Janet Robey

The very fast-paced state legislative session convened on January 13 and was adjourned on February 11.  Immediately following the adjournment, Gov. Ralph Northam (Democrat) called a Special Session,  supposedly to deal with the budget and COVID-19 response. Concerned Women for America (CWA) of Virginia’s volunteer legislative team (Cathy Tankersley, Carole Denner, Teresa Pregnall, Jan Robey) monitored and researched legislation and represented your interests throughout the legislative session. You can check out CWA of Virginia’s legislative priorities here.

Action Needed on Bad Election Bills
A priority for CWA of Virginia this session was election integrity. The right to vote in a free and fair election is the most basic civil right, one on which many of the other rights of the American people depend. Disappointingly, many bad election bills were passed by the legislature and now await the governor’s signature.

Please contact Gov. Northam today and urge him not to sign the following election bills. Let him know that you oppose these measures, which weaken election integrity.

HB1888 – Absentee voting; adding ballot drop-off locations.
SB1097 – Absentee voting; witness signature not required.

Contact information: 804-786-2211 | Online contact form

Wrap-Up on other legislative priorities

Good election legislation

Election bills supported by CWA of Virginia were defeated mostly along party lines. Thank you for adding your voice in support of these commonsense measures, which would have preserved election integrity.

• HB1970 – Voter identification: photograph required.
• HB1746 – Conduct of elections; vote counting, required live video recording.
• SB1153 – Elections: absentee voting; ballots to be sorted and results by precinct.
• HB1758 – Voter registration, transmit weekly list of deceased to Department of Elections.
• HB2205 – Same-day voter registration; repeal.
• SB1118 – Voter registration; verification of social security numbers, provisional status.

Sanctity of Life Legislation
Regrettably, companion bills HB1896 and SB1276 passed and will allow state health plans to cover abortions. Fortunately, HB1922 which would have expanded abortion coverage, did not pass out of committee.

Defense of Family Legislation
CWA of Virginia supported SB1235’s requirement that the Department of Health must have parental consent before communicating with a minor. This bill was drafted in response to the postcard that was mailed to Virginia minors from the Department of Health regarding sexual matters. Unfortunately, the bill did not come out of a House committee after passing the full Senate by a vote of 20-19.

We praise God that HB1932, which would have removed the conscience protections for agencies that place children in foster and adoptive homes, did not pass out of committee. Thank you to everyone who let committee members know your convictions. Your efforts made a difference!

May we continue to pray for our legislators to have discernment.  “May the Lord give you discretion and understanding when he puts you in command over Israel, so that you may keep the law of the Lord your God.” 1 Chronicles 22:12

In these difficult days, remember that our confidence must be established on God, not government.  Prayers and action at the grassroots level MUST continue.  “Duty is ours, results are God’s.” John Quincy Adams.

Thank you!
Janet Robey
Associate State Director
For Concerned Women for America LAC

It has been a few years since we have reported on Lisa Miller’s story. Lisa went into hiding with her daughter Isabella in September of 2009. As some of you may recall their story, Lisa, Isabella’s birth mother, had been in a lesbian relationship, became a Christian, and then left the lifestyle. Lisa’s former partner was eventually awarded visitation, and the transfer of custody of Isabella was looming. LifeSite news conducted an in-depth in-person interview with Lisa in 2008. You can read that story here.

Two men who aided Lisa’s escape from the long arm of our judiciary system were convicted and sentenced to prison. Ken Miller, an Anabaptist pastor from Virginia (no relation to Lisa), served two years and was released in 2018. Philip Zodhiates is due to be released from prison later this year after serving his three-year prison sentence.

So now we circle back to Lisa to where this story of a dedicated mom started. Lisa was willing to leave her life in the U.S. and embark on an unknown path. That path took her to Nicaragua for over ten years. On January 19, 2021, Lisa turned herself into the U.S. Embassy in Nicaragua. She is now in a federal detention center in Miami and is due to be transferred to Oklahoma, where the U.S. Marshall Service will process Lisa and then transfer her to Buffalo, New York, where she will stand trial.

Isabella released the following statement, “I am grateful for the life that God has given me these past few years and rejoice in the blessings He has granted me. I am not willing to testify against Mama or anyone who has helped bless my life these past years. I am committed to continuing to serve God in the days to come.”

Lisa made this statement, “I ask you for prayer specifically for me to honor and to glorify God and for my health. Thank you in advance for your prayers. May our Lord be further glorified in this matter.”

Concerned Women for America of Virginia was honored to support Lisa and Isabella as their story unfolded from the beginning. We wrote and distributed updates, attended court hearings, often praying in the back of the courtroom (see below), and putting out prayer and action alerts.

It is our honor once again to come to you with this update and to ask you to pray for this family as they stand for the Lord and suffer the consequences of disobeying the federal authorities. Lisa chose to serve her God and raise her daughter according to Biblical principles rather than to submit to judicial tyranny.

Please join us in prayer.

• Pray for wisdom for Lisa’s attorneys;
• Pray for the judge who will preside over this case;
• Pray for good health and strength for Lisa;
• Pray for the thwarting of the schemes of those who would aim to distort the truth, whether it be the prosecutors, media, or anyone surrounding this case.

Spread the word. Please forward this on to friends and family and encourage them to pray.

Thank you!
Janet Robey
Associate Director

Good news! Because of the many comments submitted regarding the Model Policy for Treatment of Transgender Students, the Virginia Department of Education has delayed the policy’s February 4 enactment. Thank you to all who responded to our alerts.

Update on Abby*:  In the story below, we told you about Abby, a 4th-grade student in a Virginia public school who had a very upsetting experience in her classroom. We are pleased to report that Abby, who was on a waiting list to enroll in a Christian school, just learned this week that she would be able to continue her education at a local Christian school.  And because of her father’s engagement with the principal and school board of the public school where Abby attended, the book “Julian Is a Mermaid” by Jessica Love has been removed from that school’s library.

We commend Abby’s parents for standing strong. We must continue to voice our concerns to protect other children who have no options within the public education system.

Look for further updates, and thanks for praying and acting!

Abby* is a ten-year-old girl and in the 4th grade. She attends a Virginia public school.

Abby’s English teacher recently read the book to the class, “Julian Is A Mermaid” by Jessica Love. After the teacher finished reading the book, she asked the question, “what is the purpose of the book?” One boy raised his hand and said, “it is about a boy who wants to be a mermaid.” The teacher then asked Abby the same question (she had not raised her hand.) Abby replied that she would rather not answer the question. The teacher said, “You will speak.” Abby replied, “It is about a boy wanting to wear makeup and be a girl.” The teacher replied, “You are right. You can be anything you want to be.”

Abby was quite upset, and when she was picked up after school, it was the first thing she told her mother. Abby’s parents are now exploring private and homeschooling options. But what about students who do not have those options? Who will speak for them?

Earlier this month I encouraged you to participate in the comment period for Virginia’s proposed Model Policy for Treatment of Transgender Students (read more here). The model policy states its purpose is “to ensure a positive, safe environment for all students.” Do you think Abby’s experience was positive? I do not, and these types of classroom experiences will only increase with a radical, unscientific philosophy being forced upon students.

Now is the time to speak up for students like Abby. The public has an opportunity to weigh in on the model policies. The comment period closes next Wednesday, February 3, 2021. Click here to submit a comment. Let them know that you disapprove of this radical push to eliminate differences between females and males and the brainwashing of our children and grandchildren.

Jan Robey
Associate State Director

*Name was changed to protect Abby’s true identity.

The Virginia General Assembly’s legislative session is moving rapidly. Concerned Women for America of Virginia is working on key issues that impact you. Calls/emails are needed early this week (February 8) on the following pieces of legislation:

Elections
The Virginia General Assembly has put forth some bad election legislation that opens the door to corruption. We are opposing HB1888 because it provides for the establishment of ballot drop boxes, which can create security, tampering, and chain of custody issues. We are also opposing SB1097, which removes the witness signature requirement from absentee voting ballots, inviting voter fraud.

There is one piece of good legislation that we support, SB1422. SB1422 will require weekly reporting from the State Registrar of Vital Records to the Department of Election of those individuals who have died. This will ensure that the voter rolls are updated in a consistent manner.

Take Action!

1. Contact your state delegate today and urge him or her to oppose SB1097 and to support SB1422.
2. Contact your state senator today and urge him or her to oppose HB1888.
3. If you do not know who your state delegate and senator are, click here. If you are a member of CWA of Virginia, be sure to let them know.

Abortion

Identical bills, HB 1896 and SB 1276, will expand the reach of abortion in Virginia have passed both the House of Delegates and the State Senate. These dangerous bills would eliminate the restriction under the Affordable Care Act offered in Virginia regarding abortion funding at the taxpayers’ expense.

 Take Action: 

1. Contact the committee members in the House Labor and Commerce and the Senate Commerce and Labor. Urge the committee members to vote NO on the bills.
2. Contact your State Delegate and Senator to inform them that abortion coverage should not expand in Virginia, especially at the taxpayers’ expense. Tell him or her to vote against the bills then they are voted on in their respective chambers. Click here to find your legislator.

Conscience Protections for Adoptions Agencies

HB1932 passed the Virginia House of Delegates. This dangerous bill “repeals provisions that allowed child-placing agencies to refuse to perform, assist with, counsel, recommend, consent to, refer, or participate in any child placements when the proposed placement would violate the agency’s written religious or moral convictions or policies.”

Take Action! Call or email your state senator today and urge him or her to OPPOSE HB1932 when it comes to the floor for a vote. Click here to find your state senator.

Click here for a list of the priority legislation CWA of Virginia is monitoring.

Concerned Women for America of Virginia Legislative Priority Watch List.

“Crossover Day” in the Virginia General Assembly is the legislative day of the session, where bills must pass out of their respective chambers to be considered by the other chamber. For example, bills passed by the House are considered by the Senate, and vice versa. After Crossover Day, no new bills may be introduced, passed, and moved. More information below.

A Primer: How does a bill move through the Virginia General Assembly to the governor’s desk for signature?

1. Before or when the General Assembly convenes in January, a member of the House of Delegates or State Senate introduces an idea for legislation. This person is called the Chief Patron.
2. Legislative Services then researches how the idea might impact the Code of Virginia (laws) and writes the idea into bill language and assigns the bill a number. The bill number will begin with SB for a Senate bill or HB for a House bill.
3. The bill is then referred to a House or Senate committee, and sometimes a subcommittee. If the bill passes out of committee, it goes to the full House or Senate, where it is passed or defeated.
4. As a bill moves through the House and Senate, changes are often made to the bill language. If there are differences between the House of Delegates and Senate, a Committee of Conference is created to resolve them.
5. Once the differences are resolved, it goes to the governor for his or her signature or veto.

Crossover Day in the General Assembly is determined by the legislative calendar and is seven to ten days prior to the end of the session. 

• Any legislation not passed through the entire process in the House or Senate is dead for the year.
• All legislation that has passed the State Senate will now go through the committee and voting process in the House of Delegates.
• All legislation that passed the House of Delegates will now go through the committee and voting process in the state Senate.

For more information on how a bill becomes a law in Virginia, click here.

Last week, I informed you letting know that you can make a difference in Virginia by praying and taking action on important bills being considered during the 2021 legislative session of the Virginia General Assembly. SB1276, Essential Health Benifites; Abortion Coverage, is one such bill.

SB 1276 passed out of the Commerce and Labor Committee and will soon come up for a floor vote in the Senate. This dangerous bill would eliminate the restriction under the Affordable Care Act (at the taxpayers’ expense) offered in Virginia regarding abortion funding. In other words, it will allow state health care plans to cover abortion. More health care plans covering abortion means more abortions.

Take Action!

1. Call or email your state senator today and urge him or her to OPPOSE SB 1276 when it comes to the floor for a vote. Click here to find your state senators. Type in your address and click Search.
2. Forward this email to family and friends.

Join us in prayer: Father God, we know that the shedding of innocent blood is an abomination to you. We ask for your forgiveness, as a nation, as a state, for the sin of abortion. We pray earnestly for our Virginia General Assembly. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ that there would be reason and courage among our legislators and that every bill introduced to further the killing of innocent babies would be defeated. We pray in the name of Jesus that protection of all innocent human life from conception until natural death would become the law of our state and our nation. In the precious name of our Lord and Savior, we pray, amen.

“This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.” – Deuteronomy 30:19

Thank you!
Jan Robey
Associate State Director

The 2021 Virginia General Assembly convenes Wednesday, January 13, 2021, and will continue through the end of February. The General Assembly, meeting mostly virtually, will be addressing legislation of great importance to you and your family, and you can count on Concerned Women for America (CWA) of Virginia to represent your interests during the session. Our legislative team will be monitoring proposed legislation and informing you on how to pray and act on the legislation. You can read our top legislative priorities here.

Many of us feel tired and discouraged about our country’s direction. Nevertheless, our families need us to be vigilant! Mrs. Beverly LaHaye, the founder of CWA , said this, “God does not call us to be successful. He calls us to be faithful.” I hope you will purpose in your heart today to be faithful this year to pray and act on critical 2021 legislation.

Sincerely,
Janet Robey
Associate State Director

CWA of Virginia Legislative Team:
Carole Denner, Teresa Pregnall, Janet Robey, Cathy Tankersley