Life Advocacy Briefing

Huge News

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED – on the day before the March for Life in Washington – “a pro-life policy change,” writes Joshua Arnold for The Washington Stand – “that advocates have pursued for more than two decades: … ‘National Institutes of Health funds will not be permitted for research using human fetal tissue from elective abortions.’”

Said Dr. David Prentice, long a pro-life hero and currently the president of Science Alliance for Life & Technology, quoted by Mr. Arnold: “‘This is a win not just for human dignity but also for science – and the ethical science that respects every human life.’”

It is also a huge victory for persecuted investigative journalist David Daleiden, who in 2015, Mr. Arnold reminds us, “published undercover videos showing Planned Parenthood employees deliberately carrying out an abortion in a way to maximize the saleable value of the baby’s body parts.”

The report quotes Dr. Prentice giving Mr. Daleiden full credit for exposing the federally funded experiments and the Planned Parenthood connection: “‘David Daleiden’s undercover videos exposing the trafficking in baby body parts opened the eyes of the nation to this horrific research endeavor and helped pave the way to the current decision,’ [Dr.] Prentice assessed.”

The NIH action does not foreclose all research with human fetal tissue, notes Mr. Arnold. “It prohibited funding for research using tissue obtained through elective abortion, while conceding, ‘NIH funds are permitted for use of research involving human fetal tissue obtained from miscarriage or stillbirth.’” This could be troubling, as potential successful experiments could lead to greater demand for fetal tissue in the future, but Dr. Prentice, notes Mr. Arnold, predicted, “‘Newer, more modern alternatives will likely supplant those [ethically derived] tissue sources as well.

“‘Modern science,’” he said, quoted by The Washington Stand, “‘has developed numerous successful and ethical alternatives to the use of aborted human fetal tissue. … Therapies from adult stem cells, production of “mouse models” using umbilical cord blood and development models using organoids that faithfully replicate human organ development all provide ethical and more effective alternatives to aborted baby body parts.

“‘After decades of fighting against the unethical research with fetal tissue,’” said Dr. Prentice, quoted by Mr. Arnold, “‘it’s good to see that grisly chapter of human experiments closed.’”

And cutting off the firehose of federal funding will go a long way toward turning our so-called scientists to a more ethical path. Hallelujah!

Freedom for Pharmacists – Restored

THE OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS in the Dept. of Health & Human Services (HHS) “is rescinding,” reports Calvin Freiburger for LifeSiteNews, “a Biden-era guidance that attempted to force pharmacists to dispense abortion pills.” The rescission is effective as of Jan. 27, the day it was issued.

Pres. Biden’s HHS issued guidelines in 2022, notes Mr. Freiburger, “directing pharmacists that receive federal funding to fill prescriptions for all legally prescribed drugs, even if they could be used to cause an abortion, on the grounds that refusal could constitute ‘discrimination’ under the Regime’s  then-controlling interpretation of federal civil rights laws.” And now the threat is gone.

House Votes Pro-Life for College Students

JUST IN TIME TO ANNOUNCE ITS PASSAGE to the multitude of pro-life demonstrators at the annual March for Life – and in rebuke to the tragic Roe v. Wade abomination – the US House on Jan. 22 voted 217-211 to advance to the Senate a bill authored by Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) titled Pregnant Students’ Rights Act. Her proposal was filed Dec. 2, 2025, and co-sponsored by Representatives Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Mike Bost (R-IL) and John McGuire (R-VA). The bill is a priority for Students for Life of America. We publish the final passage roll call near the close of this Life Advocacy Briefing and expect to publish a procedural motion roll call on the bill next week, along with the voting record in the Senate on the failed motion to end debate on the companion bill, S-3627.

S-3627 was filed on Jan. 13, 2026, by Sen. Ashley Moody (R-FL) with 22 co-sponsors: GOP Senators Rick Scott (FL), Jim Banks (IN), Chuck Grassley (IA), Roger Marshall (KS), Bill Cassidy (LA), Cindy Hyde-Smith & Roger Wicker (MS), Steve Daines (MT), Ted Budd (NC), John Husted (OH), Markwayne Mullin (OK), David McCormick (PA), Lindsey Graham & Tim Scott (SC), Marsha Blackburn (TN), John Cornyn & Ted Cruz (TX), Mike Lee (UT), James Justice (WV) and Cynthia Lummis (WY). And Senate Majority Leader John Thune (SD).

Quoting the Congressional Record summary, HR-6359 (and its Senate companion) “requires each institution of higher education that participates in federal student aid programs to provide certain information to prospective and enrolled students on the rights and resources for pregnant students to carry a baby to term or students who may become pregnant while enrolled at the [institution] to carry a baby to term.” It requires information to be furnished concerning “community and on-campus resources that exist to help a pregnant student in carrying the baby to term and caring for the baby after birth, … the accommodations available to help a pregnant student carry the baby to term and parent the baby after birth and … how to file a discrimination complaint related to the student’s determination to carry a baby to term.”

House Votes to Back Pregnancy Centers

THE U.S. HOUSE ALSO CELEBRATED March for Life week in Washington by passing HR-6945, the Supporting Pregnant & Parenting Women & Families Act, filed Jan. 6, 2026, by Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-MN) along with 15 co-sponsors. The measure was sent to the Senate on a vote of 215 to 209. Co-sponsoring HR-6945 are Representatives Barry Moore (AL), Kat Cammack & Greg Steube (FL), Russ Fulcher (ID), Jefferson Shreve & Rudy Yakim (IN), Andy Harris (MD), Tom Barrett (MI), Michael Guest (MS), Chris Smith (NJ), Claudia Tenney (NY), Sheri Biggs (SC), Michael Cloud (TX), Blake Moore (UT) and John McGuire (VA). We expect to publish the voting record in a future edition.

The bill, quoting the legislation’s summary notes as quoted by Dan Hart, reporting for The Washington Stand, “‘provides statutory authority for states to use Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds for pregnancy centers that (1) support protecting the life of the mother and the unborn child; and (2) offer resources and services to mothers, fathers and families, including relationship counseling, prenatal and pregnancy education, pregnancy testing, diapers, baby clothes and material supports.’”

Keep Your Poison Out of Our State!

LEGISLATION HAS BEEN FILED IN FLORIDA, reports S.A. McCarthy for The Washington Stand, “to block out-of-state abortionists from violating Florida’s pro-life laws.” The bill is titled the “Anti-Chemical Abortion Pill Trafficking Act,” and has been introduced in both houses of the legislature. Florida’s law forbids the abortion of babies who have achieved six weeks of gestation.

The proposal “empowers Florida women to file civil actions against abortionists, even those out of state, who commit abortions in violation of Florida state law,” writes Mr. McCarthy, “including by prescribing or shipping the abortion drug mifepristone from out of state. The bill would also allow the family members – including the spouse, the parents or the sibling(s) of the woman upon whom the abortion was committed or the father of the unborn child – to file civil actions against the abortionists, even if the woman consented to the abortion.” And the abortion does not need to have been completed in order for the suit to be brought against an agent who attempts or abets it.

“In December, similar legislation took effect in Texas,” Mr. McCarthy notes. “HB-7 allows Texas citizens to file lawsuits against manufacturers or distributors of abortion drugs in other states who then ship those drugs into Texas. While ‘shield laws’ in blue states have essentially blocked red states from enforcing their pro-life laws against citizens of other states, the new Texas and Florida legislation seek to circumvent those ‘shield laws’ by empowering citizens to defend pro-life laws, rather than pitting the states against one another.

“Ohio also unveiled legislation to defend against the abortion drug in November,” writes Mr. McCarthy. “HB-324 would bar the mail-ordering of any prescription drug found to cause ‘serious adverse effects’ in 5% or more of those who use the drug. State Democrats alleged that the legislation is intended to target mifepristone.

“Last year, Louisiana filed a lawsuit,” Mr. McCarthy notes, “against the US Food & Drug Administration, asking the agency to reinstate a previously removed rule requiring that abortion drugs be prescribed, dispensed and consumed in-person. If successful, Louisiana’s lawsuit would effectively block blue-state abortionists from mailing abortion drugs into states with pro-life laws on the books.”

Getting back to Florida, Mr. McCarthy notes that “Students for Life Action was involved in the drafting of the Florida legislation. … According to a SFL survey released last week,” he writes, “half (50%) of young voters (aged 18 to 45) favor placing restrictions on the prescription and mailing of abortion drugs, while only 27% opposed limiting the abortion drug. Additionally,” he continues, “two-thirds (66%) of young voters supported pro-life laws limiting abortion, and a majority (53%) expressed support for state laws barring abortion in most cases but allowing exceptions for instances of rape or incest or when the life of the mother is at risk,” showing that education is still needed concerning the humanity of an unborn child – regardless of the circumstances of conception.

Texas Fighting Back

THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS FILED SUIT against a Delaware nurse practitioner, reports Jonathon VanMaren for LifeSiteNews, “accusing her of mailing dangerous abortion pills in defiance of the state’s pro-life laws.”

The nurse “runs an ironically named group,” writes Mr. VanMaren, “called ‘Her Safe Harbor,’ which ships abortion pills by mail into states with pro-life laws.”

Using the US mail to ship abortifacients and other killing chemicals violates the federal Logan Act, but the Trump Administration has maintained a refusal to use that law to aid states in enforcing theirs.

“Since the overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022,” notes Mr. VanMaren, “a vast network of well-funded abortion organizations has sprung up, committed to sending abortion pills into pro-life states in contravention of abortion bans.”

Ballot Proposition Fights Brewing

WHEN WE GET TO NOVEMBER, voters in at least five states will likely be voting on state constitutional amendment proposals involving “abortion rights.”

In Idaho, petitions are circulating for a constitutional amendment initiative called the “Idaho Reproductive Freedom & Privacy Act Initiative.” Deadline for submitting signatures is May 1; advocates claim to have collected more than 63,000 signatures of the 70,725 needed.

Voters in Missouri will be asked to reverse their 2024 error when they narrowly backed an abortion amendment. Voters in Nevada will be voting again on an amendment they endorsed last year; such proposals must be approved in two consecutive referenda. 

A signature drive is underway in Oregon, with a July 2 deadline, for a pro-abortion amendment fashioned as an anti-discrimination measure.

And the legislature in Virginia has posted a ballot initiative for “reproductive freedom.”

March for Life Address

WE BEGIN OUR SERIES of Life Advocacy-generated transcripts of key speeches at the Jan. 23, 2026, March for Life in Washington, DC. (We note with delight that a March for Life took to the streets of SanFrancisco on Jan. 24, drawing, reports Robert Jenkins for LifeSiteNews, “tens of thousands of participants of all ages and races.”) The first dignitary to speak to the massive crowd in Washington, DC, was President Donald Trump, who spoke by video from the Oval Office. Here are his words:

             Hello to everyone at the March for Life. For 53 years, students, families, patriots and believers have come to Washington from every corner of the country to defend the infinite worth and God-given dignity of every human life. In 2026, as we celebrate 250 years since our founding fathers recognized the right to Life in our Declaration of Independence, I want to thank every single one of you who is out on this winter day – a beautiful day, but it’s winter nevertheless – to stand up for the unborn.

             Six years ago, I was proud to be the first President in history to attend this March in person. Since then, we have made unprecedented strides to protect innocent life and support the institution of the family like never before. There’s never been anything like it. In my first term, I was honored to appoint judges and justices who believed in interpreting the Constitution as written. That was a big deal, and because of that, the pro-life movement won the greatest victory in its history.

             Now the work to rebuild a culture that supports life continues in every state, every community, in every part of our beautiful land. This is a battle that must be fought, must be won, not only in the corridors of power but above all in the hearts and souls of the people. That is why under the Trump Administration we’re strongly defending religious liberty. We’re bringing back faith in America. We’re bringing back God.

             We’ve stopped forced taxpayer funding of abortion at home and abroad. We’re championing faith-based adoption and foster care and supporting our parents by investing $1,000 into an account that will grow over time for every newborn baby.

             With your help and support, we will continue to fight, at the eternal truth that every child is a gift from God. Thank you, and God bless America.

House Voting Record

Final Passage – HR-6359 – Pregnant Students’ Rights Act – Passed 217-211 – Jan. 22, 2026 (Democrats in italics; new Members in ALL CAPS)

Voting “yes” / pro-Life: Aderholt, Moore, Palmer, Rogers, Strong/AL; Begich/AK; Biggs, Ciscomani, Crane, Gosar, Hamadeh, Schweikert/AZ; Crawford, Hill, Westerman, Womack/AR; Calvert, Fong, Issa, Kiley, Kim, Obernolte, Valadao/CA; Boebert, Crank, Evans, Hurd/CO; Bean, Bilirakis, Buchanan, Cammack, Diaz-Balart, Donalds, Dunn, Fine, Franklin, Gimenez, Haridopolos, Lee, Luna, Mast, Mills, PATRONIS, Rutherford, Salazar, Steube, Webster/FL; Allen, Carter, Clyde, Collins, Jack, Loudermilk, McCormick, Scott/GA; Fulcher, Simpson/ID; Bost, LaHood, Miller/IL; Baird, Houchin, Messmer, Shreve, Spartz, Stutzman, Yakym/IN; Feenstra, Hinson, Miller-Meeks, Nunn/IA; Estes, Mann, Schmidt/KA; Barr, Comer, Guthrie, Massie, Rogers/KY; Higgins, Letlow, Scalise/LA; Harris/MD; Barrett, Bergman, Huizenga, James, McClain, Moolenaar, Walberg/MI; Emmer, Finstad, Fischbach, Stauber/MN; Ezell, Guest, Kelly/MS; Alford, Burlison, Graves, Onder, Smith, Wagner/MO; Downing, Zinke/MT; Bacon, Flood, Smith/NE; Amodei/NV; Kean, Smith, VanDrew/NJ; Garbarino, LaLota, Langworthy, Lawler, Malliotakis, Stefanik, Tenney/NY; Edwards, Foxx, Harrigan, Harris, Hudson, Knott, McDowell, Moore, Murphy, Rouzer/NC; Fedorchak/ND; Balderson, Carey, Davidson, Jordan, Joyce, Latta, Miller, Rulli, Taylor, Turner/OH; Bice, Brecheen, Cole, Hern, Lucas/OK; Bentz/OR; Bresnahan, Fitzpatrick, Joyce, Kelly, MacKenzie, Meuser, Perry, Reschenthaler, Smucker, Thompson/PA; Biggs, Fry, Mace, Norman, Timmons, Wilson/SC;  Johnson/SD; Burchett, DesJarlais, Fleischmann, Harshbarger, Kustoff, Ogles, Rose, VanEpps/TN; Arrington, Babin, Carter, Cloud, Crenshaw, Cuellar, DeLaCruz, Ellzey, Fallon, Gill, Goldman, Gonzales, Gooden, Jackson, Luttrell, McCaul, Moran, Nehls, Pfluger, Roy, Self, Sessions, VanDuyne, Weber, Williams/TX; Kennedy, Maloy, Moore, Owens/UT; Cline, Griffith, Kiggans, McGuire, Wittman/VA; Baumgartner, Newhouse/WA; Miller, Moore/WV; Fitzgerald, Grothman, Steil, Tiffany, VanOrden, Wied/WI; Hageman/WY. And House Speaker Mike Johnson/LA.

Voting “no” / anti-Life: Figures, Sewell/AL; Ansari, Grijalva, Stanton/AZ; Aguilar, Barragan, Bera, Brownley, Carbajal, Chu, Cisneros, Correa, Costa, DeSaulnier, Friedman, Garamendi, Garcia, Gomez, Gray, Harder, Huffman, Jacobs, Kamlager-Dove, Khanna, Levin, Liccardo, Lieu, Lofgren, Matsui, Min, Mullin, Panetta, Pelosi, Peters, Rivas, Ruiz, Sanchez, Sherman, Simon, Swalwell, Takano, Thompson, Torres, Tran, Vargas, Waters, Whitesides/CA; Crow, DeGette, Neguse, Pettersen/CO; Courtney, DeLauro, Hayes, Himes, Larson/CT; McBride/DE; Castor, Cherfilus-McCormick, Frankel, Frost, Moskowitz, Soto, Wasserman-Schultz, Wilson/FL; Bishop, Johnson, McBath, Scott, Williams/GA; Case, Tokuda/HI; Budzinski, Casten, Davis, Foster, Garcia, Jackson, Kelly, Krishnamoorthi, Quigley, Ramirez, Schakowsky, Schneider, Sorensen, Underwood/IL; Carson, Mrvan/IN; Davids/KS; McGarvey/KY; Carter, Fields/LA; Golden, Pingree/ME; Elfreth, Hoyer, Ivey, McClain-Delaney, Mfume, Olszewski, Raskin/MD; Auchincloss, Clark, Keating, Lynch, McGovern, Moulton, Neal, Pressley, Trahan/MA; Dingell, McDonald-Rivet, Scholten, Stevens, Thanedar, Tlaib/MI; Craig, McCollum, Morrison, Omar/MN; Thompson/MS; Bell, Cleaver/MO; Horsford, Lee, Titus/NV; Goodlander, Pappas/NH; Conaway, Gottheimer, McIver, Menendez, Norcross, Pallone, Pou, Watson-Coleman/NJ; Leger-Fernandez, Stansbury, Vasquez/NM; Clarke, Espaillat, Gillen, Goldman, Jeffries, Kennedy, Latimer, Mannion, Meeks, Meng, Morelle, Nadler, Ocasio-Cortez, Riley, Ryan, Suozzi, Tonko, Torres, Velazquez/NY; Adams, Davis, Foushee, Ross/NC; Beatty, Brown, Landsman, Sykes/OH; Bonamici, Bynum, Dexter, Hoyle, Salinas/OR; Boyle, Dean, Deluzio, Evans, Hoolehan, Lee, Scanlon/PA; Amo, Magaziner/RI; Clyburn/SC; Cohen/TN; Casar, Castro, Crockett, Doggett, Escobar, Fletcher, Garcia, Gonzalez, Green, Johnson, Veasey/TX; Balint/VT; Beyer, McClellan, Scott, Subramanyam, Vindman, WALKINSHAW/VA; DelBene, Jayapal, Larsen, Perez, Randall, Schrier, Smith, Strickland/WA; Moore, Pocan/WI.

Not voting: McClintock/CA, Kaptur/OH, Hunt/TX.

Wisdom from Mr. Hyde

We resume our paragraph-by-paragraph reprinting of the Sept. 19, 1996, speech by Rep. Henry J. Hyde to the House of Representatives, in which he called for the House to override Pres. Clinton’s veto of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, HR-1833, a model communication in the cause of Life.

             … We were told in committee by an attending nurse that the little arms and legs stop flailing and suddenly stiffen as the scissors is plunged in. People who say, “I feel your pain,” aren’t referring to that little infant.