Every week, we are a little more surprised at the ‘woke’ and out-of-touch agenda coming out of D.C.—but this week was definitely one for the books.

Our team wanted to provide you with a short update on critical issues from D.C. that affect your values.

The Most Radical Abortion Bill Ever to Hit the House Floor

Speaker Pelosi was furious that the state of Texas passed a bill to protect babies in the womb with detectable heartbeats from abortion—and that the courts said the law could go into effect.

In retaliation, she fast-tracked her abortion-on-demand bill with radical policies that would allow abortions to be performed simply based on the baby’s sex, remove safeguards for mothers, and more.

Our Policy & Communications Strategist, Meridian Baldacci, slammed the House’s vote to pass Pelosi’s bill:

“These lawmakers shamelessly went on record that they support abortion anytime, anywhere, for any reason. They have shown a brazen willingness to endanger women, from the littlest girl in the womb to the mother who carries her….By voting for this bill today, some members have given up their seats for 2022. An increasingly pro-life America will make sure of that.”

Read the full statement here.

Pelosi’s Low Opinion of the Defense of America

This week, the House voted 316-113 to pass an important piece of legislation called the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA is taken up for consideration each legislative cycle and is critical for funding America’s defenses. Unfortunately, Speaker Pelosi and Democratic leadership used this bill to play politics with our nation’s defense, following the recent travesty in Afghanistan.

Using this critical bill, Democratic leadership stuffed in a number of ‘woke’ provisions that have nothing to do with the defense of America, including:·

FPA’s Vice President of Strategy, Autumn Leva, exposed Pelosi’s House for the low view she has for the defense of America:

“Nancy Pelosi’s priorities for defending American families boil down to funding the largely illegal and bloated Big Pot industry, drafting our daughters into war, and carrying the banner for the woke LGBT agenda. It’s a sad commentary on the low value she places on our country’s defense. America deserves better. Our families deserve better. And our troops certainly deserve better.”

Read the full statement here.

FPA CEO Talks “Pelosi’s REAL War on Women” with Concerned Women for America

ICYMI: Family Policy Alliance’s CEO Craig DeRoche hosted Doreen Denny (from our friends at Concerned Women for America) to talk about Nancy Pelosi’s real war on women. In this latest episode of “Conversations with Craig,” they covered what’s really going on with forcing our daughters into the draft, Pelosi’s radical abortion bill, and more.

Watch on demand here.

Standing for your values,

The Family Policy Alliance Team

 

Friends,

I just wanted to let you know what is happening in Washington, DC today.

Nancy Pelosi’s House is considering measures like funding Big Marijuana and drafting our daughters into war as top priorities for our country’s national defense. Using critical issues like our national defense as opportunistic tools to merely advance a ‘woke’ political agenda harms the country, the families our troops protect, and our armed forces themselves.

Below is the statement that Family Policy Alliance released this morning.


Autumn Leva
Vice President for Strategy

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 2021

Pelosi’s Low Opinion of the Defense of America

Pelosi’s Priorities for American Defense Include Funding for Big Marijuana & Drafting America’s Daughters into War

 

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Family Policy Alliance opposes unnecessary and harmful provisions of the version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) being considered by the House today, including those that fund the Big Marijuana industry, draft American daughters into war, and insert woke LGBT ideology.

Family Policy Alliance’s Vice President of Strategy, Autumn Leva, criticized the low priority Pelosi’s House makes of America’s national defense:

“Nancy Pelosi’s priorities for defending American families boil down to funding the largely illegal and bloated Big Pot industry, drafting our daughters into war, and carrying the banner for the woke LGBT agenda. It’s a sad commentary on the low value she places on our country’s defense. America deserves better. Our families deserve better. And our troops certainly deserve better.”

ROsei the RIveter padded LAn amendment added to the NDAA would “cancel Rosie the Riveter” by requiring America’s daughters to register for the draft has already caused controversy and concern. The language remains a point of contention as the House takes up the NDAA.

Marijuana bearsLate last night, the House added another nonsensical amendment to the NDAA known as the un-“SAFE Banking Act” that would financially legitimize the marijuana industry without regard to the proven public health risks of marijuana use, through vaping in particular. The Act comes forward despite the increase in illness and death related to vaping and warnings from both The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Finally, the version of the NDAA being considered by the House also includes controversial “Equality Act” language, as well as supports critical race theory—a wildly unpopular idea causing controversy in America’s public schools.

These amendments clearly have nothing to do with the defense of America or the support of American troops. Family Policy Alliance opposes the language of these amendments and is actively lobbying both the House and Senate to fight for the removal of the harmful language.

Media Contact:

Robert Noland, (719) 308-2822, Media@FamilyPolicyAlliance.com

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Family Policy Alliance is an alliance-building ministry that works to advance biblical citizenship and promote good public policy that protects religious freedom, families, and life.

 

Earlier this month, the House of Representatives was poised to vote on the MORE Act (Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act) – a very dangerous bill that would have fully legalized marijuana in federal law.  When we informed you of this bill, many of you responded and Congress heard the outcry from thousands of concerned Americans.

The good news: Nancy Pelosi canceled the MORE Act vote.

The bad news: The marijuana lobby is back and the House is now poised to vote on legislation to financially legitimize the marijuana industry.

The ugly news: House Democrat leadership has snuck the Big Marijuana bill into COVID disaster relief legislation! We need your quick action today to stop it.

You may remember our alerts on the SAFE Banking Act last year.  While it passed the House of Representatives, it thankfully did not succeed in the Senate.  Now Nancy Pelosi has resurrected the bill and inserted it into the Heroes Act 2.0 (on page 1687 of 2154 pages, to be exact).  This is legislation she says will provide the much-needed financial assistance to those affected by COVID-19.  It’s also legislation she knows her colleagues will be hard-pressed to oppose.

Big Marijuana has linked arms with Democrat leadership to exploit disaster relief legislation to line their own pockets.

Make no mistake – the so-called SAFE Banking Act is the first step toward federal legalization of marijuana.  This legislation would provide federal banking privileges and prop up the marijuana industry without regard to the proven public health risks of marijuana use.  In other words, the “un-SAFE Banking Act” is a backdoor green light to Big Marijuana with a front-door cash infusion to an already bloated (and largely illegal) industry that has been complicit in harmful effects to many Americans.

During a pandemic – when drug use and abuse is significantly on the rise – is the worst time to legitimize this dangerous, illegal industry with massive financial investment.  That’s why your action is needed now!

A vote is expected on the Heroes Act 2.0 as soon as this evening, so please, take action now!

Respectfully,

Robert Noland
Communications Manager

This month, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on whether to remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act. The bill is even worse than you may think: please contact your representative TODAY through our Action Center.

Currently, marijuana is an illegal substance under federal law. (While some states have legalized recreational marijuana in their own states, this only “works” to the extent that federal law enforcement turns a blind eye to offenses.) Still, the federal status of marijuana hasn’t stopped Pelosi’s House from trying to support Big Marijuana: last fall they attempted to fund the illegal industry through the SAFE Banking Act, and they tried the same trick with emergency COVID funding this spring.

Now, Pelosi’s House wants to go further by legalizing marijuana at the federal level. While that doesn’t automatically make marijuana legal throughout the states, it would certainly send a strong message that marijuana just isn’t a big deal. But we know it is a big deal. That’s why it’s on Schedule I, a federal list of drugs that have “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.”*

CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TODAY THROUGH OUR ACTION CENTER!

Indeed, marijuana is not the harmless drug some paint it to be. Here are the facts:

And it’s not just medical concerns. Here’s what happened in Colorado when it legalized pot:

The bill would open the floodgates for what happened to Colorado to begin to happen nationwide. And the bill isn’t just about removing criminal penalties. Here are some of the other things the bill would do:

The bottom line? This bill is dangerous.

Representatives have been asked to indicate by Thursday whether they will support the bill. Please visit our Action Center today to contact your Representative and ask them to NOT support this dangerous legislation!

Pressing On,

Meridian Baldacci

*Hemp, a cannabis plant with a very low content of THC, is sometimes used for medical reasons and is already exempt from the Controlled Substances Act.

Dear Friends:

Last week, the Legislative Session continued with multiple committee hearing and events. Much is happening—some good, some bad, and some ugly.

 The GOOD – Pro Life Legislation Introduced

Although Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has not yet placed abortion legislation on the Session agenda, Representative Rod Montoya (R-San Juan) has introduced pro-life legislation aimed at ending late-term abortion up-to-birth, banning infanticide, and requiring parental notification when a minor obtains an abortion. House Bills 208, 209, and 210 cannot be considered without a message from the Governor. Therefore, we encourage you to call the Governor’s Office today and ask her to, “Please put House Bills 208, 209, and 210 on the Session agenda.” Although you may feel this is a waste of time, we assure you—it is not. Last year, we made our voices heard by the thousands, and the Governor must continue to hear from us. Please call the Governor’s Office at (505) 476-2200 today!

The BAD – Recreational Weed Advances & Speaker Ends Clergy-Led Prayer

On Tuesday, our Executive Director, Vince Torres, partnered with law enforcement, business community leaders, the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, and our national ally SAM (Smart Approaches to Marijuana) at a press conference to express shared and serious concerns about the negative impacts of recreational marijuana. The group then offered testimony in the Senate Public Affairs Committee in opposition to SB115 which would legalize recreational pot in New Mexico. The committee subsequently advanced SB115 on a 4-3 party-line vote with all Republicans voting in opposition to the bill. SB115 now heads to the Senate Judiciary Committee where it faces an uncertain outcome. Please stay tuned for an Action Alert asking you to contact the Judiciary Committee members!

Last week, Speaker of the House Brian Egolf (D-Santa Fe) ended the longstanding tradition of having local clergy deliver the daily invocation. For more than a century in New Mexico, local priests, pastors, and other faith leaders have been invited to the Senate and House Chambers to begin each daily session in prayer. In the House, however, this will no longer be the case. Instead, members of the House will now deliver the daily invocation. Representative Gregg Schmedes (R-Bernalillo, Sandoval, & Santa Fe) noted: “Leaders of all faiths should be welcome in the Roundhouse to offer prayer. By closing our doors to priests, pastors, and faith leaders, House leadership is sending the wrong message to the faith community.”

The UGLY – Two House Democrats Table Sex Offender Bill

On Tuesday of last week, another disturbing maneuver took place, as Democrats in a House Committee voted to table a bipartisan bill (HB43) aimed at closing a dangerous loophole in our Sex Offender Registry laws. Representative Andrea Romero (D-Santa Fe) and Representative Angelica Rubio (D-Dona Ana) refused to advance HB43 even after hearing compelling testimony regarding the loophole that allowed convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, to avoid registration in New Mexico because he was convicted in another state.

On to Week 3

The Legislative Session continues this week and, as always, we will be working hard to keep you updated on important legislation impacting life, families, and religious freedom. Please stay tuned for Action Alerts and other opportunities for you to engage in the process and make your voice heard.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support!

The Family Policy Alliance of New Mexico Team

LEGISLATIVE RECAP:

On Tuesday, the 2020 Legislative Session kicked off with the State of the State Address by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. The Governor laid out her plan for the session with a focus on education, public safety, and economic development. Among her listed priorities was the legalization of recreational marijuana which she referred to as New Mexico’s “next frontier.” Noticeably absent from the Governor’s remarks was any reference to abortion legislation. However, she can add such legislation to the Session agenda at any time and she has even floated the possibility of calling a Special Session if the U.S. Supreme Court undermines or overturns Roe v. Wade.

ACTION ALERT: Urge These Senators to Oppose Recreational Pot!

On Tuesday, the Senate Public Affairs Committee will consider SB115 which would legalize recreational marijuana in New Mexico. According to a recent poll, more than 63% of New Mexico voters do not support this proposal, knowing that medicinal marijuana is already legal and that we have decriminalized possession for small amounts of marijuana.

 New Mexico already faces major challenges related to homelessness, crime, drug use, poverty, and mental health. WHY then would we further aggravate these issues by repeating the mistakes of states like Colorado?

Consider these facts:

Marijuana industry advocates are trying to hide the ugly truths about recreational pot, but the facts make it very clear. Recreational pot is wrong for New Mexico.

SB115 will be heard Tuesday afternoon and your quick help is needed to urge the following committee members to vote “NO.”

Senator Gerald Ortiz y Pino (Bill Sponsor)
(505) 986-4482

Senator Jeff Steinborn
(505) 986-4862

Senator Candace Gould
(505) 986-4266

Senator Craig W. Brandt
(505) 986-4385

Senator Stuart Ingle
(505) 986-4702

Senator Antoinette Sedillo Lopez
(505) 986-4389

Senator Elizabeth “Liz” Stefanics
(505) 986-4377

Please contact these Senators TODAY and urge them to vote “NO” on SB115. We have made it simple for you to communicate this request. Simply click here and you can send these Senators a message in 30 seconds!

After you have sent the message through our Action Center, please call the Senators at the numbers provided above and leave the same message.

If you would like to attend the committee hearing in person and provide public comment, it will be held Tuesday afternoon, at 1:30 p.m., in the Senate Chamber.

Thank you for making your voice heard!

The Family Policy Alliance of New Mexico Team

Dear Friends:

Will New Mexico be the next state to legalize recreational marijuana? Not if our Governor and our Legislators listen to the people and pay attention to the facts.

Earlier this week, our friends at Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) released a poll conducted by Emerson College which found that more than 63% of New Mexico voters do not support the legalization of recreational marijuana.

According to the poll, 42% percent of voters support the status quo in New Mexico—decriminalization for small amounts and legal medicinal marijuana—and 22% favor keeping marijuana illegal for use and possession. Ultimately, just 34% percent of voters favor full legalization.

‪This poll will no doubt shock the pot industry, but it does not surprise us. Most New Mexicans recognize that our state is already facing major challenges related to homelessness, crime, drug use, poverty, and mental health. So why would we further aggravate these issues by repeating the mistakes of states like Colorado?

Consider these facts:

We are glad that so many New Mexicans recognize the threats that recreational pot poses to our public health and safety. Though Big Marijuana advocates try to hide the ugly truths about recreational marijuana legalization, we are proud to be working with SAM and other local groups to make sure that citizens and lawmakers have the facts—because the facts make it very clear. Recreational marijuana is wrong for New Mexico and this year, Democrats and Republicans should again “Say NO to Big Marijuana.”

By the way, if you want to see what legal pot really looks like in Colorado, click here to watch our latest video (or click the play button on the video below)!

Sincerely,


Vince Torres
President and Executive Director

 

Big Marijuana has already taken over Colorado and other states, and now the pot lobby has descended on D.C. in full force.

Their goal is to take that first step toward the federal legalization of marijuana. That first step is the so-called SAFE Banking Act.

Innocuous as it sounds, the SAFE Banking Act would financially legitimize the marijuana industry without regard to the proven public health risks of marijuana use – through vaping in particular. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently issued a warning against e-cigarettes containing THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. This warning came as the death toll from vaping-caused lung disease reached 15 – with more than 800 Americans having confirmed cases of the illness, 70 percent of which are related to vaping THC.

In other words, the “un-SAFE Banking Act” is a backdoor green light to the marijuana industry with a front-door cash infusion to an already bloated (and largely illegal) industry.

Now is NOT the time to prop up a dangerous industry through massive financial investment. And it’s NEVER the time to grant government-approved money laundering. (Despite some state laws, marijuana is still illegal under federal law!)

This legislation is the antithesis of “SAFE.” That’s why your action is needed to ensure the so-called SAFE Banking Act is defeated in the Senate!

Just like Big Marijuana’s older brother, Big Tobacco, the marijuana industry puts profits over people. The industry shows its true colors by pushing forward the un-SAFE Banking Act in the middle of the vaping crisis that both the CDC and FDA warned about—allowing billions in investment to flow to the same illegal marijuana companies creating the marijuana vapes that are causing the crisis in the first place.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has the power to stop this bill – or to let it move forward – and your own two senators need to hear from you also. Please urge your state’s two senators to respectfully request that they actively oppose the SAFE Banking Act (S. 1200). You can send the message in just a few moments on our Action Center.

TAKE ACTION NOW!

Thank you for helping Senators understand the importance of this issue!

Autumn Leva, Esq.
Vice President for Strategy

P.S. If you want to see what Big Marijuana is really like in Colorado, Family Policy Alliance’s home state, check out our new video!

Big Marijuana has already taken over Colorado and other states, and now the pot lobby has descended on D.C. in full force.

Their goal is to take that first step toward the federal legalization of marijuana. That first step is the so-called SAFE Banking Act.

Innocuous as it sounds, the SAFE Banking Act would financially legitimize the marijuana industry without regard to the proven public health risks of marijuana use – through vaping in particular. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently issued a warning against e-cigarettes containing THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.  This warning came as the death toll from vaping-caused lung disease reached 15 – with more than 800 Americans having confirmed cases of the illness, 70 percent of which are related to vaping THC.

Now is NOT the time to prop up a dangerous industry through massive financial investment.  And it’s NEVER the time to grant government-approved money laundering.  (Despite some state laws, marijuana is still illegal under federal law!)

This legislation is the antithesis of “SAFE.”  That’s why your action is needed to ensure the so-called SAFE Banking Act is defeated in the Senate!  

Sen. McConnell has the power to stop this bill – or to let it move forward. Please email Sen. McConnell and respectfully request that he actively oppose the SAFE Banking Act (S. 1200). You can send the message in just a few moments on our Action Center. (Your message will also be sent to Sen. Paul.)

Please also call Sen. McConnell’s office at (202) 224-2541.

Thanks for speaking up!

With the drug wars of decades past fresh in our memories and the opioid crisis in full force throughout the United States, it’s incredible to think that policymakers are welcoming the legalization of one of the most addictive and commonly used drugs in the country –marijuana.

Family Policy Alliance’s national headquarters is in Colorado. We’ve experienced first-hand the devastating impact the legalization of recreational marijuana has had on our state. We have had a few years now to assess the benefits and harms of legalization. From where we stand, there is nothing but a long trail of damage and enormous costs borne by our communities. Benefits? There are none.

Big Marijuana claims legalization doesn’t negatively impact teens. The law’s tepid attempts to limit sale to minors hasn’t protected them. Since we legalized recreational marijuana, drug abuse of our youth has increased over 20% in the first two years, while at the same time the national trend was in decline.

THC, the psychoactive chemical in marijuana that produces the “high” appears in much higher concentrations than marijuana of the ‘70s. Marijuana consumption has long been linked with psychotic episodes and we’re seeing the impact of high-THC marijuana on our youth. Emergency room visits for teens in our state have quadrupled—along with the number of marijuana-induced psychotic episodes (like hallucinations, paranoid delusions, extreme mood swings, schizophrenia, and psychosis). Unfortunately, these stats don’t even include the rise in infants and toddlers being poisoned by this drug.

Big Marijuana claims legalization will relieve the burden on our law enforcement officers and criminal justice system and reduce black market sales. Not surprisingly, the exact opposite has occurred. “Legal” marijuana has flooded into Colorado’s black markets and into the black markets of at least 36 other states! Our police force has become more burdened than ever –felony marijuana cases have increased, organized crime cases have increased and the number of marijuana-related traffic fatalities has drastically increased. Even postal workers are working triple-time to intercept the enormous number of illegal parcels containing marijuana being shipped out of our state.

The media isn’t talking about these things, but Family Policy Alliance is talking about it and we’re not afraid to publicly oppose Big Marijuana. We’re working hard in states like New Jersey and New Mexico to protect our families and communities from harms we’ve experienced in Colorado. We’ve already helped stop legalization efforts in these states, but the battle continues. After seeing what going “Full Colorado” looks like, we’re not going to stand by and allow Big Marijuana to devastate our health and our lives—while they run away with the profits. With your help, we can continue to stand strong for our families and communities and put people over profits that line the pockets of Big Marijuana.

Standing Strong,

Stephanie Curry, Esq.
Policy Manager