St. Stephen the Martyr
Catholic Church

Visit http://leg.wa.gov/ to find your Washington State legislators and their contact information.

Register to vote or change your voter info by clicking HERE.

During session see what to expect
in Olympia next week at https://www.fpiw.org/our-issues/olympia-forecast/

/march-for-life
/respect-life

       St. Stephen's Legislative Advocacy Ministry works to provide understanding of
Catholic social teachings relative to important legislative matters, at both state
and national levels, and to promote action consistent with Church teaching. 
Our focus is on issues that most directly impact the family,
  the vital cell of society.
We meet the 2nd Monday of every month, because our religious liberty and free speech are under attack--against marriage, parental rights, the family, children, and Life itself!    Next meeting: Monday, July 13th, 7:30pm; email LegislativeAdvocacy@yahoo.com for details.

 
online during and after
10:00am live-stream daily from St. Stephen's FaceBook
Click HERE for the daily novena prayer.
Click HERE for scheduled live-stream prayer opportunities that include
Adoration for Our Nation (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) and
the Patriotic Rosary on July 4th.

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   The "family is a kind of school of deeper humanity...  the right of parents to ...                                  educate their children in the bosom of the family must be safeguarded."                                                                            --Gaudium et Spes, The Pastoral Consitution of the Church in the Modern World, no. 52

Referendum-90 petitions were submitted to the
Secretary of State June 10th.

Informed Parents of Washington
posted a video of the event on FaceBook.
 
Thank you for 266,000+ signatures!
129,811 valid signatures are required to qualify Referendum 90 for the November 2020 ballot, so Washington voters can REJECT Referendum 90 and repeal the radical "sex ed" law that was requested by the Superintendant of Public Instruction, passed by the legislature, and
signed into law by Gov. Inslee despite vocal and overwhelming objection.

   Why registered voters* signed:

The new Sex Ed law, ESSB 5395, demands all K-12 public school children be instructed
using shocking, inappropriate, and explicit Comprehensive Sex Ed curriculum.
3,000+ rallied in Olympia to oppose the bill before Governor Inslee signed it into law.
Find additional information in DOWNLOADABLE DOCUMENTS to the left.
Qualifying Referendum 90 for the November 2020 ballot
gives Washington voters opportunity to REJECT Referendum 90 and, thereby, repeal ESSB 5395.
                                                                                                       
InformedParentsofWashington.com
gives detailed objections to the new Sex Ed law.
Referendum 90 was sponsored by parentsforsafeschools.com

 * Click HERE to register or change your voter info online.

Questions?  e-mail LegislativeAdvocacy@yahoo.com

Click HERE for a list of bills active during the Washington 2020 session and their current status.

See LINKS below to become a better-informed Catholic citizen.
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COME to the July 13th Legislative Advocacy meeting, 7:30pm.
All are welcome!

Olympia HotLine 1-800-562-6000 (fast and easy!)
(No need to know your district info; operator will tell you.)

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2020 Legislation & Advocacy in Olympia, WA (status as of April 2020)

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Good News:

HB 2252, requiring abortion coverage in student health plans which cover maternity benefits, did not make it through the legislature, and will probably be back next year.

The school health clinic bills were stuck in committees (expected to be back next year). 

Governor Inslee VETOED HB 2419, which would have funded a study on why more people aren’t utilizing assisted suicide. The governor stated that the sole reason for the veto was the financial crisis brought on by the coronavirus.
 
Bad News:  The bills below were enacted by the legislature and signed into law.

HB 1608 (pertaining to medical institutions) promotes abortion and euthanasia and violates the consceince and religious rights of medical institutions.

HB 2554 (pertaining to insurance plans) promotes abortion and euthanasia and violates the conscience and religious rights of medical institutions.
 
SB 5395, the widely opposed Comprehensive Sexual Health Education bill passed the legislature and was signed into law by Governor Inslee.  However, Referendum 90 was immediately filed, and signatures are now being collected to repeal this law.  Please see info about ESSB 5395  and action you can take to help qualify Referendum 90 that will give voters opportunity to REJECT this law that supersedes the rights of parents and local school boards to determine what is taught in public schools regarding sex "education."  This law allows the Office of Public Instruction of the state of WA to mandate what is taught to children.  It mandates "comprehensive and inclusive" sexualization of children using "social-emotional learning" evaluations that begin in Kindergarten.
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Senate Bill 5602 (House Bill 1612) 'Eliminating Barriers to Reproductive Health Care for All' passed into law in 2019, expanding abortion -- this time, with NO LIMITS.  This is the result of Gov Inslee's Jan 2019 Report to expand abortion and contraception. This legislation was approved through the Senate on March 7th.  The House Healthcare & Wellness committee voted to approve this bill on April 2nd.  The full House in Olympia passed this legislation (see the roll call vote at this web link https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5602&Year=2019&Initiative=false ); however, on Good Friday a House Floor amendment was rejected, requiring a second vote for approval.  The House approved the legislation a second time April 26th.   Unless Gov Inslee vetoes the bill, every taxpayer in the state of Washington will pay for 'free abortions, contraceptives, and sex changes for 'anyone residing in this state', regardless of their citizenship.  This opens up the state of Washington to anyone in the world who wants to come here for more 'free' stuff.

SB 5339 for repeal of the death penalty was not voted out of committee.

The following "pro-life" bills, unfortunately, not likely to even get a committee hearing because of the make-up of the legislative bodies in Olympia.  But our friends keep trying!

SB 5185 'Parental Notification'  - this bill would require a 48 hour advance notification to the parents before a minor has a abortion.  As parent's hold the primary responsibility and obligation for the well-being of their children, they have a basic and fundamental right to know in advance if their minor daughter is considering something as serious and irreversible as an abortion.  This bill was before the senate Law & Justice committee; but never got a hearing.

HB 1526, also known as the 'Washington Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act', bans abortions of unborn children old enough to experience pain. The bill states that "there is substantial medical evidence that an unborn child is capable of experiencing pain by twenty weeks after fertilization." The bill was assigned to the House Health Care & Wellness Committee, but never got a hearing.

HB 1560 that prohibits certain types of abortions, specifically dilation and extraction abortions after the 10^th week of pregnancy. The bill was assigned to the House Health Care & Wellness Committee, but never got a hearing.

SB 5721 that establishes regulation of abortion facilities and a licensing process for such facilities to meet. It also authorizes the state Department of Health to conduct surveys of abortion facilities. The bill imposes certain requirements on physicians who perform abortions.  The bill was before the Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee, but also never got a hearing.
 

Advocacy in Washington, DC
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Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act
The U.S. Senate recently failed to adopt by unanimous consent the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act-legislation that would ensure that a child born alive following an abortion would receive the same degree of care to preserve her life and health as would be given to any other child born alive at the same gestational age. The next day, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, chair of the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities, sent a letter to the U.S. Senate urging it to bring the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act to a floor vote and support the common-sense legislation that would protect infants who survived abortion attempts.

End Religious Tests for Federal Nominees
Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, chairman of the USCCB Committee for Religious Liberty, sent a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee asking senators not to impose a religious test for public office. The letter reads in part: "In recent months, multiple nominees to the federal judiciary have been interrogated about their membership in the Knights of Columbus, with the implication that participation in the largest Catholic fraternal organization in the country ... could be disqualifying. Not only are religious tests unconstitutional and unjust, they are an attack on all people of faith and those with no faith at all."  Please contact Sen. Lindsey Graham's office, chairman  of the Judiciary Committee.
 

Latest HHS Rules on Religious & Moral Exemptions and Accommodation for Coverage...under the ACA the President's Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) issued these new rules on November 7, 2018 "... that provide conscience protections to Americans who have a religious or moral objection to health insurance that covers contraceptive methods, including contraceptives that many view as abortifacient, and/or sterilization procedures" (https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2018/11/07/fact-sheet-final-rules-on-religious-and-moral-exemptions-and-accommodation-for-coverage-of-certain-preventive-services-under-affordable-care-act.html ).  Of course, these federal rules significantly contradict the new laws passed under Gov. Inslee's team in Olympia in 2018 (see SB6219 and HB1523 below).  Accordingly, the WA Gov sent a letter to HHS (attached to the left under "Downloadable Documents") expressing his issues with these rules.  So while these federal rules are certainly good news for our country, the ruling party in Olympia appear intent on continuing their attacks on our religious freedoms and conscience rights.  While the forces for life and religious freedom in the U.S. Congress have been unsuccessful, at least the President/current administration is doing everything in their power to protect the unborn as well as our constitutionally-guaranteed conscience rights to free exercise of religion!  
                                            

Title X (10) funding the President's Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) issued a new rule on August 2, 2018 that will eliminate at least $50M of our federal tax dollars from going to Planned Parenthood for abortions.  Thanks to all who submitted their comments to HHS back in July.  The state of California (soon to be joined by AG Ferguson of WA state) is suing the federal government for 'denying women their healthcare'.  So this will move soon to the courts.

Aborted Fetal tissue HHS also issued a notice on Sept 24, 2018 that they have terminated a federal government contract to procure aborted baby parts and are continuing to review alternatives to the use of human fetal tissue for research  (https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2018/09/24/statement-from-the-department-of-health-and-human-services.html ).  The USCCB sent a letter applauding the HHS for this courageous act!!

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2018 U.S. Supreme Court Decisions

NIFLA v. Becerra

National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA) case before the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the CA law that would force pro-life pregnancy centers to advertise  & promote abortion.  On June 26, 2018 our U.S. SUPREME COURT decided 5-4 to protect the religious freedom of the pregnancy centers.  The CA law is overturned.  THANKS FOR EVERYONE'S PRAYERS!!!

Masterpiece Cakeshop baker decision
U. S. Supreme Court decision on June 4^th, in a 7 to 2 majority vote, upheld the constitution's First Amendment guarantee to religious freedom.  The Court determined that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission “showed hostility toward the baker when they suggested his claims of religious freedom were made to justify discrimination” against gays, as a Christian.  “The commission’s hostility was inconsistent with the First Amendment’s guarantee that our laws be applied in a manner that is neutral toward religion”, per Justice Anthony Kennedy who wrote the majority decision.  He further wrote…”these disputes must be resolved with tolerance, without undue disrespect to sincere religious beliefs, and without subjecting gay persons to indignities when they seek goods and services in an open market."

2018 Legislation from Olympia, WA
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Results of the 2018 session:

YOUR constitutional right, per the WA state constitution, to religious freedom  (Amendment 4, Article 1, Section 11 "Religious Freedoms"  was trampled by our state legislature  http://leg.wa.gov/LawsAndAgencyRules/Pages/constitution.aspx )
Amendments introduced during floor votes to protect our constitutional guarantee to freedom of conscience were rejected by the majority.  The link under Downloadable Documents called "2018 Legislator voting tallies" shows how legislators voted in certain Districts on these bills. 

Senate Bill 6219 Abortion mandate - this new law forces ALL health plans in the state to include paid coverage for abortions and contraceptives.

House Bill 1523 Contraceptives Mandate - this new law requires all health plans in the state to provide 'free contraceptives'; the contraceptives covered include those that are abortifacients. This constitutes a direct threat to the life and dignity of the human person,    as well as violates our WA state constitutional rights. 

Senate Bill 6037 "Uniform Parentage Act" - this new law creates a contract-basis for surrogacy ("womb rental") in our state, allowing for the buying and selling of babies strictly for money and outside of the normal court systems that would protect children's rights.  Multiple attempts to amend this unthinkable legislation were rejected by the majority party. 

Senate Bills 6102 & 6105 - did not pass, but would have created a NEW CIVIL RIGHT, forcing employers to provide contraceptives and abortion-inducing drugs or face charges of discrimination.  Senate Bill 6105 would have provided FREE CONTRACEPTIVES AND ABORTIONS TO ANYONE IN THE WORLD who came to the state of Washington.  These bills also did not provide protections for religious liberty nor conscience rights.  We can reasonably expect that in the 2019 legislative session, unless the majority party control in Olympia changes in the November 2018 elections, these bills will undoubtedly resurface.

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