In just a few days, gavels will come down all over America, marking the beginning of legislative sessions in most states.

For weeks and often months, legislators will be neck-deep in the chaos of lawmaking. It’s intense, with long hours and pressures that can challenge legislators’ principles and the stability of their families.

Adding to the pressure, they are setting policies that will impact real people for good or for bad. The laws they pass will protect lives or end lives, will mislead children with twisted ideology or will protect them and help them flourish – and so much more.

It’s no wonder that one of the clearest directives we have in Scripture regarding our role in government is to pray for our leaders.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. – I Timothy 2:1-4

Before the chaos starts, will you take a moment to let your legislators know you’re praying for them?

Over the next few weeks, 43 legislative sessions will begin, with others following not long after.

In many of those states, Family Policy Alliance® will be involved – working with our state allies and letting you know at key times when you can make your voice heard on important legislation.

But before most of that happens, will you send a quick note to your legislators? You can personalize it if you’d like, or you can use the text that we’ve drafted – thanking them for their service, acknowledging the burden of leadership, and letting them know that you are praying for them.

Thanks for praying for your legislators – and for Family Policy Alliance and our allied state groups as we engage on pivotal legislation in 2020.

Sincerely,

John Paulton
Mobilization Manager

P.S. Even if your state is one of the four without a regularly scheduled session this year, please pray for your legislators and let them know – as the job of a state lawmaker never really ends, with continuing duties even between sessions.

Dear Friends—

Have you been keeping up with all the pro-life victories lately? We have, and in case you haven’t heard, please take a look at some of the exciting things that have happened in states across the nation.

There is no doubt about it—a pro-life wave is sweeping the country and New Mexico is part of it. After the November election last year, we were consistently told that our efforts to stop anti-life legislation would be futile. We were told that Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry had targeted New Mexico and that we could not match the money and resources that would be dumped into the state.

Well, they were right about the money and the resources. We couldn’t compete.

But they were wrong about the effort.

And why were they wrong? Because they severely underestimated the power of the church.

I said it before, and I’ll keep saying it—when God’s people pray, stand firm, and act, we can still move mountains. We did it this Legislative Session and we need to keep it going.

Let’s pray together.

Let’s stand firm together.

Let’s act together.

Our recent victory was sweet, but let’s be honest—the battle is far from over. Our vision is a New Mexico where life is cherished, and I truly believe that together, we can turn that vision into a reality. If you believe that, please help us spread the word and encourage more Christians to get involved by forwarding this email to 5 family members or friends.

Thank you for your support!


Vince Torres
President and Executive Director

Changing Public Sentiment and the Fate of Roe v Wade Precipitate a Wave of Pro-life Success Across the Nation

As many state legislatures are beginning to wind down for the year, it is apparent that the pro-life movement is winning on many fronts. The proverbial starting gun went off when we witnessed the complete evisceration of all protections for preborn babies and their mothers by the New York legislature on January 22nd and the celebratory environment that ensued. Then, Governor Ralph Northam of Virginia advocated for a legislative proposal which would have expanded abortion access without virtually any limits, including allowing infanticide.

Those two events ignited pro-life forces and activists across the nation were fired up! With pro-life legislators going to work in multiple states, we have seen the success of pro-life legislation unlike any year previously.

Fueling all this activity is also an anticipated change at the Supreme Court once President Trump has the opportunity to appoint an additional Justice. While no one knows what will happen, many believe that Roe v. Wade will eventually be challenged in court. Presumably, a Court more ideologically conservative than the one in 1973 could render a verdict returning the regulation of abortion to the states, as it was prior to 1973.

That anticipated change would have no meaning but for the nearly 50 years of pro-life activism that is largely responsible for an immense sea-change in the minds of Americans on the issue of abortion. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services Center for Disease Control, abortion in the US hit a record low in 2015 (the most recent year for which statistics are available). Regrettably, the record low number is still 638,169 lives ended. It is hard to celebrate such an “accomplishment” knowing what each of those numbers means. Yet the movement has pressed on – looking to the progress of the advancing pro-life shift in our culture and what that means for each one not aborted.

We have witnessed major accomplishments this year on the pro-life front in multiple states. Among those accomplishments are some miraculous events that stopped bad bills from becoming law and in other states, pro-life majorities finally delivering pro-life legislation to pro-life governors for approval.

Here is a laundry list of what has been going on in 2019:

New Mexico has a very liberal government – the House, Senate and Governor’s office are all under Democratic control. An abortion bill even more radical than New York’s was proposed that would have removed the state’s only abortion restrictions. Many assumed it was a safe bet for easy passage. Family Policy Alliance of New Mexico®, along with pro-life activists, pastors, churches and other statewide organizations went to work. They visited with lawmakers, emailed, called, prayed and rallied (one of the biggest pro-life rallies in New Mexico history occurred in the Capitol earlier this year). They would not stop. Ultimately, they were successful in putting together a bipartisan coalition of New Mexico Senators that defeated the abortion bill!

Vince Torres, Executive Director of Family Policy Alliance of New Mexico wrote: “After the final vote was announced, we found ourselves silenced in disbelief at what had just transpired—the people of New Mexico had gone up against the abortion industry giant, and the people had won!”

Georgia – Our ally, Family Policy Alliance of Georgia®, was an integral part of a coalition that successfully passed what is being called the most pro-life legislation in the nation in the form of a heartbeat bill, which prohibits abortions after the point by which a preborn baby’s heartbeat can be detected. Executive Director Cole Muzio described Georgia’s heartbeat legislation as the bill that the “pro-life community has been waiting for” and that the strength of the bill would “echo far beyond the borders of our state.” The Georgia heartbeat bill is currently on the Governor’s desk, and he has pledged to sign it. Georgia has become ground zero for abortion activists this year. They know this is a tough bill and they are working overtime to intimidate and threaten the state to prevent its enactment.

Kentucky – The state of Kentucky experienced major pro-life wins for the last three years. After laboring for so long under divided control of the state government, pro-life governor Matt Bevin was elected in 2015, and pro-life majorities in the House and Senate followed along soon after. Since that time, pro-life legislation has passed every year.

Our Kentucky allies, the The Family Foundation, was integral in the enactment of a number of pro-life bills including a heartbeat bill; a bill that bans abortions based solely on a fetal abnormality, sex, or race; and a reporting law requiring that medications given by a physician with the intent of causing an abortion must be reported as an abortion and included in the statistical reporting.

Virginia – Virginia Governor Ralph Northam’s comments about the radical abortion bill proposed there can at least be partially credited with igniting the pro-life fire this year. That legislation would have allowed infanticide in cases of failed abortions. Our Family Foundation of Virginia allies went to work and ultimately defeated not only the abortion bill but also a very dangerous Equal Rights Amendment bill that would have opened the floodgates on a multitude of abortion and gender issues.

Victoria Cobb, President of The Family Foundation of Virginia, noted voter involvement for their success: “Despite the introduction of a horrific, New York style birthday abortion bill and the appalling comments made by Governor Northam supporting post-birth infanticide, the cause of life did move forward this year. Nearly 7,000 people gathered at the Virginia March for Life to express their outrage and the legislature responded by removing all funding in our state budget for abortions on low-income women who have an unborn child with a disability diagnosis.”

North Dakota – The work of Family Policy Alliance of North Dakota® was the major driver behind the enactment of two important laws there this year. The first ensures that women seeking a chemical abortion know that the abortion may be reversible if they change their mind after taking the first abortion pill. A second North Dakota law now bans dismemberment abortions, a brutal practice that involves tearing a preborn baby apart. Mark Jorritsma, Executive Director of Family Policy Alliance of North Dakota® noted that elections have consequences, and North Dakotans are reaping the benefits of electing not only a solidly pro-life delegation at the federal level but also a solidly pro-life state legislature.

Kansas – Kansas was the first state in the nation to pass a resolution condemning the New York abortion law enacted earlier this year. Family Policy Alliance of Kansas’® Director of Advocacy, Brittany Jones stated, “Kansas is one of the most pro-life states in the country. The New York abortion law is a horrific reflection on the state and its values. The New York law does not reflect the values of Kansans. Even as several more states consider following New York’s lead, Kansas is proud to be a state that cherishes life and provides some of the strongest pro-life protections in the county.” The work continued in Kansas when an abortion pill reversal bill similar to North Dakota’s was passed by both chambers and now sits on Democrat Governor Laura Kelly’s desk.

Arkansas – Arkansas has seen a litany of pro-life bills enacted this year. So far, the following have either been signed or sent to the governor for a signature: legislation requiring abortionists to be board-certified, an 18-week abortion ban, a Safe Haven act to give alternatives to abortion, chemical abortion reversal information bill, legislation prohibiting aborting children with Down Syndrome, and lastly a bill requiring abortion complications to be reported.

Jerry Cox, President of the Family Council, noted: “The pro-life legislation Arkansas passed this session literally will save lives. The eighteen-week abortion ban will save 170 unborn children every year. If all of our pro-life legislation is enforced, we estimate that by the fall of next year, some 1,000 – 1,500 children will be alive because of anti-abortion laws we’ve helped pass since 2015. About 400 of those kids will be heading off to their first day of preschool or kindergarten. That’s something Arkansans should be proud of.”

South Dakota – The South Dakota legislature passed six pro-life bills including requirements that an ultrasound be offered to women seeking abortions, as well as reporting requirements for abortionists. They also approved two resolutions – one condemning the New York law and another calling on Congress to defund Planned Parenthood. In a reliably pro-life state, the effect of the New York legislation was noted by Family Heritage Alliance Executive Director, Norman Woods, “South Dakota has traditionally been a very pro-life state. Nearly every year the Legislature makes improvements to our life statutes but this year we saw more progress made than usual, arguably sparked by the insanity we witnessed in New York and other states. Even after these 6 bills had gained traction and were heading through, the body still wasn’t done. The passage of [the resolutions condemning New York’s abortion law] left no questions in people’s minds as to where our Legislature stands on the issue of life.”

Ohio – Just last week, Governor Mike DeWine signed into law the nation’s latest heartbeat bill. On the legal front, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals recently upheld the Ohio law allowing them to decline funding the abortion industry. The law was enacted in 2016. In an 11 to 6 decision, the court ruled that the state was not required to pay for abortions. We hope that this ruling will clear a path for similar rulings on other cases related to the funding of Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers. Our allies at Citizens for Community Values worked to pass the 2016 legislation.

Heartbeat bills continue to receive attention in a number of states – Mississippi enacted a heartbeat law earlier in the session and similar bills have passed through one chamber of the legislature in Missouri and Tennessee and have been introduced in Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, South Carolina and West Virginia.

Even in reliably blue states where pro-life successes have not been realized, the pro-life movement is alive and very active. In Illinois for example, when a New-York style abortion rights bill was proposed, thousands of pro-life activists showed up in the capitol one day. So many that the Capitol was filled to capacity and many more were turned away at the doors!

Family Policy Alliance is pleased to work with allied organizations in 40 states – to find out if your state is one of those, go to our Allies page for the contact information you need. Reach out to them and get in involved in your state!

It is through active participation and activism that we are able to see the results of nearly 50 years of pro-life work making a difference in so many fronts – turning the tide of history and saving lives.

Standing for life,

Robert Noland
Communications Manager

1 Cor 15:58 – Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

 

And it’s only going to get wilder 

In Colorado, hundreds of people packed the State Capitol Wednesday to oppose a bill aimed at requiring the teaching of LGBTQ “sexual experiences” in public schools. Across the country, there was immense backlash by pro-life advocates when Virginia’s new governor, Ralph Northam, supported a late-term abortion bill and further advocated what is clear to several conservative leaders as infanticide – physician-assisted death of babies AFTER they are born.

What a wild week. But take a breath – it’s only going to get crazier. And just because you don’t live in Colorado or Virginia doesn’t mean the fight isn’t coming to your state soon. We’re seeing a well-organized campaign by abortionists and LGBTQ activists to infiltrate state legislatures to advance their harmful agendas.

The Colorado sex-ed bill would force the state’s viewpoint on sex and sexuality on every school, family, and child. It requires children to be exposed to explicit sexual content that teaches lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender sexual behaviors are a “normal” and “healthy” option for all our youth. If that isn’t enough, the state will also ban all views and content that contradict this ideology. This means sex-ed curriculums focused on only the scientific and biological aspects of sex and its consequences would be illegal. Curriculums promoting abstinence would be illegal. As we’ve seen in states like California and New Jersey, these comprehensive sex-ed bills are used to indoctrinate our children through graphic photos, language, and ideas that encourage our youth to explore their sexuality in ways most families believe are harmful and directly contradict their values.

Make no mistake: These bills masquerade as “comprehensive sexual education” bills, but they unlawfully censor foundational views of sex and sexuality, oppress parental rights, and advance a radical social agenda at the expense of our children.

Meanwhile, in Virginia, the controversy surrounding the most barbaric abortion laws we’ve seen prompted Governor Northam to state that even after a woman was dilating, she could have an abortion. He responded this way: “So in this particular example if a mother is in labor, I can tell you exactly what would happen, the infant would be delivered. The infant would be kept comfortable. The infant would be resuscitated if that’s what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physician and the mother.” The discussion would be whether or not they would let a newborn live. The discussion would be whether or not to end that baby’s life.

This is infanticide, which is the crime of killing a child within one year of his or her birth. This is what radical leftists want. It’s the next step for the pro-abortion lobby who aren’t satisfied with late-term or partial-birth abortions.

Although it can be easy to grow tired or frustrated at the liberal “leadership” of governors like Ralph Northram or Colorado’s Jared Polis, we see God doing some wonderful things in the midst of what can seem like a relentless attack on His truth: 

  1. People are Taking Action. We are seeing an awakening of churches, Christ-followers, and conservatives to the very real threats our country and our faith face. And they are no longer silent! Thousands took action in Colorado this week. And conservatives aren’t letting Gov. Northam’s remarks go unchallenged. We have the opportunity now to work to “un-elect” these politicians in 2020 – with your help!
  1. Truth is Coming Out. There are many who have been “on the fence” or chose to stay silent about radical social issues like abortion and sex-education. No longer! People who have never spoken-up before are feeling a sense of urgency to speak truth for the sake of our children in schools and children in the womb! It’s far more difficult to censor biblical truths when those who believe in them speak publicly.
  1. Light Always Shines Brighter in the Darkest Places. When you start talking about aborting children while the mother is dilating, and openly talking about infanticide after delivery, we see how far from God our country has fallen. As those who are called to be Light in the darkness (John 5:14-16), we know that darkness cannot overcome Light (John 1:5). We, the Church, are the ones called to light up the darkness, and our country is at a point where believers are being called to shine even brighter—to speak truth even more boldly. And that is a good thing!

None of this is possible without your continued prayers and support. Be encouraged to shine your light in love, to speak truth, and to stand firm and take action! Our country needs the Church now more than ever.

Please check our ACTION CENTER to see if there’s an issue where you can help speak truth in your state or at the federal level.

Turning the Light back on with you,

Stephanie Curry
Policy Director

 

At what point does a life become worthy of protection? This is the question behind the pro-life movement. We believe human life deserves protection from the moment of conception.

Since Roe v. Wade, states have decided when this protection begins in various ways. Some states allow a woman to recover civil damages if someone kills her baby in the womb no matter the stage of the pregnancy, recognizing the humanity of the preborn life inside her. Some states heighten punishment for a person convicted of killing a pregnant woman, which recognizes that two lives were taken.

States have also regulated when abortions can occur. Some states are passing “Heartbeat” bills. The laws ban abortions after a doctor detects a heartbeat, recognizing the scientific fact that a heartbeat is a sign of life. Typically, a heartbeat can be detected around the sixth week of a pregnancy.

Though these laws are typically immediately struck down by federal and state judges because of the so-called “right to abortion”  in Roe v. Wade precedent, they do serve the important purpose of reminding everyone what we all know: There is a baby worthy of protection in the womb. There are other important legal and strategic implications of these bills, but no one can deny that there is a separate beating heart inside the woman.

Other laws protect babies from certain forms of abortion, such as dismemberment laws, which ban an abortionist from tearing a baby apart limb-by-limb in the womb while the child is still alive. Courts have struck down these laws, even judges we’d consider “conservative judges,” because it is the most commonly used abortion procedure after 15 weeks into the pregnancy. Courts say that this violates the “woman’s right to choose to have an abortion” up until the baby is viable outside the womb, at around 24 weeks.

Even as we are seeing progress in the court of public opinion and as legislators in many states are beginning to recognize this as an issue they can no longer ignore, Planned Parenthood and their pro-abortion followers recognize the progress we are making and are fighting back. I’m sure you wept with us as New York passed a law allowing a preborn child to be killed even up until the moment before birth—and stripping any requirement that an infant who survives a botched abortion receive proper medical care. But New York isn’t alone. At least four other states – Vermont, Virginia, Rhode Island, and New Mexico –are considering bills similar to New York’s.

Even more shocking—some state lawmakers want to permit abortion procedures to occur without a doctor’s oversight. They also want to require doctors to perform abortions—regardless of their professional judgment or religious beliefs. Clearly, the pro-abortion movement will stop at nothing.

As John 1:5 says, “A light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it.” We know the truth – the baby in the womb is a life worthy protecting. In fact, the Bible tells us that it was a preborn baby who first rejoiced at the coming of Jesus! (John 1:41) Today’s Christ-followers are called to shine a light in the darkness of our culture of death.

Along with our state allies, we are engaged in the fight for every child in state capitols across the country. Will you make sure you are ready to fight against the pro-abortion bills coming in your state—as well as the good prolife bills that need your support?

Please check our ACTION CENTER to see if there are any bills in your state or in D.C. that need your voice?

Please also make sure that you are signed up with our state ally in your state—CHECK HERE to find your ally!

For Life,

Brittany Jones, Esq.
Policy Manager

P.S. Do you not have an allied state family policy group in your state? Email info@FamilyPolicyAlliance.com if you’re interested in helping get one started!

By Brittany Jones, Policy Manager

When making important medical decisions, doctors typically provide a laundry list of possible side effects and options available to you.  When it comes to the abortion industry, however, the Left typically works against laws that would increase women’s access to information about the procedure, options available, and side effects.

This is particularly scary because with the latest method of abortion—abortion by pill (RU-486)—the woman usually isn’t even under the direct supervision of a doctor. Instead, the abortionist gives a woman two pills. She is told to take the first (mifepristone) right away, and it goes to work starving the baby of nutrients. She is told to take the second (misoptostol) two days later. It will then cause contractions that result in the delivery of a lifeless baby.

Many women, including those pressured into having an abortion, are not provided with information about what they may experience emotionally or physically as a result of this type of abortion—or information about other options available to them.

A law in several states is seeking to change this information gap, though. States are beginning to push for laws that would require abortionists to provide women with information about a process called “abortion pill reversal.” This process introduces large doses of progesterone into the woman’s body, after she has taken the first of the abortion pills.  This is intended to “out-compete [mifepristone] at the receptor,” as explained by the leading doctor of this method, Dr. George Delgado.

The process is not always successful, but more often than not, women are able to deliver a healthy baby. This information can provide broken and hurting women with hope that their decision is not final. Baby Gabriel is just one example of a precious life saved because his mother Andrea chose to reverse the abortion she had planned:

South Dakota, Arkansas, and Arizona have all passed laws that require doctors prescribing the abortion pill to inform women that it may be possible for her to reverse a chemical abortion. Last month, Idaho introduced a law that would require abortionists to provide women with this life-giving information. It passed out of committee just this week and is headed towards the Senate floor.

Providing women with hope should be what the pro-life movement is all about. Please join with Family Policy Alliance and our state allies in supporting bills like Idaho’s that will protect life inside the womb—and provide hope for their mothers.

By Paul Weber, President & CEO

A close friend and Washington insider once told me, “the only thing that politicians listen to is platoons and paoli.”

What he meant was, more than anything, politicians want to stay in power. And to stay in power—let alone actually do anything—required hearing from lots of people from their own district (meaning voters who will actually turn out for, or against them). This is important… remember, all politics is local.  So, politicians always have a local ear and tune out voices that can’t actually vote for them.

The other thing politicians listen to is paoli… in other words, cash!  And there is one thing we all know, those opposed to our values—the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, Unions and George Soros—put up a lot of cash to advance their divisive agenda. And they put their cash into local elections—buying up local politicians and school boards with just enough to get them into office and to carry their agendas for years.

So, what’s the solution?

PaulAs you read this, Family Policy Alliance leaders and allied organizations in states (remember… local) across the nation are engaging pastors and church leaders. Why? Because, the church is the only institution equipped to carry out the Great Commission (go and make disciples (Mt. 28:19)) and the Great Commandment (love the Lord and go, love your neighbor… (Mk. 12:30-31)).

From these two pillars of truth, family policy leaders are:

The active Christian church is, and always has been, the only solution to bring transformation to our divided nation. That’s why we at Family Policy Alliance—and our state allies now active in over 40 states across the nation—act locally to equip and mobilize the church.

As for the paoli… we have a proven track record at Family Policy Alliance of building platoons that elect and influence politicians. Won’t you please invest in Family Policy Alliance today as we invest back into your local communities?

Standing for the family of believers in communities nationwide,

Paul Weber
President & CEO

Part 3 in a 4-part series called “Protecting Life & Ending Abortion”

The Supreme Court Doesn’t Get the Final Say in Roe v. Wade, as we talked about in Part 2 of our four-part series on “Protecting Life & Ending Abortion.” Since the Roe decision in 1973, states have been passing laws that protect the lives of both mothers and babies, chipping away at Roe, bit by bit.

It’s not surprising that the states needed to pass laws that recognize the humanity of the unborn and regulate the abortion industry. But what many probably didn’t expect in the wake of Roe was the need for laws to protect the right to give meaningful consent to abortion by being given accurate information about the procedure and its impact—or the need for laws to protect medical professionals from being forced to participate in an abortion.

In this Part 3 of our series, we’ll discuss the importance of these laws. Do you know whether doctors and nurses in your state are protected from being forced to participate in abortions?

Laws Protecting the Right to Know & Consent

After Roe, many women were choosing abortion because abortion facilities never provided the mother with information about what the procedure would entail, the reality of post-abortion depression for many women, or the option to see an ultrasound of their baby. Most states today have laws that require abortion facilities to provide this basic information to women.

And many states are now taking those informed consent laws to the next level—requiring states to let women know that if they have a chemical abortion, there is the opportunity to reverse it without killing the baby if intervening medication is taken within a period of time. These types of laws clearly have the potential to save lives! So far, the following states have enacted laws requiring information about chemical-abortion reversal: Utah, Arkansas and North Dakota.

Another critical aspect of real consent to an abortion are laws that require that a parent give consent when a minor goes in for an abortion. These laws are especially important because traffickers 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. Arizona, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and North Dakota are some of the states with the best parental involvement laws when it comes to minors and abortion because they require both parents to give their consent or require notification and consent.

Laws Protecting Freedom of Religion & Conscience

Even after a heavy-handed ruling like Roe, it made sense to most people in America to allow for disagreement—in other words, even if a woman chose to have an abortion and had the right to abortion under Roe, that didn’t mean others would be forced to enable or facilitate her decision.

Now, 45 states protect the right of healthcare professionals to decline to participate in an abortion based on their religious or moral beliefs.

Why Does It Matter if the Court Didn’t Have the Final Say in Roe v. Wade?

Family Policy Alliance cares deeply about helping the Body of Christ engage with their own governments, both state and local. We believe that the people of God have an amazing privilege and responsibility to impact the laws of the country and states in which we live.

And, it’s been largely believers who indeed did build the grassroots pressure that persuaded state lawmakers to pass all these laws that chip away at Roe v. Wade.

But to what end? We don’t care about passing more laws to defeat Planned Parenthood and the ACLU. We don’t care about passing more laws just because we live in a country where we have the opportunity to be a part of the law-making process.

We care about passing these laws because of the lives saved—and because each of those lives is an individual loved by and made in the image of our God.

And indeed, the evidence is overwhelming that pro-life laws – particularly consent laws – save lives.  For example, a rigorous analysis of parental involvement laws (notification and/or consent) found that such laws generally reduced minors’ abortion rates by 15 to 20 percent!

We hope you’ll commit to partnering with Family Policy Alliance as we work together to make sure every state puts key laws into place that save lives & protect doctors and other medical professionals from being forced to participate in abortions.

Stay tuned next week for the final piece in our series “Protecting Life & Ending Abortion” where we’ll cover how we can see even more prolife progress in our country and states…even more quickly!

READ PART 1 –  45 Years Since Roe v. Wade

READ PART 2 –  The Supreme Court Doesn’t Get the Final Say

READ PART 4 – After 45 Years, It’s Time to End Roe v. Wade!

Dear Friends:

This coming Tuesday, January 16th, our state government leaders will gather at the Capitol building in Santa Fe for the annual New Mexico Legislative Session. This is a time when new legislation will be proposed and debated, some of which will actually become law. Needless to say, this is a very important time for our state. The decisions made during the next month will likely impact New Mexico families for generations to come, and, as Christians, we have both an opportunity and a responsibility to be engaged.

A Call to Act – Daniel 11:32: “…the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.”

 At Family Policy Alliance of New Mexico, our desire is that Christians would use their influence to help make a positive difference in our state. Over the next month, our staff will be actively engaged at the Legislative Session, working to provide timely updates on important issues, so you can be informed and ready to get involved when needed. As Christians, it is not enough to simply stand for what we believe – we must also act!

A Call to Prayer – 1 Timothy 2:1-4: “I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior…”

As a Christian organization, we believe in the power of prayer and that every Christian has a responsibility to pray for those in authority. Therefore, from January 16th through February 15th, we are asking you to pray daily for our state government officials while they are in Legislative Session. Please feel free to use the following prayer points if you wish.

  1. Pray for them by name.

Pray for Governor Susana Martinez

Pray for Lt. Governor John Sanchez (President of the Senate)

Pray for Senator Mary Kay Papen (President Pro-Tempore of the Senate)

Pray for Representative Brian Egolf (Speaker of the House of Representatives)

Pray for your State Senator*

Pray for your State Representative*

(If you do not know the name of your State Senator and/or Representative, click here and enter your zip code to find out.)   

  1. Pray for their health. Long and grueling hours combined with a high-stressed environment can wreak havoc on the body. Please pray that our officials experience and maintain good health throughout the Legislative Session.
  1. Pray for their families. Over the next 30 days, the majority of our officials will spend most of their time away from their families. Please pray for their family members during this time, especially their spouses and children.
  1. Pray for their decisions. Every legislator will cast numerous votes on hundreds of bills covering a multitude of issues. Meanwhile, the Governor will consider every bill passed before deciding whether to sign or veto them. Please pray that our legislators and Governor would execute their duties with fairness and wisdom, and, in accordance with Micah 6:8, that they would do what is good in the eyes of God; that they would act justly and with kindness; and that they would serve with humility.

 Thank you for heeding this call to action and prayer. May the good Lord hear our prayers and bless our efforts, for our benefit and His glory!

In the Lord’s service,

Vince Torres
President and Executive Director

This month sets off an avalanche of important legislation, as state legislatures begin their sessions in 41 states in January. Already, Family Policy Alliance is tracking hundreds of bills that could have big impact on life, families and freedom.

• Life. At this writing, state legislators have already introduced 241 abortion-related bills. Many of those bills would protect life in a variety of ways, from restricting taxpayer funding of abortions to requiring parental consent or notification before an abortion. But other bills would pave the way for even more abortions by providing public funding or repealing common-sense restrictions.

• LGBT. Meanwhile, the push for the LGBT agenda continues in many states, as 139 such bills have been introduced so far. Many of these bills seek to erase distinctions between men and women. They also seek to make people, companies, churches and schools civilly liable if they continue to honor the biological differences of men and women in their locker rooms and bathrooms, insurance policies, terms of employment, or services they provide.

• Religious Freedom/Pro-Family. Thankfully, 32 bills have been introduced to protect religious freedom, and another 57 bills could be classified as pro-family based on their proposed protections for adoption, safe-haven policies, parental rights and prenatal care.

• Education. And 140 family-related education bills are currently pending. Many of these bills advance school choice through programs such as vouchers, tax credits, scholarships and savings accounts. Others protect homeschooling rights, including “Tim Tebow bills” to allow homeschooled students to participate in public-school athletic programs. Others are very problematic, including bills to allow intrusive student surveys, liberal sex-education programs, and more.

Check out our heat map! The darker the color, the more bills that impact families that we’re tracking in a state so far.

How Family Policy Alliance Helps You: Obviously, tracking all of these bills – and the hundreds more still to be introduced – is a daunting task. Family Policy Alliance keeps tabs on them in two ways. First, we subscribe to computerized services that allow us to stay on top of every bill and every vote. Second, we utilize our close relationships with pro-family groups in nearly every state to get the inside scoop on what’s happening and where action is most needed.

Then, based on good information, we alert concerned citizens like you about key upcoming votes in which you could make a difference by speaking up to your elected official. And we make it as quick and easy as possible for you to take action through our handy Action Center. Usually just a click or two is all it takes to make your voice heard.

How You Can Make a Difference on These Bills: Besides taking action yourself, please share this article (and other action alerts) with friends, encouraging them to join the growing army of concerned citizens who are making an impact on values issues.