Last week I asked the elected officials on the Assembly Appropriations Committee, “Why is the richest abortion provider in the world receiving a raise when 172 school districts in NJ are receiving massive cuts from their state aid? Why is it that we never have enough money to educate our children, but we always have enough money to end the lives of our children?”

Family Policy Alliance of New Jersey®, New Jersey Right to Life, and other prolife activists testified before the Assembly Appropriations Committee regarding their intention to reward Planned Parenthood, the wealthiest abortion provider in the world, with a near 100% raise in NJ taxpayer funding through Assembly bill NJ 5802. Currently, Planned Parenthood receives $10.5 million each year from your tax dollars under the misleading classification of “Family Planning Services”. AB 5802 will line Planned Parenthood’s pockets with an additional $9.5 million to make up for the federal funds they voluntarily forfeited by removing themselves from the federal Title X program.

According to Congress, abortion is not and can never be a part of true family planning.  Family planning services “should help men, women, and adolescents make healthy and fully informed decisions about starting a family and determine the number and spacing of children.”  Recent federal rules and regulations have been passed to guarantee Title X funds do not run afoul of Congress’ intent to “favor childbirths over abortions” in its administration of Title X Funds. As NJ A5802 states, Planned Parenthood lost federal funds because their core mission violates Title X law—Abortion on demand is not family planning.

Unfortunately, the money allocated to Planned Parenthood in the NJ state budget will now surge to $20 million per year to fund the destruction of human life in cities like Camden, East Orange, Elizabeth, Newark, Paterson and Trenton.

Sadly, the additional 9.5 million dollars of state money will not increase women’s health options, but the Title X federal funds will. There are 116 Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) in NJ that offer a full range of women’s healthcare, which does not include abortion. The money that Planned Parenthood forfeited under Title X is now free to flow to these true comprehensive health care centers. This means there is greater access to these FQHC’s in NJ’s underserved urban areas than there are to Planned Parenthood clinics.

Tragically, AB 5802 passed through the Appropriations Committee and is now awaiting a floor vote in the Assembly.

Together, we must demand our state legislature respect the life of preborn children in Camden, East Orange, Elizabeth, Newark, Paterson, Trenton, and other urban centers.

On behalf of the innocent,

Shawn Hyland
Advocacy Director
Family Policy Alliance of New Jersey


Len Deo
Director of Alliances – Northeast Region, Family Policy Alliance
Founder and Past President, New Jersey Family Policy Council

Dear Friends—

This weekend, the highly anticipated movie, “Unplanned,” opens in theaters across the country, and I encourage all of you to go and see it!

“Unplanned” is the true story of Abby Johnson, the former Planned Parenthood Clinic Director turned Pro-Life Advocate. As one of the youngest Clinic Directors in the nation, Abby was involved in approximately 22,000 abortions and became a public spokesperson and lobbyist for Planned Parenthood. However, one day, she witnessed something that changed her life forever and led her to become one of the most outspoken pro-life leaders in America.

A few weeks ago, it was announced that the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) had given “Unplanned” an R-rating. Although the movie’s creators anticipated a PG-13-rating, it was reported that the MPAA informed “Unplanned” that the R-rating would be given unless all scenes involving abortions were removed or changed. Incidentally, the rating fiasco exposed yet another absurdity regarding minors and abortions in New Mexico.

FACT: A 15-year-old girl in New Mexico can get an abortion without parental notification or consent. However, that same girl cannot watch a movie about abortion without her parents being with her. 

It is obvious that Hollywood and the abortion industry are doing everything possible to keep the public from seeing this movie—especially young women. Friends—we cannot let them hide the truth. I encourage all of you to support this film by seeing it this weekend and encouraging your friends and family members to do the same. This is also a great film for pro-choice folks who may now be struggling with the idea of abortion up-to-birth and infanticide, so please invite them as well!

For theater and ticket information, please visit unplannedtickets.com.  

Together, let’s give this film a strong opening weekend and send a clear message—that we are the pro-life majority!

God bless you and have a wonderful week.

Vince Torres
President and Executive Director

 

In just a few weeks, the groundbreaking story of Abby Johnson will be in movie theaters. Unplanned is the true story of how one energetic, enthusiastic Planned Parenthood clinic director rose through the ranks before learning the truth about abortion and the forces driving the world’s largest abortion business.

The movie reveals how Johnson believed her job at a Planned Parenthood clinic was one of help and benefit to women in crisis situations. Recognized at one time as a Planned Parenthood “Employee of the Year,” her perception of abortion changed in an instant upon assisting in an ultrasound abortion procedure one day.

After seeing a baby in the womb fight for its life, she realized the truth and vowed to stop abortion.

From that point on she endured lawsuits, threats and ridicule from Planned Parenthood and other abortion activists because they knew that she was going to expose the truth about abortion and the business model they use to push it day in and day out. (A truth that you already know and a truth that Family Policy Alliance® and its allies work to share regularly both nationally and in state capitols.)

Thankfully, and through God’s grace, Johnson persevered and has now told her heartbreaking and courageous story across the nation. Having someone like Abby relate her personal experience has given momentum to legislation in state capitols across the nation that bans abortions at the point by which preborn babies can feel pain. Her work has also strengthened efforts to defund Planned Parenthood.

Regrettably, Congress has failed to decisively defund Planned Parenthood, which receives over $500 million in federal tax dollars every year. Despite the often-cited claim that abortion is only a fraction of the services they provide, Planned Parenthood President Leana Wen earlier this year inflamed the debate over taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood by proclaiming abortion to be a fundamental human right.

Taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood also persists despite the fact that the United States is becoming more pro-life with recent polling indicating 54% of Americans oppose taxpayer funding of abortion.

Just last month, the Trump Administration finalized the Protect Life Rule, which prohibits distribution of Title X family planning funds to any entity with a facility that provides abortion or refers patients to other sources for abortion services. Representing a step in the right direction, the President and his administration are standing up to the abortion giant (really any abortion provider seeking taxpayer funding).

The Protect Life Rule would stop nearly $60 million of taxpayer funds from flowing to Planned Parenthood. Unfortunately, led by the state of California, 21 states have filed a lawsuit to challenge the Protect Life Rule seeking to continue the flow of taxpayer money to Planned Parenthood.

We know the battle to end abortion is fraught with victories large and small, legal successes and setbacks and the constant ebb and flow of state and national politics. But through it all we also know the truth about abortion and why it is important to fight.

We are thankful for the faith and courage of people like Abby Johnson who share their experiences in ways that strengthen the pro-life movement. We are also thankful for leaders like President Trump and Vice President Pence who have advanced unapologetically pro-life stances.

Unplanned promises to be a seminal story of truth, grace, mercy and redemption. We pray it also serves as a productive and convincing vehicle to advance the pro-life cause. Find out when Unplanned is showing near you and go see it!

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

For Life,

Robert Noland,
Communications Manager