing banquet.

To learn more and register for this year's convention, visit nrlconvention.com.

General Assembly Passes Pro-Abortion Sex Education Bill

On Friday, May 28, Illinois lawmakers passed legislation mandating comprehensive sex education aligning with "National Sex Education Standards." That legislation has been sent to Gov. Pritzker's desk for signature.

SB 818 passed the House by a vote of 60-48, and it passed the Senate by a vote of 37-18. The bill mandates that schools teach "comprehensive personal health and safety education" in grades K-5 and "comprehensive sexual health education" in grades 6-12. That description misrepresents the scope of what this legislation can do to public school sex education, however.

SB 818 requires the new curriculum to align with the National Sex Education Standards set forth by the Future of Sex Education (FoSE) and the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS).

The National Sex Education Standards require 2nd graders to list "medically accurate names for body parts, including the genitals." The standards describe abortion as a "pregnancy option," and tells students that "sexual intercourse may mean different things to different people, but could include behaviors such as vaginal sex, oral sex, or anal sex."

Jennifer Welch, the President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Illinois Action, issued a press release praising pro-abortion legislators for passing this legislation.

“Because of their hard work and dedication, public and charter schools will have clear guidelines and standards for providing medically accurate and age-appropriate personal health and safety education in grades K through five and comprehensive sexual health education in grades six through 12,” Welch said.

Opponents to the bill argue that age-inappropriate information will be taught to children, and that the curriculum will paint abortion and pre-marital sex in a favorable light.

The Illinois Family Institute harshly criticized the bill on its website, writing that the National Sex Education Standards "indoctrinate children with leftist sexuality dogma."

The bill does allow parents, guardians, or entire school districts to opt their children out of the state's sex education curriculum. If a school district does this, however, they would not be allowed to teach anything about personal health and sexuality at all.

US Senate Votes Down Legislation Banning Creation of Experimental Human/Animal Hybrid Embryos

On May 27, the US Senate voted down pro-life legislation that would have banned experiments designed to create human-animal hybrid embryos.

Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN) introduced the legislation as an amendment to the Endless Frontier Act. It was co-sponsored by Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) and Sen. James Lankford (R-OK). The amendment failed after a 49-48 vote.

This amendment to the Endless Frontier Act would have banned the creation of human-animal chimeras (organisms that contain both human cells and cells from an animal). If the amendment was written into law, researchers attempting to make human-animal chimeras, transfer a nonhuman embryo into a human womb, or transfer a human embryo into a non-human womb could have faced up to 10 years in jail and/or a fine of at least one million dollars.

“Human life is distinct and sacred, and research that creates an animal-human hybrid or transfers a human embryo into an animal womb or vice versa should be completely prohibited, and engaging in such unethical experiments should be a crime,” said Senator Braun in a statement.

National Right to Life and many other pro-life organizations endorsed the proposed amendment.

This issue has become more important recently, as scientists recently created the first-ever human/monkey embryos. Additionally, the National Institutes of Health is considering whether it will dissolve a rule which bans scientists from keeping human embryos alive for lab testing for more than 14 days.

Click here to read more.

Parental Notification is Safe for the Moment...

photo credit: John Kannenberg / Flickr

Illinois pro-lifers can breathe a brief sigh of relief, as bills repealing the Parental Notice of Abortion Act were not called to a vote before the end of the spring legislative session. Despite this, pro-life advocates still need to pay attention and be ready to fight against pro-abortion legislation. It could come back sooner than you might think.

Leaders in the General Assembly have suggested that they might call a special session in the coming weeks to consider bills that did not come to a vote before the end of the spring legislative session. If this happens, it is still possible that the General Assembly could vote on HB 1797 and SB 2091 to repeal the Parental Notice of Abortion Act.

The Illinois Federation for Right to Life will do its best to let you know if anything is happening with pro-abortion legislation. If you have subscribed to our newsletter, please add "mail@ifrl.org" to your contacts or make sure to check your spam box to find our updates. Subscribers have told us that much of our communication has ended up in spam recently, and we are currently researching solutions to this problem.

Appeals Court Reverses Decision Blocking New Yorkers from Gathering Outside Abortion Facility

On June 3, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals vacated its own ruling which prevented pro-lifers from gathering outside an abortion business to counsel women.

13 pro-life advocates were targeted by former New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman in 2017 when he filed a legal case claiming that the pro-lifers were threatening and violent. Schneiderman hoped to establish a buffer zone, end a weekly pro-life vigil, and force the pro-lifers to pay financial penalties. Because Schneiderman had no evidence to support this accusation, the district court ruled in favor of the pro-lifers.

On March 10, 2021, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the district court's decision. In its opinion, it ruled that simple actions such as handing pamphlets to people outside a clinic could be viewed as a "use of force" and violate New York law.

The pro-life Thomas More Society, which represented the accused pro-lifers, responded to this ruling by calling on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals to have an en banc hearing, but the court surprised many by reversing its own ruling.

“The petitions for rehearing are GRANTED,” the ruling reads. “The panel hereby VACATES its previous opinion. Accordingly, the decision of the district court remains in place.”

“It appears that even the judges in the majority on the panel found their original opinion indefensible,” said Thoms More Society Senior Counsel Stephen Crampton. “We are pleased that the fundamental First Amendment rights of our clients have been restored, and look forward to returning to the district court and finishing the case once and for all.”

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World Medical Association Proposal Would Require Conscientious Objectors to Refer Patients

The World Medical Association has proposed changes to the International Code of Medical Ethics (ICoME) which would undermine the conscientious objections of doctors who refuse to commit abortion or euthanasia. If doctors object, they would be required to refer their patients to doctors willing to complete the controversial procedures.

The current ICoME language reads:

"Physicians have an ethical obligation to minimise disruption to patient care. Conscientious objection must only be considered if the individual patient is not discriminated against or disadvantaged, the patient’s health is not endangered, and undelayed continuity of care is ensured."

But the proposal would significantly alter the code by adding the following phrase to the end of what is written above:

"[… is ensured] through effective and timely referral to another qualified physician."

UK Professor David Albert Jones of the Anscombe Bioethics Centre at Oxford decried the proposed changes in a press release. He argued that doctors have the duty to object to procedures that are "harmful, discriminatory, unjust or unethical," and the new language would completely undercut this duty. He also argued that conscientious objection does not conflict with patient care.

Jones wrote,

if a doctor objects in conscience to participation in torture or capital punishment or to force feeding of a prisoner who is on hunger strike, it would be unprincipled for them to find someone with fewer scruples to do the deed for them. To require a conscientious objector to facilitate delivery of the procedure to which they object is a direct attack on person’s conscience and moral integrity, and thus a serious harm to them. It would be much better to say nothing about conscientious objection than to undermine it by imposing a requirement for “effective and timely referral”. 

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Judge Tosses Planned Parenthood Lawsuit Against Texas Sanctuary City

photo credit: Joe Gratz / Flickr

On June 1, an ordinance took effect in Lubbock, Texas, making the city a sanctuary city for the unborn. The enforceable ordinance bans all abortion within city limits. Planned Parenthood filed a lawsuit in an attempt to block the ordinance, but a federal judge has now dismissed it.

District Judge James Wesley Hendrix made the decision, arguing that he does not have the jurisdiction to block the ordinance. “The U.S. Constitution and binding precedent make clear that federal courts do not exist to render advisory opinions on a law’s validity,” he said in his ruling. “Rather, this Court is limited to resolving actual cases and controversies.”

The city of Lubbock applauded Hendrix's decision in a statement.

"Judge Hendrix issued a thorough and well-reasoned opinion in dismissing the case for lack of jurisdiction, which is a threshold consideration for any court to make respecting a lawsuit before it. The City is presently unaware of the plaintiffs’ intentions as to whether an appeal will be filed or whether additional lawsuits will be filed against the City. Nevertheless, the City will continue to vigorously defend the ordinance in any litigation that may be filed."

Planned Parenthood and the ACLU continue to argue that the Lubbock ordinance is unconstitutional, but had not announced an appeal at the time of writing.

Click here to read more.

China Announces Continued Population Control Under 3-Child Policy

At the end of May, the Chinese Communist Party announced that it is updating its population-controlling policy by allowing families to have three children, rather than just two. While the policy might be slightly different now, it still violates the human rights of unborn children and their mothers.

In 1979, China instituted its infamous one-child policy with the intent to control the nation's population growth. Under this policy, women were forced into abortion and sterilization if they had more than one child. Additionally, Chinese culture often values male children over female children. Because of this, families often chose to abort girls until they conceived a boy.

When China moved from a one-child policy to a two-child policy, none of these things changed. Women and unborn children continued to receive the same inhumane treatment from the Chinese Communist Party. The government has even gone as far as to send Uyghur Muslims to concentration camps if they violate population-control policies.

Forced and discriminatory abortion has become ingrained in China's culture through propaganda and these tyrannical policies. Many unborn children have already lost their lives to abortion because of this, and the slight change in China's family limit will not make a significant difference.

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Texas Woman Sues Hospital to Save Husband from "10 Day Rule"

A Texas hospital has invoked the state's "10-day rule" against a man who is responsive and doesn't report any pain. The rule allows the hospital to withdraw all care unless a patient's family can find another facility to take the patient within 10 days.

On Tuesday, May 25, Baylor Scott & White Hospital told Eugenia Costea that she had ten days to find a new facility to take her husband, Bill Costea. Bill is on a ventilator, but he is awake and can communicate with others. The hospital argues that he only has weeks to live, and is threatening to remove Bill's ventilator, blood pressure medication, nutrition, and water.

Bill was hospitalized in April 2021 due to heart complications. Now, the hospital has decided that his life is not worth any attempts at care.

“I love my husband,” said Eugenia. “Together we have endured so much. I will fight for his life; I know he would do the same for me.” She has hired an attorney to help defend her husband from the hospital.

Click here to read more.

Illinois Passes Bill Requiring Insurance Companies to Cover IVF for LGBT and Single People

On May 27, Illinois legislators passed HB 3709, which redefines infertility in a way that requires insurance companies to cover in vitro fertilization (IVF) costs for single people and those who identify as LGBT.

The state insurance code currently defines infertility as "the inability to conceive after one year of unprotected sexual intercourse or the inability to sustain a successful pregnancy." If signed into law by Gov. Pritzker, the code would force insurance companies to treat LGBT couples and single people as "infertile."

The new definition of infertility describes it as “a person’s inability to reproduce either as a single individual or with a partner without medical intervention,” or “otherwise based on a physician’s opinion.”

IVF creates excess human embryos which are often either destroyed or frozen indefinitely. Just as humans conceived naturally should not be discarded or destroyed by abortion, these human beings do not deserve the treatment they often receive from fertility clinics. Human beings are not products to be bought and sold, with or without insurance coverage. The law should not treat them as such.

The House voted 68-43 in favor of HB 3709, and the Senate voted 49-6.

Click here to read more.

Biden Budget Request Removes Hyde Amendment Protections

photo credit: Gage Skidmore / Flickr

On Friday, May 28, President Joe Biden submitted his final budget request to Congress for the 2022 fiscal year. His proposal removes 45-year-old Hyde Amendment language from the federal budget, allowing even more federal tax dollars to fund abortions.

The Hyde Amendment is language that has been attached to all budget bills since 1976. The language bans federal funds from being used to pay for elective abortions except in cases of rape, incest, or when the life of the mother is at risk.

“By eliminating the Hyde Amendment from his proposed budget, President Biden has once again shown his allegiance to the extremism of pro-abortion groups and their allies,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life.

“The Hyde Amendment has proven to be the greatest domestic abortion-reduction measure ever enacted by Congress,” said Jennifer Popik, J.D., legislative director of National Right to Life. “The Hyde Amendment is widely recognized as having saved over two million American lives since it was first adopted in 1976.”

Click here to read more.

Chicago OB/GYN Writes Column In Support of Parental Notification

In an opinion piece for the Chicago Sun-Times, obstetrician and gynecologist Robert Lawler voiced his support for Illinois's Parental Notice of Abortion Act.

The Chicago doctor wrote about a time when he cared for a 14-year old patient who had a botched abortion. The girl developed a severe infection since the abortion clinic had left some body parts of the aborted child inside of her. Lawler performed surgery and removed the remaining body parts, and onlooking doctors cried upon seeing Lawler remove body parts belonging to the deceased baby.

The abortion clinic never returned Lawler's calls asking for information about the botched abortion.

Lawler pointed out that the 14-year old patient he helped might have died if her mother was not made aware of the abortion.

"The Illinois Parental Notification Act is a necessary protection for minor girls," he wrote.

"Keeping the Parental Notice requirement intact in no way affects the ability of a woman in Illinois — of any age — to obtain an abortion, at any point in her pregnancy. To repeal the current law would be reckless and irresponsible. Illinois lawmakers need to understand they will be putting young girls at risk and driving a wedge between parents and children at a time when they may need them the most."

Click here to read Dr. Lawler's article.

URGENT! Call Your Legislators to Protect Parental Notification!

As the spring legislative session comes to a close, pro-abortion legislators are working to push through a bill repealing Illinois's Parental Notice of Abortion Act. Pro-abortion legislators will have until the end of Memorial Day—the final day of this session—to call bills to a vote.

Pro-life advocates need to call their legislators and tell them to VOTE NO and save parental notification!

The Parental Notice of Abortion Act requires abortion businesses to contact a minor girl's parents if she schedules an abortion. The legislation does not require girls to obtain their parents' consent to have an abortion — it merely requires abortion businesses to notify parents or guardians. The law even allows young girls to get a judicial bypass to avoid notifying their parents altogether. Somehow, even this one pro-life protection in Illinois is too much for the abortion lobby.

Parental Notification is important because it allows parents to be involved in the life-changing decision of abortion. Additionally, it protects girls by serving as a warning sign for sex trafficking. Young girls who are trafficked and forced into abortion can be saved by parental notification laws. If parents aren't made aware of the situation, they can't help.

Please call your legislators and tell them not to repeal the Parental Notice of Abortion Act!

To find your legislators and their phone numbers, visit the Illinois State Board of Elections website here and type your address. Please call your state senator and representative to protect parental notification!

Iowa Legislature Approves Amendment Declaring its Constitution Contains No Right to Abortion

Iowa State Capitol
photo credit: Dan Brekke / Flickr

On May 19, the Iowa Senate followed the Iowa House in approving a constitutional amendment declaring that the Iowa constitution does not contain a right to abortion.

The House voted 54-38 and the Senate voted 30-18 to pass the "Protect Life Amendment". The amendment, if approved again by the 2023-2024 legislature, Iowa voters will have the opportunity to vote on the constitutional amendment.

This amendment is a response to a 2018 decision by the Iowa Supreme Court, which (similarly to the infamous Roe v. Wade decision of 1973) declared that the state constitution included an implied right to abortion.

“I’m proud that the Protect Life Amendment is one step closer to being on the ballot,” Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said. “This is an important step forward in defending the unborn and upholding the dignity of all human life.”

Click here to read more.

Alabama Gov. Signs Born-Alive Protection Bill

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R)

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) on May 25 signed into law a bill protecting babies born alive after an attempted abortion.

The legislation says that if an infant is born alive after an attempted abortion, a doctor, “shall exercise the same degree of professional skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of the child as a reasonably diligent and conscientious physician would render to any other child born alive at any other location in this state at the same gestational age.”

The House passed the born-alive protection bill by a vote of 75-12, and the Senate passed it by a vote of 31-0.

According to National Right to Life, Alabama is the 36th state to enact a law protecting babies born alive during an attempted abortion.

Click here to read more.

Lebanon, Ohio Passes Ordinance Outlawing Abortion

photo credit: Paul's World Tour / Flickr

On May 25, the city of Lebanon, Ohio became the first city in Ohio to ban abortion within its city limits.

The city council voted 6-0 in favor to pass an ordinance outlawing abortion and declaring abortion pills to be contraband. The one council member who opposed the ordinance retired just hours before the vote.

The pro-life ordinance took effect immediately, and it reads, “It shall be unlawful for any person to procure or perform an abortion of any type and at any stage of pregnancy in the city of Lebanon, Ohio” and “It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly aid or abet an abortion that occurs in the city of Lebanon, Ohio.”

The ordinance defines abortion as “the act of using or prescribing an instrument, a drug, a medicine, or any other substance, device, or means with the intent to cause the death of an unborn child of a woman known to be pregnant.” It includes exceptions for procedures attempted with the intent of saving the child or mother's life.

Those who violate the ordinance can be found guilty of a first-degree misdemeanor. This can lead to six months in jail or $1,000 in fines. The language of the ordinance states that “Under no circumstance may the mother of the unborn child that has been aborted, or the pregnant woman who seeks to abort her unborn child, be subject to prosecution or penalty under this section.”

Over the past several months, more and more cities have passed "sanctuary city for the unborn" ordinances. Lebanon, Ohio is now the 29th city in the nation to pass an enforceable ordinance banning abortion.

Click here to read more.

Congresswoman Nearly Run Over While Praying at Abortion Business

Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN)

Capitol Police are now investigating a May 15 incident in which Indiana Rep. Jackie Walorski (R) was nearly run over by an Antifa activist while participating in a prayer event outside an abortion clinic.

Real News Michiana (RNM) recently obtained and released security camera footage of the event. In the video, you can see the vehicle swerve across a bike lane and onto the shoulder of the road where Rep. Walorski and another man were walking. Seemingly in an act of intimidation, the vehicle stopped abruptly before hitting them.

Walroski released a statement on the event:

“On Saturday, May 15th, I joined a group of pro-life Hoosiers in prayer while they gathered peacefully near a South Bend abortion clinic. As I was leaving, a vehicle traveling quickly down Lincoln Way West swerved toward the group and came to an abrupt stop just a few feet away from me. Given the recent increase in threats against members of Congress, the U.S. Capitol Police are investigating this incident.

“I stand with my fellow pro-life Hoosiers who work to defend the most vulnerable among us, the unborn. They will not be silenced or intimidated by threats or acts of violence from radical activists. As Americans, we can debate and disagree on fundamental issues, but it is absolutely unacceptable to endanger the lives of others.”

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy shared the clip in a tweet and voiced his support for Walorski, writing, "Absolutely sickening. While @RepWalorski and other pro-life Americans were praying together in defense of the unborn, an unhinged leftist nearly ran them over with his car. Conservatives will not be intimidated in expressing our right to free speech and in support of life!"

RNM identified the driver as Antifa activist Michael Case and found a Facebook comment in which he posted "Jackie needs to learn to stay out of the street." RNM also uncovered another video of him threatening pro-life activists.

Click here to read more.

Biden Administration Announces Plans to Review Abortion Pill Regulations

Unsurprisingly, the Biden administration has announced that safety regulations governing the distribution of abortion pills are being reviewed.

In April, the FDA announced that, for the remaining duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, it would not be enforcing Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) regulations limiting mail distribution of abortion pills. While initially this change was advertised as temporary, many pro-lifers were suspicious; doubting whether the Biden administration would ever bring them back. Now, the FDA has proven their suspicions to be warranted.

REMS protocol requires abortion pills to be distributed in-person by a certified prescriber in a medical setting. By doing so, doctors can describe the process of the abortion pill regimen and perform an ultrasound to verify the unborn child's gestational age and check for pregnancy conditions. If the unborn child has passed a certain gestational age, or if a pregnant woman has a condition such as ectopic pregnancy, taking the abortion pill regimen can cause hemorrhaging and death.

Under REMS guidelines, abortion pill manufacturers are not required to report any adverse reactions except for death. If the protocol is removed, there will be even less data to track abortion pill complications. There are no federal laws that require abortion businesses to track complications.

Click here to read more.

Planned Parenthood Gives up Medicaid Funding Lawsuit Against Texas

photo credit: American Life League / Flickr

On May 13, Planned Parenthood gave up on its lawsuit against the state of Texas over Medicaid funding. 

In December 2016, Texas blocked state Medicaid funds from going to Planned Parenthood abortion clinics in the state. Planned Parenthood sued the state in response. A federal judge ruled against Texas's attempt to block funds in 2017, but the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned that ruling in 2019. The court said that Texas could legally remove Planned Parenthood from the state's Medicaid program.

The Texas Medicaid rule blocking Planned Parenthood from receiving funds was set to take effect on February 4, 2021. The day before, however, the abortion business sued the state once again, claiming that Medicaid patients needed more than 30 days to find a new health care provider. As a result, a federal judge blocked the Texas rule once again. Now, Planned Parenthood has seemingly given up on its legal action.

Texas initially made its decision to remove Planned Parenthood from Medicaid funding after the Center for Medical Progress (CMP) released a series of videos exposing the abortion business for selling body parts harvested from unborn children. David Daleiden, who led the CMP team, tweeted on May 13,

"This morning, @PPGulfCoast DISMISSED their federal lawsuit against their disqualification from Texas Medicaid due to their wrongdoing found on my undercover videos.

Planned Parenthood SURRENDERED today because their sale of baby body parts is indefensible."

It could very well be that Planned Parenthood dropped the lawsuit because it expects the Biden administration to issue new rules granting it access to a significant amount of taxpayer funding.

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Kansas Supreme Court Upholds Law Banning "Wrongful Birth" Lawsuits

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt

In a 5-2 decision made on April 30, the Supreme Court of Kansas upheld a 2013 law banning "wrongful birth" lawsuits against doctors.

The law bans parents from filing lawsuits against doctors who did not inform them that the child has been diagnosed with a condition—such as Down syndrome—or the potential "risks" or "burdens" of having a child with a condition. Parents who file such lawsuits argue that they would have considered abortion if doctors had provided them with this information.

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, who fought against legalizing "wrongful birth" lawsuits, applauded the Kansas Supreme Court's decision.

“The birth of a child should be cause for celebration, not for the law to award damages because the child was ‘wrongfully’ born,” he told the Associated Press.

Kansas pro-lifers were surprised at the court's decision, as they had ruled in favor of pro-abortion advocates as recently as 2019. In that year, the court ruled 6-1 that abortion was a protected right in the state's constitution.

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Pastor Jon Jones: Repealing Parental Notification would Cause "a major divide in the family structure.”

photo credit: Justin Brockie / Flickr

Pastor Jon Jones, who also spoke on behalf of Parents for the Protection of Girls at a news conference last week, went on WMAY's morning radio program to talk about his opposition to legislation repealing the Parental Notification of Abortion Act.

He again referenced a March 2021 poll by the Tarrance Group showing that 72% of Illinois voters support parental notification.

“I am an African American pastor in the Tinley Park area and amongst African Americans, the percentage is even higher,” Jones told WMAY. “76% of minority men and 74% of minority women support this [parental notification] law.”

He went on to argue that repealing parental notification would damage the family structure.

“Now you have adults and people of influence in your life saying ‘hey, don’t talk to your parents, just go ahead and take care of that,’” Jones said. “That causes a major divide in the family structure.”

When teachers or counselors specifically encourage young girls to avoid talking with their parents about important decisions such as abortion, that undermines their familial relationships. Parents should have the right to know if their daughter is planning to have an abortion because they can provide wisdom and emotional support throughout the process.

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New Idaho Law Defunds Abortion Businesses and Bans them From Teaching Sex-Ed in Public Schools

Idaho Gov. Brad Little (R)

On Monday, May 10, Idaho Gov. Brad Little (R) signed the "No Public Funds for Abortion Act" (HB 220). This law prevents state tax dollars from funding abortion businesses or any initiatives that promote abortion. Additionally, the law bans abortion businesses from contracting with public schools to teach sex education to children.

One effect of this legislation is that Idaho public universities will no longer be allowed to give abortion pills to students. According to LiveAction, abortion pills were available at Boise State University, the University of Idaho, and Idaho State University.

Illinois pro-lifers might recognize that sex education taught by abortion businesses is not far from becoming a reality in our state. HB 1736, known as the REACH Act, would mandate that all schools in Illinois teach sex education in grades k-12. Planned Parenthood has heavily advocated for the bill, indicating that it likely plans to contract with schools to use its pro-abortion sex education materials.

As Illinois's spring legislative session comes to a close, it will become more difficult for pro-abortion advocates to get the REACH act passed, but we should continue to watch this legislation regardless. Illinois legislators have crammed controversial bills through the General Assembly before, and we need to keep them accountable.

Regarding the pro-life Idaho legislation, sponsor Bruce Skaug (R) said, “It’s going to save some children from abortion. I have no doubt about that.” Planned Parenthood-taught sex education would likely have the opposite effect.

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SB 109 Passes Illinois House of Representatives

photo credit: Keith Ewing / Flickr

In the afternoon of Wednesday, May 19, SB 109 passed the Illinois House of Representatives by a vote of 65-48. It will soon be sent to Gov. Pritzker's desk for a signature.

SB 109 would amend the Health Care Surrogate Act to no longer require a witness to sign the Practitioner Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) form, which is used when a patient is deciding what kind of treatments they would approve when they are unable to make decisions. Additionally, SB 109 would allow a national POLST form to be used instead of the Illinois POLST form. That form similarly does not require a signature from a witness.

Proponents of this legislation argue that because some patients don't have anyone to sign as a witness for them, the current law should be amended. This reasoning is faulty because the majority of patients do have others available to be witnesses for them. Furthermore, the current requirement does not require that the signing witness be close to the patient. The witness can be anyone.

Witness signatures on POLST forms provide valuable protection that should not be taken away.

Texas Gov. Signs Heartbeat Bill

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott
photo credit: Gage Skidmore / Flickr

On Wednesday, May 19, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed into law SB 8, a bill banning most abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected.

SB 8 requires doctors to first search for a fetal heartbeat before they abort a child. This can be detected as early as six weeks into an unborn child's development. If the abortionist does detect a heartbeat, SB 8 bans any attempted abortions on that child for reasons other than a medical emergency.

Uniquely, this law will not be directly enforced by the Texas government. Instead, SB 8 provides private citizens the ability to take civil action against abortion businesses.

SB 8 is set to take effect on Sept. 1, 2021.

Alexis McGill Johnson, executive director and CEO of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, tweeted her response on Wednesday:

“And they've included a dangerous provision that allows ANYONE from any state to sue an abortion provider and others who help someone get care?? Absolutely not. Access to abortion has never been more at risk — and we're going to fight back like hell.”

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National Right to Life: Title X Change Would Allow Taxpayer Funding of Abortion

National Right to Life Committee President Carol Tobias

National Right to Life submitted a letter to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra on Monday opposing a proposed rule change for Title X funding. The change would eliminate rules set during the Trump administration that barred Title X grant recipients from providing abortion, referring patients to abortion businesses, or co-locating with organizations that provide abortion.

“The proposed rule would allow the creation of an accounting gimmick that enable Title X funds to support abortion services. Providing Title X dollars to abortion facilities frees up other money that can be used to promote and provide abortion,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “The use of taxpayer funds to support abortion services and facilities is clearly prohibited by the law.” 

Tobias added, “The proposed rule change would also require abortion counseling—contrary to conscience protection laws.”

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Planned Parenthood Sues Lubbock, Texas over Sanctuary City Ordinance

After a public election on May 1, the city of Lubbock, Texas became the largest sanctuary city for the unborn in the United States. During that election, the citizens of Lubbock passed an ordinance banning abortion within the city limits. On Monday Planned Parenthood responded by filing a lawsuit against the city.

The ACLU attempted to file a similar lawsuit against seven other sanctuary cities for the unborn in February of 2020, but the pro-abortion organization eventually chose to drop the suit. The ordinances remain in effect today.

Because of this history, Texas Right to life is confident that the Planned Parenthood lawsuit will fail as well. Texas Right to Life's Director of Media and Communications responded to the news:

“Unsurprisingly, Planned Parenthood, which profits off the death of preborn children, is throwing a hodgepodge of complaints at the court and seeing what they can get to stick. In passing the ordinance, Lubbockites acted within their constitutional rights to self-governance and within the scope of current U.S. Supreme Court abortion jurisprudence. The ordinance language is solid and was carefully drafted in expectation of the abortion industry filing a lawsuit.”

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US Supreme Court Announces it will Review Mississippi Abortion Law

photo credit: Wally Gobetz / Flickr

On Monday, the Supreme Court of the United States announced that it will review Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization; a case concerning a Mississippi law that bans abortion after 15 weeks gestation. Arguments will be heard this fall, and a decision is expected in the summer of 2022.

“We applaud the U.S. Supreme Court for examining the Mississippi law,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life (NRLC). “We know more today about the life of a child in the womb than we did fifty years ago. The medical advances made in our knowledge of unborn children and their care and treatment are astonishing. Today, viability is not a characteristic of the baby but of how advanced our technology has become.”

Mississippi's 2018 "Gestational Age Act" prohibits abortion after 15 weeks gestation. Jackson's Women's Health Organization, the only abortion business in Mississippi, responded to the legislation by filing a lawsuit against the state. The federal district court struck down the law, and the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the lower court's ruling. Those courts reasoned that the law was unconstitutional because it restricted abortion before viability, but now the Supreme Court has the opportunity to revisit that ruling.

A Supreme Court Ruling on this case has the potential to reconsider Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. The former legalized abortion throughout the United States, while the latter set viability as the standard for when abortion can be restricted.

“But there is, of course, precedent in the Court’s jurisprudence for prohibiting abortions before viability,” said Jennifer Popik, J.D., federal legislative director for NRLC. “The 2003 Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act banned a particular abortion procedure that was used both before and after what is considered viability. It was found to be constitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2007.”

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker also responded to the news by posting on his Facebook page:

"I'm alarmed that the Supreme Court is taking up this radical case that restricts a woman's right to choose. Thanks to the tireless work of advocates, I was proud to sign landmark legislation here in Illinois to enshrine reproductive rights into law.

No matter what happens on the federal level, the Reproductive Health Act protects Illinois women and their fundamental right to make their own healthcare decisions. And we will stand strong with women across the country and continue to fight with you for your right to choose." 

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Montana Gov. Signs Law Banning Title X Funds from Going to Abortion Businesses

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte (R)

On Thursday, May 13, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signed HB 620 into law; banning taxpayer funds in the state from going to Title X programs that include abortion. Funds will be rerouted to other health care facilities that don't abort children.

The law was passed unanimously by the Montana Senate, and it passed the Montana House of Representatives in a 30-20 vote.

HB 620 creates a policy very similar to former President Donald Trump's "Protect Life" Title X rule, which barred Title X recipients from committing abortions, referring patients to abortion providers, or co-locating with organizations that offer abortion. Planned Parenthood walked away from millions of dollars in taxpayer funding when the rule took effect.

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HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra Denies Existence of Partial-Birth Abortion Ban

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra

In a hearing with the House Energy & Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Health Wednesday, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra denied the existence of any law prohibiting partial-birth abortions.

Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.), Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Tx.), and Rep. John Joyce, MD (R-Pa.) each questioned Becerra on whether he believes partial-birth abortions are illegal.

Here is an excerpt from the transcript of Wednesday's hearing:

Rep. Bilirakis: Do you agree that partial-birth abortion is illegal, sir?

Sec. Becerra: Congressman, thank you for the question and, here, as I said in response to some of those questions during my confirmation hearing, we will continue to make sure we follow the law. Again, with due respect, there is no medical term like partial-birth abortion and so I would probably have to ask you what you mean by that– to describe what is allowed by the law.

…

Sec. Becerra: Which law are we talking about, sir?

Rep. Bilirakis: The law concerning partial-birth abortion.

Sec. Becerra: Well, again, as I said, there is no law that deals specifically with the term partial-birth abortion…

Becerra should know better since he personally voted against the 2003 Partial-Birth Ban Abortion Act. The law passed and was later upheld by the Supreme Court in 2007.

The Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act describes partial-birth abortions as follows:

"…an abortion in which a physician deliberately and intentionally vaginally delivers a living, unborn child’s body until either the entire baby’s head is outside the body of the mother, or any part of the baby’s trunk past the navel is outside the body of the mother and only the head remains inside the womb, for the purpose of performing an overt act (usually the puncturing of the back of the child’s skull and removing the baby’s brains) that the person knows will kill the partially delivered infant, performs this act, and then completes delivery of the dead infant."

FACT: Partial-birth abortion has been illegal since 2003.

FACT: In 2007, the Supreme Court upheld the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act.

Now pro-abortion @SecBecerra, head of Health of Human Services, is claiming the law doesn't exist.

This is wild. https://t.co/YchH55R0Kw

— Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) May 13, 2021

Becerra's answer is worrying, as it suggests that the HHS will not acknowledge or enforce this basic pro-life protection.

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African American Father and Pastor Urges Illinois Legislators to Keep Parental Notification

Pastor Jon Jones
screen capture from Vimeo

At a recent press conference, African American parent and pastor Jon Jones of Christian Life Center's Tinley Park Campus voiced his concerns about Illinois legislation that would repeal Illinois's Parental Notification of Abortion Act.

Pastor Jones referenced a Tarrance Group poll conducted in March 2021, which asked, “If a minor under age 18 is seeking an abortion, do you think the law should require her parent or guardian to be notified before the procedure?” 72% of the 600 respondents, including 58% of pro-choice respondents and 76% of minority respondents, said that they supported such a law.

Click here to watch the video of Pastor Jon's comments if it does not appear, or read his comments below.

"I am the father of a teenage girl... I love my daughter and I care very deeply about what goes on in her life. If she were to get pregnant and consider an abortion, I would want to know so my wife and I could help her deal with the unexpected situation. Because we love her, we feel it is our duty to protect and guide her. We're a family, and we deal with matters together. The state should not seek to interfere with our relationship.

Current law requiring that a parent or an adult family member be notified when a minor girl is seeking an abortion to us just makes common sense... I understand not every child comes from a family like ours, and the needs of those children must be met; as they are in this law with the provided exemptions to notification, but it is also important to weigh the needs of loving families and ensure the government not do more to denigrate them.

When our state laws ensure children can't make their own decision for accessing the tanning beds, tattoos, and tobacco, it seems unfathomable that the law would allow a minor to make a decision to access abortion without any adult guidance. We know the potential severe physical and emotional consequences associated with abortion. We cannot leave our children to face them alone. I urge you [legislators] to keep the current law in place. Thank you."

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