Dear Concerned Women for America of Washington Member,
“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.” – Luke 6:27, 28
In this intense culture war we now find ourselves in, we must not lose sight of Christ’s call to love others. Keep this in mind not only when you are praying for the legislators that you disagree with, but also as you interact with them. As you respectfully disagree with them, be sure to not leave out simple pleasantries such as “Good morning!” and “Thank you for your consideration of this matter.” Consider sending an email periodically letting them know that you are praying for them. Don’t mention any public policy issues; simply let them know that you are praying for God’s blessing on them. Consider including Scripture like Numbers 6:24-26 or Jeremiah 29:11. Our state legislative session ends on March 9, so act now before the session concludes.
OUTSTANDING!
I continue to get feedback from our Prayer/Action Alerts, letting me know that you are praying and acting on the issues on which we are taking a stand. Outstanding! Please know that you, your prayers, and your actions are immensely appreciated. Keep it up!
LEGISLATION
Not too much has changed since our last Prayer/Action Alert on February 9. The only change is that in addition to contacting your representatives, we are asking that you contact the committees to which SB 6037, SB 5722, and SB 6219 are currently assigned. Therefore, if you have contacted your representatives already on the issues below, then just focus on the first bullet point under SB 6037, SB 5722, and SB 6219. And, of course, continue to lift up all of these issues in prayer and be sure to forward this alert to friends and family. Urge them to take a stand!
Note: When taking action on bills, you simply need to call the Legislative Information Center Hotline at 1-800-562-6000 (Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.; Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.) with your comments, give them your address, and they will be sure your message goes to the correct legislators. If you prefer to email your legislators, click here to find out who they are and how to contact them.
BILLS TO OPPOSE:
1. SB 6037: Uniform Parentage Act (a.k.a contract surrogacy)
This Senate bill would promote paid contract human surrogacy. To put it simply, human beings would be bought and sold! Wouldn’t it be better for the state to promote adoption of the many children in foster care and state care rather than promote a baby-making business? How can we take legislators seriously when they promote abortion at any point of a pregnancy, claiming the pre-born child is not a human being with the right to life, then turn around and claim its okay to rent a woman’s body to produce a child and set a price on that life? Where is the logic in that perspective?
Status: SB 6037 passed the Senate and is now in the House Judiciary Committee. It has a hearing scheduled both today and tomorrow. Click here to read and track it.
Action:
- Please contact the members of the House Judiciary Committee Ask them to oppose SB 6037 and express your opinion. Be sure to let them know that you are a member of Concerned Women for America of Washington.
- If you haven’t already, as encouraged in the February 2 and 9 Prayer/Action Alerts, please call the hotline at 1-800-562-6000 and ask your representatives to oppose SB 6037 and express your opinion. Be sure to let them know that you are a member of Concerned Women for America of Washington.
Prayer: Pray the committee members and your representatives have more respect for women and motherhood than our senators have shown.
2. SB 5722: Restricting the Practice of Conversion Therapy on Patients under Age Eighteen
This bill makes it “unprofessional” conduct for a licensed health care provider to perform conversion therapy on a patient under the age of 18. This bill would shut down any options other than affirming therapy and take us down the slippery slope of restricting parental rights and religious liberty. Why is it okay for a minor to choose to get an abortion, yet not choose to have conversion therapy? If choice is discriminatory, it is not choice.
Status Update: This bill passed the Senate and passed in the House Health Care & Wellness Committee on February 16. It is now in the House Rules Committee. A hearing has not yet been scheduled. Click here to read and track the bill.
Action:
- Please contact the members of the House Rules Committee and ask them to oppose SB 5722 and express your opinion. Be sure to let them know that you are a member of Concerned Women for America of Washington.
- If you haven’t already, as encouraged in the February 2 and 9 Prayer/Action Alerts, please call the hotline at 1-800-562-6000 to ask your representatives to oppose SB 5722 and express your opinion. Be sure to let them know that you are a member of Concerned Women for America of Washington.
Prayer: Ask the Lord to enlighten the committee members and your representatives to the dangerous effects of this legislation on children, parental rights, and religious liberty.
3. SB 6219: Abortion Insurance Mandate
SB 6219 requires every insurance policy bought and sold in the state of Washington to pay for abortions and drugs that cause abortions (abortifacients). It would enhance existing contraception coverage requirements and promote abortions while violating constitutionally-protected conscience rights of individuals, churches, businesses, and others. It would forcibly compel many of our state’s citizens to act against their consciences.
Status: This bill passed the Senate and passed in the House Health Care & Wellness Committee on February 16. It is now in the House Rules Committee. A hearing has not yet been scheduled. Click here to read and track this bill.
Action:
- Please contact the members of the House Rules Committee and ask them to oppose SB 6219 and express your opinion. Be sure to let them know that you are a member of Concerned Women for America of Washington.
- If you didn’t already contact your representatives in response to the February 2 and 9 Prayer/Action Alerts, please do so now. Call the hotline at 1-800-562-6000 to ask your representatives to oppose SB 6219 and express your opinion. Be sure to let them know that you are a member of Concerned Women for America of Washington.
Prayer: Please pray that SB 6219 would be thwarted.
BILLS TO SUPPORT: We have noted the following three bills in our last two Prayer/Action Alerts. Therefore, only take action if you have not yet done so. Please diligently keep these bills in your prayers. They have been buried in committee for quite a while.
1. Sanctity of Life/Family: If passed, HB 1003 and SB 5320 would require parental notification for abortions except in medical emergencies. Parental rights with regard to their minor children must be respected and upheld in order for God’s family structure to survive and flourish. When our children must have our permission to take any medications at school, isn’t it logical to respect the same level of parental responsibility and accountability for all medical decisions?
Status: HB 1003 was first introduced in the House in January of 2015 and has been stalled in the House Health Care & Wellness Committee since January 2017. Click here to read and track HB 1003. SB 5320 was first introduced in the Senate in January of 2015 and has been stalled in the House Rules Committee since January 2017. Click here to read and track SB 5320.
Action: Please call the hotline at 1-800-562-6000 to ask your representatives to support HB 1003 and for your senators to support SB 5320. Ask them to use their influence to move these bills forward. Be sure to let them know that you are a member of Concerned Women for America of Washington.
Prayer: Please pray that our legislators will re-consider their position on the sanctity of life, or at the least, parental rights.
2. Religious Liberty: HB 1178: Protecting the rights of religious freedom and conscience of individuals in their beliefs and practices from government discrimination. This bill restates the First Amendment, thus ensuring the protection of the rights of religious exercise and conscience from government discrimination, particularly in regards to the definition of marriage.
Status: HB 1178 was introduced in January of 2015 and has been stalled in the House Rules Committee since April 2015. Click here to read and track this bill.
Action: Please call the hotline at 1-800-562-6000 to ask your representatives to support HB 1178 and ask them to use their influence to move this bill to a vote. Be sure to let them know that you are a member of Concerned Women for America of Washington.
Prayer: Pray our legislators realize our vulnerability without this legislation.
3. Support for Israel: HJM 4009: Condemning the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel. Support for Israel is one of CWA’s core issues. This bill would stop the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East and “the greatest friend and ally of the United States in the Middle East (p. 1, line 21-22 of the bill).”
Status: HJM 4009 was introduced February 2015 and has been stalled in the House Judiciary Committee since January 2017. Click here to read and track HJM 4009.
Action: Please call the hotline at 1-800-562-6000 to ask your representatives to support HJM 4009 and ask them to use their influence to move this bill to a vote. Be sure to let them know that you are a member of Concerned Women for America of Washington.
Prayer: Pray the plans of the BDS movement would be thwarted by the passing of this bill.
Let us pray together that the Lord will soften the hearts of your senators and representatives. Pray for them by name. May the Holy Spirit draw them closer to the One who loved them enough to die for them.
God bless you for your faithfulness in prayer and action. Remember to love all those who oppose you – even friends and family.
Praying with you,
Maureen Richardson
State Director
CWA of Washington
director@washington.cwfa.org
wa.cwfa.org