Life Advocacy Briefing

House Members & Senators Seek to Overturn Roe

207 MEMBERS OF THE U.S. HOUSE & SENATE HAVE SUBMITTED an amicus curiae brief supporting the State of Louisiana’s Supreme Court case seeking to protect the state’s law requiring abortionists to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals, in the interest of protecting the health and lives of abortion customers. We list the signers at the close of this Life Advocacy Briefing.

Because the abortion lobby resists virtually every limit on its enterprise, and because the brief includes a plea to the high court to admit its folly in Roe v. Wade, the amicus brief is seen as a big deal in the sphere of abortion politics. A mob of about 30 abortion backers stormed the south suburban district office of Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL) after the abortion lobby discovered his name among the signers of the brief. His signature also drew a “time to leave” taunt from Chicago’s latest radical mayor, Lori Lightfoot (D), issued on Twitter. “I support a big tent,” claimed the mayor, “but there’s no room under the flaps for anyone who is actively seeking to deny women control over our bodies.”

One of two Democrats who signed the brief, Mr. Lipinski survived a massive primary challenge from left-winger Marie Newman, one of three Democratic candidates currently challenging the eight-term Representative in Illinois’s March 17 primary. He is frequently one of the speakers at the Chicago March for Life and was expected to appear at the event on Saturday, along with Chicago Bears executive Pat McCaskey.

E.R.A. Battle Joined

A LETTER SIGNED BY PRO-LIFE & PRO-FAMILY LEADERS has been sent to Members of Congress and Virginia state lawmakers warning them against changing the rules for adoption of the so-called Equal Rights Amendment, which officially expired in 1982.

A vote on ratification is anticipated during this month in Virginia’s newly seated legislature, which was elected in 2019 and is dominated by liberal Democrats in both houses.

Additionally, joint resolutions are pending in the US House and Senate, the most imminent being HJRes-79, filed by Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) along with 224 co-sponsors; that proposal has cleared the House Judiciary Committee and could be brought to a vote at any time.

Readers are asked to contact their House Member to seek opposition to HJRes-79. (Capitol switchboard: 1-202/224-3121)

“‘The pro-life generation will actively oppose the ERA,’” declared Students for Life of America president Kristan Hawkins, one of the letter signers, quoted by LifeSiteNews.com. She named the expired Constitutional amendment proposal “‘a Trojan Horse for abortion, an attempt to create a Constitutional foothold to replace Roe,’” in anticipation of the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

In a Washington Times op-ed, quoted by LifeSiteNews, Mrs. Hawkins explains, “‘In 1972, Congress passed the ERA as a Constitutional amendment, setting a deadline of ratification by March, 1979, from three-fourths of the states (38). However, only 35 states voted in favor by that deadline, and since then, five states voted to rescind their ratification. Rather than admitting defeat, Congress extended the deadline to June, 1982. While some argue that extension wasn’t legal, it became a moot point, as the measure failed again.’”

Three of the rescinding states, Alabama, Louisiana and South Dakota, filed a lawsuit in late December seeking to require the Archivist of the United States to officially close the ratification process. South Dakota is seeking to have its rescission recognized and to have its original ratification certificate returned to the state from the National Archives.

Justice Dept. Says 1972 E.R.A. Is Dead

THE U.S. JUSTICE DEPT. RULED LAST WEDNESDAY that ERA is dead and has been “for more than four decades,” writes Stephen Dinan in the Washington Times.

“The Office of Legal Counsel, which serves as the in-house lawyers for the Executive Branch,” notes Mr. Dinan, “said the deadline Congress set in 1972 for ratification is still valid” and that under that deadline, ERA “has long since expired. Attempts to circumvent the deadline are futile, the lawyers said,” according to the Washington Times.

“‘We conclude that Congress had the Constitutional authority to impose a deadline on the ratification of the ERA,’” said the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) in the Dinan report, “‘and because that deadline has expired, the ERA Resolution is no longer pending before the states.’” Assistant Attorney General Steven A. Engel was cited as author of the opinion, which, notes Mr. Dinan, “is binding on the National Archives, which is the federal agency tasked with certifying new amendments. … But analysts said the matter will still end up in the courts, with ERA backers hoping judges see things differently.”

Virginia’s new Speaker of the House, Eileen Filler-Corn “listed the ERA as her first priority as she took the gavel,” reports Mr. Dinan. But the OLC opinion should make any such action moot.

Stats Worth Noting

THE JUST-RELEASED 2018-2019 FISCAL YEAR REPORT of Planned Parenthood shows the abortion behemoth committed 345,672 abortions in 2018, reports Alexandra DeSanctis for National Review, “an increase of more than 13,000 abortions from what the group reported for the previous fiscal year. That’s also,” notes Ms. DeSanctis, “the highest number of abortions that the group has ever performed in a single year since it began reporting its abortion data,” demonstrating that Planned Parenthood is succeeding in its domination of the otherwise dwindling abortion industry.

“According to [Centers for Disease Control] CDC statistics,” reports the National Review writer, “the US abortion rate has fallen by about 50% since 1980.” Part of that drop may be attributed to a fall-off in the number of states which report to the CDC. The abortion lobby’s own Guttmacher Institute “estimates that there were about 862,000 abortions in the US in 2017,” notes Ms. DeSanctis, though CDC data for 2016 shows just 623,000 abortions, demonstrating that CDC figures are distinctly inadequate.

Planned Parenthood dominance is obvious from either statistical reporting source, calling into sharp question the behemoth’s claim, notes Ms. DeSanctis, “that abortion is just 3% of the group’s ‘services’ – a carefully manufactured statistic that has been deemed inaccurate and misleading [even] by left-leaning outlets such as Slate and the Washington Post. … Contrast Planned Parenthood’s 345,672 abortions in 2018 with the other actual services the group’s facilities offered,” urges Ms. DeSanctis. “According to the report, the group offered 9,798 prenatal-care services and made 4,279 adoption referrals, which means that its facilities performed 35 abortions for every instance of prenatal care and 81 abortions for every adoption referral.  …

“Based on Planned Parenthood’s own reporting alone,” the NR writer notes, “its federal funding should be stripped and redirected to healthcare organizations that actually serve women, rather than a group that profits from ending an increasing number of innocent human lives while the US abortion rate continues to fall.”

New House Republican Signs Born-Alive Abortion Survivor Petition

Jan. 8, 2020, Washington Update commentary by Family Research Council president Tony Perkins

            Actress Michelle Williams thinks abortion helped advance her career. In Jeff VanDrew’s district, it could’ve ended his. Fortunately, after months of disgust over Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) agenda, the New Jersey Congressman walked away – leaving behind not just a radical party but an inhumane platform. And while the defection only became official a few days ago, the new Republican is already making his mark.

            As a Democrat, Jeff VanDrew never cast a single pro-life vote. After one year of voting with Speaker Nancy Pelosi, it only took one day to change his tune. And while most people will take a wait-and-see approach to the rest of the issues, at least on the most important question of human dignity, Americans have their answer. “New Year,” Politico reported, “new Jeff VanDrew.” The House freshman, who jumped Pelosi’s sinking ship over the recess, made it one of his first acts as a member of the minority to sign the discharge petition for the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act – inching Republicans even closer to forcing a vote.

            Tuesday on [Family Research Council podcast] “Washington Watch,” House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) told listeners how significant it is that Jeff would make this a priority. He knows a lot of people followed VanDrew and his disgust with the Democratic Party over impeachment. But it’s not just the Left’s treatment of the President that puts the new Republican at odds with his old caucus – it’s their treatment of innocent human life.

            This idea that slaughtering living, breathing newborns is just another “reproductive right” is lunacy in most people’s view. Everyday Democrats (like VanDrew) and Republicans recoil at the thought of destroying healthy, adoptable, full-term infants. So much so that Pelosi can only find 8%  of Americans in the whole country who agree with her position – that infanticide is the new abortion.

            “I talked with VanDrew over the weekend,” Scalise said, “and [told him] about what we’re doing with the discharge petition – and he agreed to sign it.” Thanks to VanDrew, Republicans are just 14 signatures away from breaking this logjam on Rep. Ann Wagner’s (R-MO) legislation. “It would be critical to get that vote on the House floor,” Scalise explained, “because I think [there] wouldn’t be 218 votes for it; I think there’d be over 300 votes for it. But Pelosi’s standing in the way, and a lot of Democrats that claim to be pro-life are hiding behind her and letting her do the dirty work.”

            The discharge petition, he insisted, is the one way Republicans can get around Pelosi and the House’s abortion zealots. “And we [are] one step closer to getting this done. Everybody should be calling their Member of Congress and asking a very simple question: Have you signed the discharge petition on Ann Wagner’s Born Alive Abortion Survivors Act? If the answer is yes, we appreciate what they’ve done. If the answer is no, then they can’t claim to be pro-life and not sign [something that would] get this bill on the floor, [allow us to have] a true debate, and ultimately a vote on whether or not we should protect innocent lives.” [1-202/224-3121]

            Steve’s right. As the minority whip, he’s counted the votes. And if this gets to the floor, so many Democrats in districts that are conservative-leaning or pro-life would be forced to support it. Because here’s the reality: this isn’t about abortion. This is about infanticide. We’re talking about babies who are born alive and then denied medical care – or as the President has said, been executed. This is the thin line between civility and incivility.

            “It’s that severe …,” Scalise agreed, “because if you ask people – [even] most people who are pro-choice … [they] think it’s wrong. [This] is a baby that’s born alive outside the womb. That’s not abortion – it’s murder. Most people recognize that it’s murder. But the law in a number of states allow for that baby to be killed and called abortion. So that’s why the Born-Alive Act is so important, [because it gives] federal protection across the board, no matter what state you’re in – whether your state already has a law protecting that life outside the womb. Or whether you’re in New York or other states that are trying to move [radical] legislation.”

            To the people who wonder if this bill is necessary, take a long hard look at the Abortion Survivors Network. This isn’t just a hypothetical to people like Melissa Ohden, who “was a victim of an attempted saline abortion in which she was burned alive for five days, born and later saved by the grace of a nurse who ‘couldn’t just leave me there to die’ and rushed her to a neonatal intensive care unit in a hospital for treatment.” Imagine how many thousands of other nameless babies go unreported, victims of this myth that infanticide isn’t a real issue – or worse, a personal “choice” for moms and doctors to decide. That must stop and you can help.

            Join [FRC] in sending 90,000 newborn baby hats to Nancy Pelosi’s office before the March for Life [Jan. 24]. Together, through the End Birth Day Abortion campaign, we can remind her of the cost of the Democrats’ extremism. [Visit https://www.endbirthdayabortion.com on the Internet.]

Heartwarming Nugget

Jan. 6, 2020, World magazine report by Mary Jackson

            A rural Texas town swore in its new mayor last month with great gusto. The catch: Mayor Charlie McMillan is only eight months old.

            Chad and Nancy Jean McMillan of Whitehall, Texas, learned Charlie’s mother was considering an abortion and formed a relationship with her, leading them to adopt him.

            “Charlie wants to tell the world how great it is to be alive,” Chad said.

            The McMillans, who serve on the development board of Houston Pregnancy Help Centers, secured the honorary mayor title through an annual fundraiser for firefighters in Whitehall, an unincorporated community. Last year, Nancy Jean was outbid, but this year, the McMillans entered Charlie, with the hope of bringing attention to unborn babies, mothers with crisis pregnancies and adoption.

            “He ran on a platform of ‘Make America Kind Again,’” Chad said. “He’s a face that almost didn’t exist.”

            Mayor Charlie is gaining a following. More than 145 people attended his swearing-in ceremony on Dec. 15 at a local high school, where the dance and drill teams performed and hot dogs and apple pie were served. He has a website and plans to visit the White House this month.

Signers of Amicus Brief in Louisiana Appeal to Supreme Court

G.O.P. U.S. Senators John Boozman & Tom Cotton/AR, Marco Rubio/FL, Mike Crapo & James Risch/ID, Mike Braun & Todd Young/IN, Joni Ernst & Chuck Grassley/IA, Jerry Moran & Pat Roberts/KS, Rand Paul/KY, Bill Cassidy & John Kennedy/LA, Cindy Hyde-Smith & Roger Wicker/MS, Roy Blunt/MO, Steve Daines/MT, Deb Fischer & Ben Sasse/NE, Richard Burr & Thom Tillis/NC, Kevin Cramer & John Hoeven/ND, Rob Portman/OH, James Inhofe & James Lankford/OK, Pat Toomey/PA, Tim Scott/SC, Mike Rounds & John Thune/SD, Marsha Blackburn/TN, John Cornyn & Ted Cruz/TX, Mike Lee & Mitt Romney/UT, Ron Johnson/WI and Mike Enzi/WY. No Democrats.

G.O.P. U.S. Representatives Robert Aderholt, Mo Brooks, Bradley Byrne, Gary Palmer, Martha Roby, Mike Rogers/AL; Andy Biggs, Paul Gosar, Debbie Lesko, David Schweikert/AZ; Rick Crawford, French Hill, Bruce Westerman, Steve Womack/AR; Paul Cook, Doug LaMalfa, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Tom McClintock/CA; Ken Buck, Doug Lamborn, Scott Tipton/CO; Mario Diaz-Balart, Neal Dunn, Matt Gaetz, Brian Mast, Francis Rooney, John Rutherford, Ross Spano, Greg Steube, Michael Waltz, Daniel Webster, Ted Yoho/FL; Rick Allen, Earl Carter, Doug Collins, Drew Ferguson, Tom Graves, Jody Hice, Barry Loudermilk, Austin Scott/GA; Russ Fulcher & Mike Simpson/ID; Mike Bost, Rodney Davis, Adam Kinzinger, Darin LaHood, John Shimkus/IL; Jim Baird, Jim Banks, Larry Bucshon, Greg Pence, Jackie Walorski/IN; Steve King/IA; Ron Estes, Roger Marshall, Steve Watkins/KS; Andy Barr, James Comer, Brett Guthrie, Hal Rogers/KY; Ralph Abraham, Garret Graves, Clay Higgins, Michael Johnson, Steve Scalise/LA; Andy Harris/MD;

Also GOP Representatives Jack Bergman, Bill Huizenga, Paul Mitchell, John Moolenaar, Tim Walberg/MI; Tom Emmer, Jim Hagedorn, Pete Stauber/MN; Michael Guest, Trent Kelly, Steve Palazzo/MS; Sam Graves, Vicky Hartzler, Billy Long, Blaine Luetkemeyer, Jason Smith, Ann Wagner/; Greg Gianforte/MT; Don Bacon, Jeff Fortenberry, Adrian Smith/NE; Christopher Smith/NJ; Peter King, Lee Zeldin/NY; Dan Bishop, Ted Budd, Virginia Foxx, George Holding, Richard Hudson, Patrick McHenry, Mark Meadows, Gregory Murphy, David Rouzer, Mark Walker/NC; Kelly Armstrong/ND; Troy Balderson, Steve Chabot, Warren Davidson, Bob Gibbs, Anthony Gonzalez, Bill Johnson, Jim Jordan, Bob Latta, Michael Turner, Brad Wenstrup/OH; Tom Cole, Kevin Hern, Markwayne Mullin/OK; John Joyce, Fred Keller, Mike Kelly, Dan Meuser, Scott Perry, Guy Reschenthaler, Lloyd Smucker, Glenn Thompson/PA; Jeff Duncan, Ralph Norman, Tom Rice, William Timmons, Joe Wilson/SC; Dusty Johnson/SD; Tim Burchett, Chuck Fleischmann, Mark Green, Phil Roe, John Rose/TN; Jodey Arrington, Brian Babin, Kevin Brady, Michael Burgess, Michael Cloud, Michael Conaway, Dan Crenshaw, Bill Flores, Louie Gohmert, Lance Gooden, Kay Granger, Pete Olson, John Ratcliffe, Chip Roy, Dan Taylor, Randy Weber, Roger Williams, Ron Wright/TX; Rob Bishop, John Curtis, Chris Stewart/UT; Ben Cline, Denver Riggleman, Rob Wittman/VA; Dan Newhouse & Cathy McMorris-Rodgers/WA; David McKinley, Carol Miller, Alex Mooney/WV; Glenn Grothman, Jim Sensenbrenner, Bryan Steil/WI; Liz Cheney/WY.

Democratic Representatives Daniel Lipinski/IL & Collin Peterson/MN.