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Capitol Update

March 6, 2017Like us on Facebook

Contents Include:
1.  Heal Without Harm Coalition Opposes Use of Aborted Fetal Body Parts
2.  USCCB Chairman on Migration Issues Statement on Executive Order
3.  Updated Schedule for Catholics at the Capitol, March 28, 2017
4.  New Bills of Interest
5.  Websites of Interest
 
Heal Without Harm Coalition Opposes Use of Aborted Fetal Body Parts
The Heal Without Harm (HWH) Coalition has registered in opposition to Assembly Bill 83 (Rep. Cindi Duchow, R-Pewaukee), which would ban the sale of abortion-derived fetal body parts, but permit their continued use.  The bill would allow non-profit entities to procure the aborted body parts from other non-profit entities.  In October 2015, the Wisconsin Catholic Conference, Wisconsin Right to Life, Pro-Life Wisconsin, and Wisconsin Family Action formed the HWH Coalition to educate the public and the Legislature on the ethical problems surrounding research using abortion-derived fetal body parts.  The Coalition has been working with legislators to develop soon-to-be-introduced legislation that would ban the sale and use of abortion-derived fetal body parts and encourage anatomical donation from children who die as a result of stillbirth or miscarriage so that ethical research can be pursued.  Three Wisconsin research doctors will present at Catholics at the Capitol on the differences between ethical and unethical research using fetal tissue.  The HWH Coalition also has a new website , which includes a Question & Answer resource.  Capitol Update readers are encouraged to share this resource with others.
 
USCCB Chairman on Migration Issues Statement on Executive Order
The Chair of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Migration, Bishop Joe S. Vásquez of Austin, issued a statement addressing a new Executive Order issued by President Donald Trump regarding refugee admissions and travel.  The statement notes that the Executive Order would again put vulnerable populations around the world at risk.  It reiterates that "[t]he U.S. Catholic Bishops have long recognized the importance of ensuring public safety and would welcome reasonable and necessary steps to accomplish that goal."  However, the statement continues noting that "Today, more than 65 million people around the world are forcibly displaced from their homes.  Given this extraordinary level of suffering, the U.S. Catholic Bishops reaffirm their support for, and efforts to protect, all who flee persecution and violence, as just one part of the perennial and global work of the Church in defense of vulnerable persons." The statement ends noting that "We have the ability to continue to assist the most vulnerable among us without sacrificing our values as Americans or the safety and security of our nation."
 
Updated Schedule for Catholics at the Capitol, March 28, 2017
The full schedule for Catholics at the Capitol is now on the WCC website, where paper and online registration materials are also available.  The advance registration deadline is March 20, 2017.  Students can register for only $12.  All others can register in advance for $40.  Some dioceses are also offering scholarships and transportation.  For these details and to register, visit the Catholics at the Capitol website .
 
New Bills of Interest
SJR-011  Abortion Declaration (Larson, Chris) Stating the legislature's declaration that abortion is health care. Referred to Senate Organization
 
SB-011  Child Labor Permits (Kapenga, Chris) Child labor permits and modifying references to child labor in the statutes.  Referred to Senate Public Benefits, Licensing & State-Federal Relations
 
SB-019  Child Support Compliance (Kapenga, Chris) Requiring child support compliance for FoodShare benefits.  Referred to Senate Public Benefits, Licensing & State-Federal Relations
 
SB-025  Vehicle Insurance Penalties (Kapenga, Chris) Penalties for violations related to the motor vehicle liability insurance requirement, proof of financial responsibility, making an appropriation, and providing a penalty.  Referred to Senate Insurance, Housing & Trade
 
SB-030  Executive Budget (Joint Finance) State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2017 legislature.  Referred to Joint Finance - Upcoming WCC summary to be provided separately.
 
AJR-010  Abortion Declaration (Taylor, Chris) Stating the legislature's declaration that abortion is health care. Referred to Assembly Rules
 
AB-025 Child Labor Permits (Loudenbeck, Amy) Child labor permits and modifying references to child labor in the statutes. Referred to Assembly Labor
 
AB-043  Income Tax Credit (Sargent, Melissa) Creating a nonrefundable individual income tax credit based on the federal tax credit for certain expenses for household and dependent care services. Referred to Assembly Ways and Means
 
AB-057  Child Support Compliance (Sanfelippo, Joe) Requiring child support compliance for FoodShare benefits. Referred to Assembly Public Benefit Reform
 
AB-064  Executive Budget (Joint Finance) State finances and appropriations, constituting the executive budget act of the 2017 legislature. Referred to Joint Finance  - Upcoming WCC summary to be provided separately.
 
AB-067  Vehicle Insurance Penalties (Sanfelippo, Joe) Penalties for violations related to the motor vehicle liability insurance requirement, proof of financial responsibility, making an appropriation, and providing a penalty. Referred to Assembly Insurance
 
AB-068  Self-Insurance by Religious Sects (Kulp, Bob) Self-insurance by religious sects for purposes of motor vehicle financial responsibility and liability insurance requirements. Referred to Assembly Insurance
 
AB-071  Pupil Data Inventory (Legislative Council) An inventory of pupil data. Referred to Assembly Education
 
AB-072  Pupil Data Security (Legislative Council) Responsibilities of state superintendent related to privacy and security of pupil data. Referred to Assembly Education
 
AB-076  Lead Testing (Taylor, Chris) Lead testing and disclosures for certain rental properties. Referred to Assembly Housing and Real Estate
 
AB-083  Fetal Body Parts ( Duchow, Cindi ) Sale of and research on fetal body parts, final disposition of fetal body parts, cord blood banks, and providing a penalty. Referred to Assembly Criminal Justice and Public Safety
 
AB-086  Eliminating Abortion Prohibitions (Subeck, Lisa) Eliminating certain abortion prohibitions. Referred to Assembly Health
 
AB-096  Epinephrine Auto-Injector Use (Jacque, Andre) Supply and use of epinephrine auto-injectors by certain authorized individuals. Referred to Assembly Health

Websites of Interest
WisconsinEye - Independent, nonpartisan news service that provides uncut video coverage of state government proceedings, as well as interviews with lawmakers and policy experts.
 
To find out who your legislators are, go to the Wisconsin State Legislature's home page  and type your address in the top right hand corner under "Find My Legislators."

Capitol Update is a periodic e-mail on legislative issues from the Wisconsin Catholic Conference.
 
Wisconsin Catholic Conference
131 W. Wilson St., Suite 1105
Madison, WI 53703
608/257-0004