Life Advocacy Briefing

Closing the Year

WE HOPE OUR READERS WILL APPRECIATE our taking off the next week in observance of the celebration of the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ to the earth. (We expect you are not looking for news and views during the holiday week anyway!) This, then is our final publication for 2025, and we are grateful to those Life Advocacy donors who have enabled us to persist; we will begin our 33^rd year of weekly publication with our Jan. 5, 2026, edition. Have a blessed Christmas!

Question of the Week

IF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS SO DETERMINED to boost the number of American babies to be conceived that our government is now instituting a $1,000 baby bonus, why does the same Administration tolerate continued FDA marketing approval for the abortion poison mifepristone?

Welcome Initiative

SEN. JOSH HAWLEY (R-MO) IS TAKING THE FIGHT FOR LIFE upon himself, establishing a new political action committee, reports S.A. McCarthy for The Washington Stand, “to promote pro-life measures across the US.” The new PAC is called Love Life Initiative and has posted a website at https://lovelifeinitiative.org.

We at Life Advocacy Resource Project welcome the new entrant into the fight for Life, and we are disappointed – though not altogether surprised – to learn that the Trump Administration is unhappy about the development. (Readers who do find that surprising should check out the stripped down 2024 GOP national platform and recall the post-Dobbs constant reference to Life as a “states issue.”)

Sen. Hawley is leading this initiative along with his wife Erin, a talented attorney affiliated with the pro-life Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF). Sen. Hawley declared in an Axios interview, quoted by Mr. McCarthy, that their endeavor “is intended ‘to be a voice, strong voice, advocating for Life, and not just in the narrow political sense … but advocating culturally.’”

Axios quoted an unnamed Trump “advisor,” saying, “‘Picking a fight on an issue like abortion in a midterm is the height of asinine stupidity.’”

We firmly disagree. There cannot be too many advocates for the right to Life, America’s first freedom. To avoid the issues generated by the growth of a massive anti-woman, anti-baby, anti-Life cartel as if all opinions on these issues were equally valid is to leave the public largely uninformed and the cavalry of pro-life political aspirants naked and afraid.

The Hawleys appear undaunted by GOP resistance to their much-needed initiative. Indeed, the couple have, notes Mr. McCarthy, “released polling data collected by the OnMessage firm, which is also advising the GOP’s House campaigns, showing a substantial share of Americans support pro-life measures and alternatives to abortion. According to the Daily Signal, OnMessage’s survey found that 84% of Americans agree that ‘many pregnant mothers face difficult economic circumstances but as a society we should focus on providing them with better options than abortion,’ 80% agreed that ‘there needs to be at least some point during pregnancy when we can all agree that a baby cannot be aborted unless the life of the other is at risk’ and 77% agreed that ‘as a society, we should be working towards having as few abortions as possible.’”

A pro-life stand does not have to be a politically risky proposition. Strategic communication, especially if advanced early in a campaign, can bring uncommitted voters firmly into the pro-Life camp when there are differences between candidates for office. We have been committed to this principle – having seen it in real life again and again – since our founding in 1992 in response to the very mistake the Trump team seem to have been leading our candidates into.

Bravo, Sen. and Mrs. Hawley. God bless your urgent initiative.

Senate Confirms Two More Pro-Life Judges

THE U.S. SENATE HAS CONFIRMED two more federal district court judges whose pro-life records were found offensive to the leftish Alliance for Justice in its lobbying of Senators. We publish the voting records on Judges Robert Chamberlin and William Crain at the close of this Life Advocacy Briefing.

We expect to publish our annual Congressional Voting Record Index in an early 2026 edition; since the House has taken no Life-related votes during 2025, the Index will be limited to Senate records. We appreciate the Senators who have resisted the lobbying of the abortion cartel in their efforts to block confirmation of judges whose records as attorneys have documented a concern for the right to Life.

Abetted Suicide Advances

DESPITE HAVING EXPRESSED RESERVATIONS about the abetted suicide bill put on his desk in a sudden move by the Illinois General Assembly, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) has now signed the measure into law, “mak[ing] the Land of Lincoln the 12^th state to legalize euthanasia,” notes Zachary Mettler for the Daily Citizen.

“The Illinois Senate passed the End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act in the dead of night on Halloween by the bare minimum of votes (30-27),” needing 30 votes, reports Mr. Mettler. The state’s House of Representatives had passed the measure on May 29, just before recessing for the summer, by a vote of 63 to 42, needing 60.

“The law legalizes physician-assisted suicide for adults who have a terminal disease with a prognosis of six months or less to live,” writes Mr. Mettler. “It will take effect in September, 2026.

“Eleven other states – California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Montana, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont and Washington – and the District of Columbia have legalized physician-assisted suicide,” notes Mr. Mettler, who adds, “New York Gov. Kathy Hochul [D] is considering signing a bill to legalize euthanasia in her state.”

In Delaware, disability rights organizations have filed suit against the abetted suicide law passed recently there, reports Ray Hilbrich for LifeSiteNews.

“‘Throughout the country,’” states the lawsuit, quoted by Mr. Hilbrich, “‘a state-endorsed narrative is rapidly spreading that threatens people with disabilities: namely, that people with life-threatening disabilities should be directed to suicide help and not suicide prevention. This worldview is being touted as a commonsense objective: People who have life-threatening disabilities should be able to readily obtain physician-assisted suicide. At its core, this is discrimination plain and simple.’”

Incidentally, we at Life Advocacy counsel communicators to use the term “abetted suicide” rather than “assisted suicide.” Assistance is help; abetting is the term used when describing complicity in a crime. Pro-life communicators who wish to shape a debate must be careful in word choice.

Marching for Life Yet Again

THE ANNUAL MARCH FOR LIFE in our nation’s capital is planned for Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. Here is the summary from the marchforlife.org website: “The right to life is a human right. Our defense of that right is a joyful witness to the beauty and dignity of every human person.

“The March for Life is an inspiring, peaceful, vibrant and joy-filled rally of women, men, young people and children from all across the country – and it’s the largest annual human rights demonstration in the world. Every January, tens of thousands of pro-lifers converge in Washington, DC, and march on Capitol Hill to remember the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling which legalized abortion in all 50 states. And while the Dobbs decision rightly returned the decision to the American people, our work to protect life continues at the state and federal levels. But the March for Life is not just a protest; it is a celebration of each and every life, from the moment of conception. We envision a world where every life is celebrated, valued, and protected.” Amen.

Standing Up for Life & for Taxpayers

A GROUP OF D.C. LAWMAKERS HAVE SENT A LETTER to Scott Kupor, director of the Office of Personnel Management, after learning that taxpayers are on the hook for insurance that includes coverage for abortions for Members of Congress and their staff. The letter was drafted by Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and co-signed by GOP Senators Jim Banks (IN), Steve Daines (MT), Pete Ricketts (NE), Kevin Cramer (ND), James Lankford (OK) and Ted Cruz (TX).

House Members who joined Rep. Smith in signing were GOP Representatives Barry Moore (AL), Russ Fulcher (ID), Mary Miller (IL), Mark Messmer & Marlin Stutzman (IN), Daniel Webster (FL), Andrew Clyde (GA), Clay Higgins (LA), Michael Guest (MS), Eric Burlison (MO), Virginia Foxx (NC), Sheri Biggs (SC), Tim Burchett (TN), Michael Cloud & Keith Self (TX) and Ben Cline (VA).

Letter to Director of Personnel Management

Dear Director Kupor:

             We urge you to stop the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) from administering government contributions for Members of Congress and Congressional staff in connection with health insurance plans that cover elective abortion, in violation of the longstanding Smith Amendment.

             Since 1984, the Smith Amendment to the Financial Services Appropriations bill has prohibited the use of appropriated funds “to pay for an abortion or the administrative expenses in connection with any health plan under the federal employees health benefits program which provides any benefits or coverage for abortions,” except in cases “where the life of the mother would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term or the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or incest.” [statutory citation given] This longstanding provision of law restricts OPM from administering government contributions in connection with any health plan for federal employees that covers elective abortion.

             However, OPM is currently subsidizing plans that cover elective abortion in clear violation of the Smith Amendment. While the Affordable Care Act (ACA) limits Members of Congress and designated Congressional staff to purchasing health plans offered through an Exchange, under a current Obama-era rule in effect since plan year 2014 [reference listed, dated 2013], OPM administers government contributions under 5 US Code Sec. 8906 for Members of Congress and Congressional staff enrolled in any Gold level health insurance plan offered through the District of Columbia’s Health Exchange Small Business Health Options Program – also known as DC Health Link – including plans that cover elective abortion.

             In its regulatory preamble [dated 2013] and on its Frequently Asked Questions webpage, OPM claims that these abortion subsidies are allowed by attributing the segregated costs of the elective abortion coverage and associated administrative expenses to the individual’s contribution rather than the taxpayers’ contribution. OPM’s use of this accounting gimmick to grant abortion subsidies to Congress is not provided for under Sec. 1303 of the ACA and is blatantly illegal under the Smith Amendment’s strict requirement for a complete exclusion of elective abortion coverage for federal employees. … Taxpayers, who contribute 72-75% of these health benefit premiums, do not want their hard-earned tax dollars to pay for abortions. The Smith Amendment does not allow Members of Congress and Congressional staff to operate under a different set of rules than other federal employees when it comes to taxpayer funding of abortion. For 2026, there are only two health plans offered through DC Health Link that do not cover abortion – CareFirst’s BluePreferred PPO Gold and United Healthcare’s Choice Plus Gold.   

             Therefore, we request swift action by OPM to ensure that any health insurance subsidies for Members of Congress or Congressional staff are in full compliance with the clear terms of the Smith Amendment. Any DC SHOP plan that covers elective abortion should not be eligible for a government contribution. …

Wisdom from the Great Communicator

EXCERPT #32 from Abortion & the Conscience of the Nation, 1983 treatise by then-President Ronald Reagan, published in Human Life Review, then as a hardcover book from Thomas Nelson Publishers

I have often said we need to join in prayer to bring protection to the unborn. Prayer and action are needed to uphold the sanctity of human life. I believe it will not be possible to accomplish our work, the work of saving lives, “without being a soul of prayer.” The famous British member of Parliament William Wilberforce prayed with his small group of influential friends, the “Clapham Sect,” for decades to see an end to slavery in the British empire. Wilberforce led that struggle in Parliament, unflaggingly, because he believed in the sanctity of human life. He saw the fulfillment of his impossible dream when Parliament outlawed slavery just before his death.

Senate Voting Records

Cloture motion on confirmation of Robert P. Chamberlin as District Judge (Northern Mississippi) – Passed – 52-44 – Dec. 8, 2025 (Democrats in italics; “Independents” marked “I”)

Voting “yes” / pro-Life: Britt & Tuberville/AL, Murkowski & Sullivan/AK, Boozman & Cotton/AR, Moody & Scott/FL, Crapo & Risch/ID, Banks/IN, Ernst & Grassley/IA, Marshall & Moran/KS, McConnell & Paul/KY, Cassidy & Kennedy/LA, Collins/ME, Hyde-Smith & Wicker/MS, Hawley & Schmitt/MO, Daines & Sheehy/MT, Fischer & Ricketts/NE, Budd & Tillis/NC, Cramer & Hoeven/ND, Husted & Moreno/OH, Lankford & Mullin/OK, McCormick/PA, Graham & Scott/SC, Rounds & Thune/SD, Blackburn & Hagerty/TN, Cornyn & Cruz/TX, Curtis & Lee/UT, Capito & Justice/WV, Johnson/WI, Barrasso & Lummis/WY.

Voting “no” / anti-Life: Gallego & Kelly/AZ, Padilla & Schiff/CA, Bennet & Hickenlooper/CO, Blumenthal & Murphy/CT, Blunt-Rochester & Coons/DE, Ossoff & Warnock/GA, Hirono & Schatz/HI, Durbin & Duckworth//IL, King(I)/ME, Alsobrooks & VanHollen/MD, Markey & Warren/MA, Peters & Slotkin/MI, Klobuchar & Smith/MN, Cortez–Masto/NV, Hassan & Shaheen/NH, Booker & Kim/NJ, Heinrich & Lujan/NM, Gillibrand & Schumer/NY, Fetterman/PA, Reed & Whitehouse/RI, Sanders(I) & Welch/VT, Kaine & Warner/VA, Cantwell & Murray/WA, Baldwin/WI.

Not voting: Young/IN, Rosen/NV, Merkley & Wyden/OR.

Confirmation of Robert P. Chamberlin as District Judge (Northern Mississippi) – Passed – 51-46 – Dec. 9, 2025 (Democrats in italics; “Independents” marked “I”)

Voting “yes” / pro-Life: Britt & Tuberville/AL, Murkowski & Sullivan/AK, Boozman & Cotton/AR, Moody & Scott/FL, Crapo & Risch/ID, Banks & Young/IN, Ernst & Grassley/IA, Marshall & Moran/KS, McConnell & Paul/KY, Cassidy & Kennedy/LA, Collins/ME, Hyde-Smith & Wicker/MS, Hawley & Schmitt/MO, Daines & Sheehy/MT, Fischer & Ricketts/NE, Budd & Tillis/NC, Cramer & Hoeven/ND, Husted & Moreno/OH, Lankford & Mullin/OK, McCormick/PA, Graham & Scott/SC, Rounds & Thune/SD, Blackburn & Hagerty/TN, Cornyn & Cruz/TX, Curtis & Lee/UT, Johnson/WI, Barrasso & Lummis/WY.

Voting “no” / anti-Life: Gallego & Kelly/AZ, Padilla & Schiff/CA, Bennet & Hickenlooper/CO, Blumenthal & Murphy/CT, Blunt-Rochester & Coons/DE, Ossoff & Warnock/GA, Hirono & Schatz/HI, Durbin/IL, King(I)/ME, Alsobrooks & VanHollen/MD, Markey & Warren/MA, Peters & Slotkin/MI, Klobuchar & Smith/MN, Cortez–Masto & Rosen/NV, Hassan & Shaheen/NH, Booker & Kim/NJ, Heinrich & Lujan/NM, Gillibrand & Schumer/NY, Merkley & Wyden/OR, Fetterman/PA, Reed & Whitehouse/RI, Sanders(I) & Welch/VT, Kaine & Warner/VA, Cantwell & Murray/WA, Baldwin/WI.

Not voting: Duckworth/IL, Capito & Justice/WV.

Cloture motion on confirmation of William J. Crain as District Judge (Eastern Louisiana) – Passed – 51-46 – Dec. 9, 2025 (Democrats in italics; “Independents” marked “I”)

Voting “yes” / pro-Life: Britt & Tuberville/AL, Murkowski & Sullivan/AK, Boozman & Cotton/AR, Moody & Scott/FL, Crapo & Risch/ID, Banks & Young/IN, Ernst & Grassley/IA, Marshall & Moran/KS, McConnell & Paul/KY, Cassidy & Kennedy/LA, Collins/ME, Hyde-Smith & Wicker/MS, Hawley & Schmitt/MO, Daines & Sheehy/MT, Fischer & Ricketts/NE, Budd & Tillis/NC, Cramer & Hoeven/ND, Husted & Moreno/OH, Lankford & Mullin/OK, McCormick/PA, Graham & Scott/SC, Rounds & Thune/SD, Blackburn & Hagerty/TN, Cornyn & Cruz/TX, Curtis & Lee/UT, Johnson/WI, Barrasso & Lummis/WY.

Voting “no” / anti-Life: Gallego & Kelly/AZ, Padilla & Schiff/CA, Bennet & Hickenlooper/CO, Blumenthal & Murphy/CT, Blunt-Rochester & Coons/DE, Ossoff & Warnock/GA, Hirono & Schatz/HI, Durbin/IL, King(I)/ME, Alsobrooks & VanHollen/MD, Markey & Warren/MA, Peters & Slotkin/MI, Klobuchar & Smith/MN, Cortez–Masto & Rosen/NV, Hassan & Shaheen/NH, Booker & Kim/NJ, Heinrich & Lujan/NM, Gillibrand & Schumer/NY, Merkley & Wyden/OR, Fetterman/PA, Reed & Whitehouse/RI, Sanders(I) & Welch/VT, Kaine & Warner/VA, Cantwell & Murray/WA, Baldwin/WI.

Not voting: Duckworth/IL, Capito & Justice/WV. 

Confirmation of William J. Crain as District Judge (Eastern Louisiana) – Passed – 49-46 – Dec. 9, 2025 (Democrats in italics; “Independents” marked “I”)

Voting “yes” / pro-Life: Britt/AL, Murkowski & Sullivan/AK, Boozman & Cotton/AR, Moody & Scott/FL, Crapo & Risch/ID, Banks & Young/IN, Ernst & Grassley/IA, Marshall & Moran/KS, McConnell & Paul/KY, Cassidy & Kennedy/LA, Collins/ME, Hyde-Smith & Wicker/MS, Hawley & Schmitt/MO, Daines & Sheehy/MT, Fischer & Ricketts/NE, Budd/NC, Cramer & Hoeven/ND, Husted & Moreno/OH, Lankford & Mullin/OK, McCormick/PA, Graham & Scott/SC, Rounds & Thune/SD, Blackburn & Hagerty/TN, Cornyn & Cruz/TX, Curtis & Lee/UT, Johnson/WI, Barrasso & Lummis/WY.

Voting “no” / anti-Life: Gallego & Kelly/AZ, Padilla & Schiff/CA, Bennet & Hickenlooper/CO, Blumenthal & Murphy/CT, Blunt-Rochester & Coons/DE, Ossoff & Warnock/GA, Hirono & Schatz/HI, Durbin/IL, King(I)/ME, Alsobrooks & VanHollen/MD, Markey & Warren/MA, Peters & Slotkin/MI, Klobuchar & Smith/MN, Cortez–Masto & Rosen/NV, Hassan & Shaheen/NH, Booker & Kim/NJ, Heinrich & Lujan/NM, Gillibrand & Schumer/NY, Merkley & Wyden/OR, Fetterman/PA, Reed & Whitehouse/RI, Sanders(I) & Welch/VT, Kaine & Warner/VA, Cantwell & Murray/WA, Baldwin/WI.

Not voting: Tuberville/AL, Duckworth/IL, Tillis/NC, Capito & Justice/WV.