Robert Noland

The second GOP debate will happen tonight, but what’s important for social conservatives? We got you covered. Join us LIVE Thursday morning to hear it first!

Craig DeRoche, Autumn Leva, and Cole Muzio will break down what happened, who stood out, and what it all means – no fluff included! Plus, join us in the comments section with your own thoughts and questions. Don’t miss this timely discussion by social conservatives, for social conservatives!

TUNE IN THURSDAY on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube
SoCon Report or by clicking the image below
7:00am PT / 8:00am MT / 9:00am CT / 10:00am ET

Ever wondered how you can help beat the radical left? Join us later today for mini courses 3 and 4 of How to Beat the Radical Left! Learn from former NCAA All-American swimmer Riley Gaines as she shares how to use your story to make a difference. Then, stick around to hear from Bob Vander Plaats, President and CEO of The FAMiLY Leader to learn how you can work with even the unlikeliest of allies to win social conservative issues.

Best of all? The live course is completely FREE! Register here to ask Riley Gaines your question.

In the meantime, see you in the comments section as we break down the GOP debate!

Emma Rarden
Communications Specialist – Producer

P.S. Have you checked out our NEW podcast? We pick the brains of newsmakers and experts to break down what’s happening now on the issues YOU care about. With new episodes weekly, you’ll be up to date on all things that affect your family. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Google Podcasts.

In 2022, Congress passed and the President signed into law the “Pregnant Workers Fairness Act” (PWFA). While this bill was intended to accommodate pregnant women in their places of work, the Biden Administration is taking it leaps and bounds farther by advancing radical gender and abortion ideology.

Nowhere in the PWFA does it refer to abortion.

The PWFA did however instruct the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to develop a rule so businesses would know how the legislation applies to them. In response, Biden’s EEOC used this opportunity to force businesses to provide coverage for abortion travel leave.

Even the Senate Democrat lead sponsor of this legislation, Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), stated from the Senate floor that the EEOC “could not . . . issue any regulation that requires abortion leave, nor does the act permit the EEOC to require employers to provide abortion leave in violation of State law.”

But the Biden Administration wants to do it anyway.

You can let the EEOC know today that they are misinterpreting the PWFA by sending a comment through our action center.

But that’s not all. Additionally, in the proposed rule, the Biden Administration does not associate “pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions” with being a woman. EEOC, in fact, says explicitly that the only reason it uses “woman” is because it is quoting other sources, not because it has chosen to use that word. It is as if the administration feels the need to apologize for using the word “woman” in relation to pregnancy.

One of those pregnancy “related medical conditions” that supposedly isn’t related to being a woman? Lactation. We informed you when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released guidance . Now, the EEOC is explicitly including lactation in its proposed rule and has chosen not to relate it to women. The bottom line: it is plausible that businesses would be forced to accommodate men seeking to “chestfeed” in the workplace. This is just one example where the Biden Administration has pushed gender ideology into even well-intentioned legislation.

Only women can get pregnant and give birth. Only women can breastfeed. Businesses should not be forced to provide abortion leave.

Let the Biden Administration know that this is NOT controversial.

Sincerely,

Ruth Ward
Director, Government Affairs

Ever wondered how you can help beat the radical left? Join us THIS THURSDAY for mini courses with two leaders who are doing just that – and want you to join them!

Learn from former NCAA All-American swimmer Riley Gaines as she shares how to use your story to make a difference. Then, stick around to hear from Bob Vander Plaats, President and CEO of The FAMiLY Leader to learn how you can work with even the unlikeliest of allies to win social conservative issues.

Best of all? The live course is completely FREE to join live! Registration is required at the link below. (Did you register for last week’s Social Conservative Academy courses? You can use the same link you received when you registered before.)

Everyone has a story—how to be a force for change by telling your story Featuring special guest Riley Gaines

Thursday, Sept. 28 at 1:00 p.m. ET

Personal stories have the power to shape political discourse and influence decision-makers. By sharing our experiences and stories, individuals can humanize complex issues, creating empathy and understanding among policymakers and the public. Personal stories have the ability to capture attention and highlight the real-world consequences or opportunities that come from policy. In this course you will learn how to use your story and craft your message so you can change your world.

This course will be taught by 12-time All-American NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines, who famously was forced to compete against male swimmer Lia Thomas in the NCAA championships. She has since used her story to advocate for saving girls’ sports – and for respecting biological reality throughout our laws.

Unlikely allies make an unusual impact—how to win social conservative issues with people you never thought possible Featuring special guest Bob Vander Plaats

Thursday, Sept. 28 at 1:30 p.m. ET

This course teaches strategies and skills to foster collaboration and build partnerships with individuals or groups who may have differing perspectives or backgrounds. It emphasizes the importance of finding common ground, practicing effective communication, and leveraging shared goals to achieve common objectives. By learning how to navigate differences and build bridges, participants can broaden their impact, create stronger alliances, and navigate complex political landscapes more effectively.

Come learn from Bob Vander Plaats, CEO and President of The FAMiLY Leader. Vander Plaats has been a prominent voice in social conservative politics for years, hosting the annual FAMiLY Leadership Summit and frequently weighing in on the most pressing political matters of the day.

We hope you’ll join us Thursday for these special courses on How to Beat the Radical Left!

Sincerely,

Amanda Banks
Vice President, Education

It’s officially back to school season! But, do you really know what your child is going back to? Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, or involved in another way, you may be asking “What’s happening at my child’s school?” In today’s woke culture, it’s a fair question.

Whether it’s extremely explicit books, or boys in girls’ locker rooms, or schools leaving parents in the dark about medical decisions – there are many situations to be aware of, and they could be happening at the school your child attends. In today’s podcast episode, Meridian Baldacci and Autumn Leva discuss what is happening in schools across the country, and why parents are alarmed. Most importantly, they give you practical steps you can take to protect your family.

TUNE IN Friday, Sept 22nd on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or SoConReport
Or by clicking the image below
10:00am PT / 11:00am MT / 12:00pm CT / 1:00pm ET

We’ve got you covered as your family heads back to school: meet Back to School for Parents! It’s a condensed guide for busy parents about what’s happening in your child’s school, how to identify areas of concern, and how to advocate for your child and your rights.

In the guide, you’ll learn about your rights and your child’s rights, gain suggestions about how to respectfully advocate for your child, and access links to additional helpful articles and resources.

And best of all? It’s completely free! Download your free guide here today to learn how you can start protecting your child at school.

At Family Policy Alliance, our vision is a nation where God is honored, religious freedom flourishes, families thrive, and life is cherished. To stay up to date on the fight to protect families and learn how to take action, follow us on social media!

See you in the comments section!

Emma Rarden
Communications Specialist – Producer

Family Policy Foundation’s new Social Conservative Academy (SCA) launches this week with courses one and two of “How to Beat the Radical Left.” You won’t want to miss this opportunity to hear from seasoned policy makers and influencers including Congressman Josh Brecheen (Okla.-02) and a special guest from the office of Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin. See below for details about the free, online courses taking place this week!

Grassroots activism changes everything—how it did in
Virginia and can in your state, too
Thursday, Sept. 21 at 1:00 p.m. EST

Hear first-hand accounts of Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s surprising 2021 victory, and how parents got the credit! We’ll be joined by president of The Family Foundation of Virginia Victoria Cobb and a member of Gov. Youngkin’s team as we unpack how grassroots activism can accomplish what otherwise seems impossible.

Becoming a changemaker—how to effectively
advocate your values in the public square
Thursday, Sept. 21 at 1:30 p.m. EST

What really works to influence policy makers? Learn straight from elected Christian leaders! Oklahoma Congressman Josh Brecheen, Arkansas State Rep. Robin Lundstrum, and Indiana State Rep. Joanna King—all graduates of Family Policy Foundation’s Statesmen Academy—will provide an insider’s view of effective grassroots activism in local, state and federal government.

We are pleased to offer these first Social Conservative Academy courses to you free of charge, however, pre-registration is required. Register here to secure your spot today.

It’s our prayer that each SCA course will give you more confidence to make your voice heard and make a difference for God-honoring public policy at every level of government.

Sincerely,

Amanda Banks
Vice President, Education

Over the years, we’ve seen incredible victories when parents, grandparents and citizens stand for values in their communities. You have stood together to push lawmakers to save girls’ sports from radical transgender theory in 23 states, protected children from going under the knife in “gender transition procedures” in 20 states, thrown out elected leaders at all levels of government who don’t have the courage to stand for values, and been part of the prayer and legal efforts to protect the lives of countless babies in the womb and their mothers.

If you want to play an even bigger part in this movement – if you want to know how to stand for your family’s values, make schools and communities safe from Woke ideology, and set our nation free from the Woke agenda—you were in our hearts and minds when we prayed and planned to launch the brand-new Social Conservative Academy.

The Social Conservative Academy is designed for all of you—for everyone who desires to be equipped to understand the critical issues facing our families and our nation, how to respond to them, and how to make a real difference.

We believe that you, by God’s grace, are the ones who can stop the radical Left and the Woke ideology infiltrating schools, doctors’ offices, businesses and more.

The Social Conservative Academy (SCA) is completely online, designed for busy moms, dads, grandparents, fulltime businessmen and businesswomen. The SCA will provide short courses on issues like transgenderism and abortion, how to effectively advocate for your values, how to work with people who don’t usually agree with you, and much more.

The SCA is launching with 4 brand-new courses in September, all part of a series called “How to Beat the Radical Left.” These first courses are FREE, but do require registration.

Designed with busy families in mind, each course is only 30 minutes long. Here’s a sneak peek at the first 4 in “How to Beat the Radical Left”:

Grassroots activism changes everything—how it did in Virginia and can in your state, too
Becoming a changemaker—how to effectively advocate your values in the public square
Everyone has a story—how to be a force for change by telling your story
Unlikely allies make an unusual impact—how to win social conservative issues with people you never thought

Courses 1 and 2 are scheduled for September 21^st and courses 3 and 4 are scheduled for September 28^th.

The first 25 social conservatives to sign up as the very first in America to attend the Social Conservative Academy will also be the first to receive a free copy of our updated and condensed Back to School for Parents—a guide specifically for busy parents to learn about your rights and your children’s rights and how to respectfully advocate for your child in every corner of the school environment.

Secure your Back to School for Parents guide and your spot in the very first courses of the Social Conservative Academy today!

See you online to stop the radical Left!

Amanda Banks
Vice President, Education

I have a question for you. How do you think the government should provide services for the American people? I bet you probably didn’t think of “advancing dangerous gender ideology” as one of those services. But, that’s actually what the Biden administration wants to happen.

The administration is again attempting to redefine “sex” to include sexual orientation and gender identity. This time, Biden’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released a rule to alter the definition for organizations that receive funding through grants.

HHS’s grants are critically important for families and children that need basic services, such as maternity care and mental health services. It also includes early childhood education services for low-income families through Head Start.

Somewhere along the way the Biden administration decided that it is more important for these non-profits and other organizations to promote transgenderism amongst families and minors than focus on providing necessary services for families in need.

Hear our analysis and learn how you can make a difference in today’s podcast episode! Family Policy Alliance’s Meridian Baldacci and Ruth Ward cover how this administration is prioritizing a dangerous gender ideology, and what you can do to get HHS back on track.

TUNE IN TODAY on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube
Or by clicking the image below
10:00am PT / 11:00am MT / 12:00pm CT / 1:00pm ET

Personalized comments are incredibly impactful. Tell the Biden administration that you do NOT want HHS grantees to be forced to agree with radical gender ideology. The comment portal closes at midnight on September 11, 2023.

See you in the comments section!

Emma Rarden
Communications Specialist – Producer

When you and I think of ways that the government provides services for the American people, we don’t count “advancing dangerous gender ideology” as one of those services. Unfortunately, though, that is what is happening.

The Biden administration is again attempting to redefine “sex” to include sexual orientation and gender identity. This time, Biden’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released a rule to alter the definition for organizations that receive funding through HHS grants.

More and more states are passing legislation like Help Not Harm to put a stop to transgender interventions of minors, and you are a big part of that success. But now, the Biden administration wants to undermine those efforts by forcing non-profits to promote gender ideology. Please take a moment to tell the Biden administration that you do NOT want HHS grantees to be forced to agree with this radical ideology.

Comments are incredibly important and helpful. If you can share how these types of programs have impacted your life or the lives of those around you, those comments will be even more impactful. The comment portal closes at midnight on September 11, 2023. We started a comment for you, but please take a moment to share a personalized comment by the deadline. It only takes a minute in our Action Center.

Grant funds should be focused on serving families and children that need it the most—not promoting puberty blockers and gender ideology. Tell the Biden administration that you do not want this rule implemented.

Sincerely,

Ruth Ward
Director, Government Affairs

It can be easy to focus on all the things that need fixing – and there’s a lot that needs our attention, given today’s woke Left agenda! But the truth is, there’s also so much good to celebrate – especially in the states! In fact, much of what is happening at the state level is directly responding to the issues that concern us most – and protecting families in the process.

That’s why every year, Family Policy Alliance awards the states that did the most to protect families. Our 2023 “Craig’s List” results are in! (And no, this has nothing to do with the website where you sell your old couch – it’s named after our CEO, Craig DeRoche!)

We just announced the awards LIVE online – you can still watch the full awards show on-demand on YouTube, Facebook, SoConReport.com or right here on this page. Watch to hear from the people who made the victories possible in their states and walk away encouraged!

Prefer to read? All the winners are also listed below – read all the way through to see who won the top award, Most Pro-Family State of the Year!

Cutting Edge Award:
Florida

Florida has truly been on the “Cutting Edge” of protecting children and families, paving the way for other states to do the same. This year, Florida passed a law protecting children from exposure to sexualized performances (such as drag performances), a law protecting children from dangerous and irreversible transgender procedures, a law expanding their well-known “Parental Rights in Education” law, and a bill protecting the lives of children in the womb from the time a heartbeat can be detected. This was a banner session that set the standard for states around the nation – a victory due in no small part to Family Policy Alliance’s state ally, Florida Family Policy Council.

Honorable mention: Virginia

This year, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin established model policies for Virginia schools that affirm parental rights by preventing a school from “transitioning” a child without parental consent. The model policies also remove aspects of dangerous gender ideology from schools. This is an important step that other states should consider emulating. Family Policy Alliance is grateful to its state ally, The Family Foundation, for their bold leadership in Virginia that makes wins like this possible.

Best Team Effort:
Nebraska

This session, Nebraska lawmakers introduced two bills that protected children at different stages of life. The first protected some of the youngest Nebraskans in the womb from the tragedy of abortion, while the second protected children young and old from the dangerous and irreversible effects of transgender procedures. Family Policy Alliance’s state ally, Nebraska Family Alliance, worked together with courageous lawmakers to bring both bills through the legislative process.

But, as Nebraska’s legislative session came toward a close, neither bill had yet crossed the finish line – and the pro-life bill had failed to pass by just one vote. It was then that conservatives in Nebraska had an idea: what if they paired the bills together? Both bills were aimed at protecting children and allowing them to grow up unharmed – and the name of one was even, “Let Them Grow.” In a bold team effort, the lawmakers paired the bills and passed them together with just minutes left on the clock till the session ended – gaining not one, but two victories for families through an all-out team effort.

Life-Saver Award:
Idaho

Idaho was among the states with a law in place that protected babies from abortion in the wake of Roe v. Wade’s overturn. But what really set Idaho apart? The Abortion-Trafficking Act, which prevents Idahoans from driving kids out of state to get abortions. This comes at a time when many states are advertising their abortions for out-of-staters – serving as a sort of advertisement for traffickers or others who may want to cover up a teen pregnancy, or who simply see a minor’s new baby as an inconvenience to be quietly killed. Idaho’s law takes a bold stand for both the lives of those babies, and for the wellbeing and safety of their mothers, by preventing such “abortion trafficking.” Family Policy Alliance’s state ally, Idaho Family Policy Center, played an important role in making this law a reality.

Victory of the Year:
Kansas

While the title of this award is “victory” of the year, it could easily be “victories” of the year in Kansas. This year, Kansas passed two key laws, overriding their governor to do both. The first was the Women’s Bill of Rights, making Kansas the first state in the nation to pass such a law. Importantly, this law defines “sex” as a person’s biological sex, which stands as a stark contrast to the woke Left’s agenda of allowing men to gain privileges and opportunities meant for women simply by claiming a female identity (or vice versa). Additionally, Kansas joined the ranks of the states with a Save Girls’ Sports law, ensuring that girls’ sports are reserved just for female athletes. This victory was long- and hard-fought. Kansas legislators had to override their governor to achieve this win.

But the victories don’t stop there. Kansans also managed to get a Democrat vote for every pro-life bill in Kansas – sending a strong message that life is not and should not be a partisan issue. Each of these victories was made possible through the work of Family Policy Alliance’s state ally, Kansas Family Voice.

Defensive Player of the Year:
Connecticut

While it’s easy to see and understand pro-family wins on the offense, it’s important to also recognize defensive victories where they happen. This year, Family Policy Alliance’s state ally in Connecticut, Family Institute of Connecticut, opposed 17 dangerous pieces of legislation. Of those, they were able to completely stop 14 and partially stop 2 – meaning the pro-family side won in nearly every instance. Among the bad bills were an assisted suicide bill, major pro-abortion bills, anti-religious freedom legislation, a bill establishing comprehensive sex-education, and even a bill that defined single males as being “infertile.” That’s a lot of “bad” that the citizens of Connecticut won’t have to face thanks to courageous pro-family warriors in their state!

Help Not Harm Award:
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah

Transgender procedures leave children sterile, missing healthy organs, and often facing years of regret. That’s why states across the country have worked to pass Help Not Harm laws, which protect minors from these procedures until they reach the age of majority. Help Not Harm also offers victims of childhood transition an opportunity to sue the surgeons or other professionals who harmed them.

This year marked a major milestone for Help Not Harm, with the law being passed in its 20^th state! The first Help Not Harm law was passed just two years ago in Arkansas, and most of the 20 states passed their laws in 2023 – making this a true watershed year for protecting children. In recognition of that, Family Policy Alliance is honoring all 20 states with some version of a Help Not Harm law, and extends special thanks to the many Family Policy Councils and alumni of Family Policy Foundation’s Statesmen Academy who made these victories possible.

Most Pro-Family State:
North Dakota and Montana

For the first time in Craig’s List history, Family Policy Alliance is awarding two “Most Pro-Family State” awards. It’s a testament to what an incredible year 2023 was for the pro-family movement around the nation: it was impossible to choose just one winner! Both North Dakota and Montana had exceptional pro-family victories throughout the year.

In North Dakota, Family Policy Alliance’s state ally North Dakota Family Alliance supported 50 bills. Of those, an astonishing 83% were put into law. Many of the bills were focused on protecting families from the effects of radical gender ideology. For example, North Dakota passed a law that prohibits drag shows in public where children could see the event, and another law prohibits obscenity in children’s sections of public and school libraries. The state also joined the ranks of those protecting children from transgender interventions and female athletes from competing against male competitors. North Dakota also made important strides in protecting life, religious freedom, and more. It was a phenomenal year for North Dakota!

In Montana, Family Policy Alliance’s state ally Montana Family Foundation supported 34 bills and opposed 11 bills. Overall, they had a 77% success rate (including both bills they wanted to pass and bills they wanted to fail). Among the bills they successfully defeated were a bill that would have introduced comprehensive sex education into schools, and a bill that would have allowed partial-birth abortions and undone decades of pro-life work. On the offensive, Montana’s wins covered a sweeping variety of issues, from education and adoption tax credits, to religious freedom protections, to pro-life and parental rights protections. Montana was also among the states that passed a Help Not Harm law (protecting minors from transgender procedures). This was a well-earned award for Montana!

Congratulations to these states, and to all those around the nation who have made a difference to protect children and families! If you’re inspired and want to know how to get involved in your state, you can connect with your state’s Family Policy Council at www.familypolicyalliance.com/allies

And, if you don’t already, be sure to follow us on social media and subscribe to our emails. We’ll keep you abreast of the latest wins, issues, and opportunities for action. Just use the buttons at the bottom of this email to connect.

That’s a wrap on Craig’s List 2023. Thanks for joining us!

Meridian Baldacci
Director, Strategy

If you thought last year’s Craig’s List was one for the books, Craig’s List 2023 will blow you away! We’re back with another fan-favorite list of the states that went above and beyond in their work for families in the past year.

Our annual “Craig’s List” is an award series named after our CEO and President, Craig DeRoche, where we honor the states that achieved the most to protect families throughout the year. (Yes, it’s time for some good news!) Receiving the awards on behalf of each state will be leaders from Family Policy Councils, premier pro-family organizations in the states. Family Policy Alliance is pleased to host the alliance of Family Policy Councils!

We will be LIVE to award states with titles including Victory of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Best Team Effort, and more! And of course, we’ll be naming the Most Pro-Family State of the Year! Will your state come out on top? Tune in to find out and cheer on wins for families around the nation!

TUNE IN Wednesday, August 30th on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube
12:00pm PT / 1:00pm MT / 2:00pm CT / 3:00pm ET

See you in the comments section!

Emma Rarden
Communications Specialist – Producer

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