In This Issue...
From Our Director...
BCTalk about a busy week!

From the vote in Congress to stop painful late abortions, to the vote in the Louisiana House yesterday to stop sex-selective abortion, it has been an eventful and successful week for the pro-life cause.

And next week, it is even more exciting!  I look forward to standing with you Monday evening in New Orleans against Planned Parenthood. It is important that we continue to send a message to our community that we need peace, not more abortion.  Planned Parenthood is an abortion business, and that needs to be known.

On Tuesday, we will be at the Old State Capitol for our annual "Bowties for Babies" fundraiser.  Even if you cannot make it, please consider making a contribution to this great event that supports our advertising outreach to women considering abortion. 

We appreciate your continued involvement to build the pro-life cause in Louisiana!

For a Pro-Life Louisiana,   
Benjamin Clapper
HB 388 Lawsuit Update
Judge Dismisses Part
of HB 388 Lawsuit

The lawsuit against HB 388 requiring abortionists to have admitting privileges at local hospitals continues. But we are pleased that federal Judge John deGravelles has recognized that that admitting privileges requirement is medically reasonable, just as the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals had already ruled.

 

Judge deGravelles has thrown out a portion of the lawsuit challenging HB388, passed by the Louisiana Legislature last spring.

 

"We are pleased that the judge's ruling recognizes that an admitting provisions requirement like Louisiana's is medically reasonable, and we look forward to the trial," Kyle Duncan, an attorney representing the state in defending HB 388, told The Associated Press. 

 

Judge deGravelles scheduled a trial for June 22-29 over the portions of the lawsuit that remain intact, including the state's requirement for doctors performing abortions to be able to admit patients to a hospital within 30 miles of their clinics.

 

Louisiana Right to Life looks forward to the arguments in federal distict court in Baton Rouge and can't wait until this law goes into effect.

Bowties for Babies

Bowties for Babies
Is Almost Here!


Bowties for Babies: A Southern Soiree Benefiting Life is quickly approaching. Have you registered yet? You don't want to miss out on this fun evening filled with laughs, good food and drink, live music by the Big Easy Jazz Band and a silent auction that's sure to get your competitive juices flowing.

 

Bowties for Babies is Tuesday, May 19, 2015, from 7-10 PM at the Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge. This fun-filled evening benefits the Advertise for Life project, a service to Louisiana's pregnancy centers, women, and children.

   

The program includes:

* Sen. Jonathan "J.P." Perry, also known as the Cajun Comedian, who will provide his own special brand of quality comic relief.  

* New adoptive parents Cary and Tyler Koch. 

* Ramona Trevino, who worked for three years as the manager of a Planned Parenthood abortion-referral facility in Sherman, Texas

* Angie Thomas, CEO of Woman's New Life Center in Metairie and Baton Rouge.

 

You can be a part of the festivities! Tickets are $125 per couple, $75 per person, and $50 per young professional (18-26). There are also several PATRON LEVELS to choose from.  

 

 
Registration Open for JLI
Teens: You Don't Want
to Miss this Summer's JLI

Registration is now open for this summer's Joshua Leadership Institute.

 

We've had some great pro-life Camp Joshua weekends this spring, training high schoolers to be student leaders, and now we're preparing for our fun, intensive and life changing leadership institute next month.

 

Joshua Leadership Institute will be held June 28-July 2 in Baton Rouge.

 

Click here to find out
more and to register!
 

Pro-Life News Trending

Pro-Life Related Stories Trending Around the U.S.

(click on blue to read more)

 

After Republicans in the Colorado state Senate approved an unborn victims bill to hold criminals accountable when they kill or injure unborn children in violent crimes against them and their mothers, Democrats in the state House killed the bill. The Offenses Against Unborn Children Act, (SB 268) was defeated in the House State Veterans and Military Affairs Committee in a party-line vote of 6-5 with Democrats opposing the bill and Republicans supporting it.

 

*** 

Less than a year after the conviction of William Melchert Dinkel, who trolled the internet looking for depressed people so he could tell them how to kill themselves, a Dakota County jury has convicted the Final Exit Network of assisting in a suicide of a woman who lived in Apple Valley, Minnesota. The verdict comes against the backdrop of two bills currently before the Minnesota Legislature to legalize assisted suicide: S.F. 1880 and H.F. 2095.

 

***  

The air was thick with pro-abortion gloom last month when the Tennessee House voted in favor of the previously passed Senate bill, 79-17, that would mandate inspections of abortion clinics. But  when pro-life Gov. Bill Haslam signed the bill into law, pro-abortionists could not contain their rage.

*** 

The percentage of babies diagnosed with Down syndrome before birth and who eventually become victims of abortions is outlandishly high. Studies show somewhere in the neighborhood of 70-90 percent of unborn babies with Down syndrome are victimized by abortions. North Dakota became the first state to ban abortions on babies diagnosed with Down syndrome, and a legal challenge against the legislation was thrown out. Now, the state of Ohio is considering a similar ban on abortions of babies with Down syndrome.

***

The Texas state Senate has approved major pro-life legislation that will help Texans avoid having their tax dollars funneled to the abortion industry. Specifically, the bill prevents paying for abortions under the Obamacare health care exchange.

  

Register for the NRL Convention!
Sharon Rodi, clockwise, second from front right, met with House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (speaking) and other House members and pro-life leaders to discuss HR 36 a day before the vote.
 s
House Approves Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act
Scalise Provided Strong Leadership 


By Sandy Cunningham, Communications Director
 

 

The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday approved legislation prohibiting abortions from being performed five months or more after conception. The House voted 242-184 in favor of H.R. 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, and Sharon Rodi, Louisiana's delegate to National Right to Life, was in Washington D.C. to witness it.

 

The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act would extend general protection from abortion to unborn children beginning at 20 weeks fetal age, with certain exceptions. The 20-week period is based on congressional findings that by that point, or even earlier, the unborn child has the capacity to experience great pain during an abortion. Similar laws have been enacted in 11 states, including Louisiana, but this bill would extend protection nationwide and could save thousands of babies each year from painful deaths.

 

"There was a good debate on the bill," said Rodi, who was sitting in the House gallery watching the debate and vote as it unfolded. "There were some interesting points brought up about why this 20-week ban is needed. There were photographs shown that carried powerful messages. It was exciting to see the pro-life side so impassioned about the issue."

 

Mia Love
Click to Watch Rep. Mia Love's Speech on House Floor

One House member who caught Rodi's attention was Utah Rep. Mia Love, who told the group she hadn't planned to speak on the House floor that day but was moved to do so after watching the debate from her office. Love told House members she was disappointed that "there's even opposition to this legislation."

 

"I ran into her outside when we left (the Capitol), and I told her I really liked what she said and appreciated all she was doing," Rodi said.

 

Rodi said she was also impressed with Rep. Trent Franks, an Arizona Republican who led the charge in pushing the 20-week abortion ban bill in the House. Franks told fellow House members, "It really is a test of our basic humanity and who we are as a human family," answering claims that dispute the fact unborn babies can feel pain at 20 weeks.

 

A day before the vote Rodi joined a group of House members and other key players in the pro-life movement in a meeting with House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.). Rodi said the meeting, which took place in the Lincoln Room at the Capitol, was held to discuss the upcoming vote and to celebrate what the group believed would be its passage.

 

"Steve (Rep. Scalise) has really worked hard on this. He is so committed to the pro-life position. I was really happy to be there to support him and to see this bill passed," said Rodi.

 

Louisiana Right to Life Executive Director Benjamin Clapper is also pleased with the leadership Scalise has shown in helping get this bill passed.

 

"Our own Congressman Scalise showed tremendous leadership and commitment to the pro-life cause as House Majority Whip in steering this legislation to House passage," Clapper said. "We applaud his efforts and encourage the citizens of the 1st District to do so as well."

 

Following the vote, Scalise said: "This week, on the second anniversary of the murder convictions of Dr. Kermit Gosnell, the House has taken action to save at least 18,000 innocent lives a year and prevent the repeat of the barbaric and grisly acts that occurred in Gosnell's 'house of horrors.' The Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act stands up for the lives of the unborn by preventing abortions after the fifth month of a pregnancy when the baby can feel pain. Today's vote sends a loud message that life is precious and America will stand up in defense of the unborn."

 

In a nationwide poll of 1,623 registered voters in November 2014, a Quinnipiac University Poll found that 60 percent would support a law such as the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act prohibiting abortion after 20 weeks, while only 33 percent opposed such legislation. Women voters split 59-35 percent in support of such a law, while independent voters supported it by 56-36 percent.

 

"Public opinion shows that people across our nation support compassionate legislation that ends painful late abortions in America," Clapper said. "We are pleased the House of Representatives took this proactive step to protect babies that feel the pain of abortion."

 

The bill was originally slated to be voted on in January but was pulled after some lawmakers objected to language used in the bill. The new language would grant the exception for rape victims if they had sought medical treatment or counseling at least 48 hours before the abortion procedure, or reported the rape to law enforcement. It would also allow exceptions for incest victims if they report the attack to social service or law enforcement agencies.

 

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is expected to introduce a version of the bill in the Senate, and Louisiana Senators David Vitter and Bill Cassidy have already said they would support legislation similar to H.R. 36.  Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has previously promised he would bring the bill to the Senate floor for a vote.  

 

Please Call and Thank Our Congressmen Below Who Voted in Favor of H.R. 36!

Congressman Steve Scalise: (202) 225-3015

Congressman John Fleming:(202) 225-2777

Congressman Charles Boustany: (202) 225-2031

Congressman Ralph Abraham: (202) 225-8490  

Congressman Garret Graves:  (202) 225-3901


La. House Approves Ban
on Sex-Selective Abortions 
PRENDA Heads to Senate Committee Next  

HB 701, the Pre-Natal Non-Discrimination Act (PRENDA) authored by Rep. Lenar Whitney (R-Houma), passed through the Louisiana House of Representatives by a bi-partisan vote of 81-2 on Thursday. The bill had 21 representatives join as co-authors

Ryan Verret, Associate Director of Louisiana Right to Life, was at the Capitol with Rep. Whitney and made the following comments after House passage: "We are grateful to the Louisiana House for taking a strong step today to protect unborn baby girls and boys in Louisiana from sex-selective abortion. This legislation will also ensure that many women considering abortion will know before their abortion if their baby is a girl or boy. This continues Louisiana's goal of empowering women with medical facts about their pregnancies and unborn babies prior to an abortion.


"We are proud of Rep. Whitney's leadership on HB 701. She faced tough questions today and confidently navigated the legislation to an overwhelming bipartisan House passage. The best quote of the day was when she said, 'I will stand in the fire for life.'


"We anticipate full consideration of HB 701 in the Senate Health and Welfare Committee and look forward to Senate passage," Verret added.

 

HB 701 accomplishes two main tasks that are in the best interest of the people of Louisiana.

 

First, it protects babies from sex-selective abortion, which occurs most often when abortion is being performed because the baby is a girl instead of a boy. 

  • Worldwide, studies show that over 160 million baby girls are missing due to sex-selective abortions, primarily from Asian nations.
  • A 2009 New York Times study shows that this is occurring more and more within U.S. borders.
  • If this law passes, it will prohibit abortion facilities from performing an abortion if they know that the reason for the abortion is based on the sex of the unborn baby.

Second, HB 701 requires that abortion physicians make their best efforts in accord with standard of care medical practices to determine the sex of the baby and inform the woman if the sex can be determined.

  • Many women that are having abortions in Louisiana are not told the sex of their unborn baby prior to an abortion, even though basic ultrasound technology can determine the sex of the baby in an accurate manner.
  • If in the abortion physician's best judgment the sex cannot be determined, he must share that information with the woman as well.
  • This furthers the long tradition of our Woman's Right to Know law empowering women with as much medical information about their pregnancy as possible.

Benjamin Clapper, Executive Director of Louisiana Right to Life, testified in favor of the legislation in committee hearings last week. He said afterwards, "Our sex, whether we are male or female, is an essential element of who we are as human persons. Unborn babies are no different. Abortion should never occur because a baby is a boy or a girl, and HB 701 ensures that in Louisiana, gender equality begins in the womb. In addition, mothers, even those considering abortion, should be informed of the sex of the baby prior to abortion if it is discoverable. Women have a right to know this critical information

 

"We are appreciative to Rep. Whitney's leadership, along with all members of the Health and Welfare Committee, especially Chairman Scott Simon and Vice Chairman Frank Hoffman."
Upcoming Events 

June 28 - July 2: Joshua Leadership Institute 

July 9-11: National Right to Life Convention, NOLA 

Sept. 23: 40 Days for Life Fall Campaign Begins 

Oct. 24: Louisiana Elections (Governor, Legislature, etc)

Nov. 1: 40 Days for Life Fall Campaign Closes 

Nov. 21: Louisiana Run-Off Elections 

Jan. 23, 2016: Louisiana Life March North & South 

 
Louisiana Right to Life | Lighting the Way to a Pro-Life Louisiana Since 1970
www.ProLifeLouisiana.org | 1.866.463.5433 | info@prolifelouisiana.org

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