“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.” –Psalm 31:8 (NLT)
Dear Friends:
In case you missed it, the life issue has been in the news lately, from our state capital in Santa Fe, all the way to our nation’s capital in Washington D.C. This is great news and it signals a rapidly growing momentum in our efforts to protect the preborn children of our state and nation.
At the federal level, the U.S. House passed the “Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act” which requires medical care to be given to infants who survive an abortion. Our New Mexico delegation voted as follows – Congresswoman Michelle Lujan-Grisham – No; Congressman Steve Pearce – Yes; Congressman Ben Ray Lujan – No. The bill must now be voted on in the U.S. Senate.
Additionally, this week, the U.S. Senate held a vote on the “Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act” which would ban abortions after 20-weeks, with exceptions for incest, rape, and when the mother’s life is at risk. Research confirms that preborn children can experience pain by the time they reach 20 weeks old. And yet, America remains one of just seven countries that allow elective abortions after 20 weeks. Unfortunately, the bill failed to receive the 60 votes needed to move forward, and our New Mexico Senators, Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, both voted “NO.”
Locally, we are continuing to work closely with our allied organizations and legislators to advance pro-life legislation at the state level. As reported last week, Governor Martinez added House Bill 56 – the Parental Notification of Abortion Act – to the Legislative Session agenda. Did you know that minors cannot receive an aspirin at school without parental notification and consent, but they can obtain an abortion in our state without a parent being notified?
There are many reasons to support House Bill 56, but here are a few to consider and share with your friends:
- House Bill 56 will add an additional layer of protection for very young mothers who may have become pregnant through rape, incest, or sexual abuse, and taken to an abortion facility by their abuser. Traffickers are known to frequently take young girls to abortion clinics to get rid of the evidence and adults have been caught taking minors across state lines to avoid parental notification or consent requirements.
- House Bill 56 supports families and allows parents the opportunity to provide emotional and psychological support and guidance at a vulnerable time in their child’s life.
- New Mexico should prioritize children’s safety and the need for more, not less, parental involvement.
- Thirty-seven other states, including Arizona and Colorado, have already enacted parental involvement laws on abortion.
Now, WE NEED YOUR HELP to move House Bill 56 forward! Before the bill can be voted on, it must go through the committee process and we need you to CONTACT the following members TODAY and URGE them to support the bill in the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee:
Representative Eliseo Alcon (D-Cibola & McKinley)
(505) 986-4425
eliseo.alcon@nmlegis.gov
Representative Patricia Roybal-Caballero (D-Bernalillo)
(505) 986-4248
pat.roybalcaballero@nmlegis.gov
Representative Deborah Armstrong (D-Bernalillo)
(505) 986-4840
deborah.armstrong@nmlegis.gov
When you call and email them, ask them to “support and vote in favor of HB 56.”
Finally, please forward or share this message with friends. It is critical that these Representatives hear from as many New Mexicans as possible!
Thank you in advance for standing for life and helping us “Unleash Biblical Citizenship” in New Mexico!
The Family Policy Alliance of New Mexico Team
