Leaders from 10 pro-life groups, including Family Policy Alliance, sent a letter to members of the U.S. House and Senate asking them to honor their promise to stop taxpayer funding of abortion.

“This Republican Pro-life Congress made a promise to American voters to stop taxpayer funding for the largest abortion chain in the nation, Planned Parenthood,” the letter explains. “It is now well past time to deliver on that promise.”

It spells out how legislation to stop Medicaid funding to abortion was vetoed by then-president Obama. Seeing that only the White House stood in the way, the letter makes the case that that’s one of the reasons America elected President Trump, who had pledged to sign such legislation.

Paul Weber, president and CEO of Family Policy Alliance, signed the letter. He said If we learned anything from this past election, it’s that we’re all tired of talk and political spin.

“We want to see action. Defunding Planned Parenthood is one of the biggest actions Congress can take to show that they’re not out of touch with our families in America,” he said. “That’s why we’re proud to join with other pro-life leaders in sending this letter to Congress — calling on the House and Senate to follow through on legislation defunding Planned Parenthood that they were able to pass even under the Obama Administration.

“As the letter makes clear, this isn’t a piece of pork barrel legislation that doesn’t matter. Ending taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood means ending the taxpayer-funded gravy train that subsidizes the killing of 900 pre-born children every single day.”

Also signing the letter were leaders from Susan B. Anthony List, Concerned Women for America LAC, Students for Life of America, March for Life Education and Defense Fund, Live Action, Family Research Council, Americans United for Life, American Values and the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.

LEARN MORE
Read the letter to Congress.

Elite news media outlets are grasping at anything right now. In his Stoplight® commentary, Stuart Shepard explains what you should be keeping your eyes focused on and why it presents such a remarkable opportunity for pro-family, pro-life values.

He served in Afghanistan – Now, he’ll serve in Washington.

Today, you’ll hear from freshman U.S. Rep. Jim Banks about his goals and what he hopes to see from a conservative majority in both chambers of Congress.

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is still being debated in the U.S. Senate and House. Even though the House version has already passed, lawmakers are considering stripping out language that provides religious freedom protections for chaplains and other people of faith who serve our country.

At issue is what’s known as the Russell Amendment language. This amendment, which has been a part of the legislation for decades, simply allows religious organizations that have federal contracts to hire employees that share their faith. That’s according to Title VII, a federal employment law.

According to the Family Research Council (FRC), the problem started a few weeks ago.

“Liberal activists started a tweet storm attacking the Russell provision,” a statement from FRC explains. “Around the same time, 42 liberal senators sent a letter to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, asking them to strip the Russell Amendment from the NDAA Conference Report.”

FRC goes on to say removing the language forces religious organizations “out of the contracting sphere and hurts those they serve, like refugees, veterans, and children.”

If the conference committee agrees to strip the language, then the bill goes back to the full House to be voted on again. That causes more unnecessary delays.

Autumn Leva, policy director for Family Policy Alliance, said religious freedom should continue to be protected.

“It shouldn’t be controversial,” she said. “This isn’t something new and the existing language has worked for decades. The final bill that gets sent to Obama should include these important religious freedom provisions.”

TAKE ACTION
Use our Action Center to contact your representative and senators and urge them to keep the Russell Amendment language in the NDAA.

The media attention is focused on the presidential race, but there are many important Senate races at stake around the country.

John Paulton, director of political operations for Family Policy Alliance, outlines the importance of maintaining the Senate and which races could make all the difference.

“The Obama administration has demonstrated it cannot be trusted…”

Merrick Garland is President Obama’s nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court to fill the vacancy left by the death of Antonin Scalia.

Pro-family groups want the Senate to wait until after the presidential election to take any action on a nominee.

“This changes nothing,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser with Susan B. Anthony List. “We do not know this nominee but we do know Barack Obama. Anyone he nominates will join the voting bloc on the Court that consistently upholds abortion on-demand.”

“The Obama administration has demonstrated it cannot be trusted to respect the rule of law, the Constitution and the limits of its own authority,” said attorney Casey Mattox with Alliance Defending Freedom. “So it should be no surprise that the American people would be highly skeptical that any nominee this president puts forth would be acceptable.”

“President Obama has already appointed two judicial activists to the Court,” said Jonathan Saenz of Texas Values,” that have voted to redefine marriage and have opposed religious freedom and protecting life in the Hobby Lobby decision.”

Senate Republicans continue to say they will not hold hearings on any nominee. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell took to the floor after the announcement.

“It is the president’s constitutional right to nominate a Supreme Court Justice and it is the Senate’s constitutional right to act as a check on the president, and withhold its consent,” he said. “Our view is: Give the people a voice in filling this vacancy.”

Convenient Amnesia

Senate Democrats are telling their Republican colleagues to “Do Your Job” and confirm a Supreme Court nominee.

In his Stoplight® commentary, Stuart Shepard recalls how those very same lawmakers chose to do their job in 2006.

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