California

We are now in the second half of the 2021-22 California legislative session, and bad bills are picking up speed while many good ones are now dead. For example, Sen. Brian Dahle’s (R-District 1) SB 217, a bill that would have simply created transparency in sex education programs at public schools, died in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Please help us stand for Biblical values by praying and taking action with regard to some very concerning bills. Please call your Assembly member and ask him or her to oppose the following bills.

#1. SB 245 by Sen. Lena Gonzalez (D-District 33) would allow all abortions in California to be free, forcing both private and public insurance policies to cover abortions with no copays and/or deductibles. We, at Concerned Women for America (CWA) of California, aim to protect innocent human life — including protecting the unborn from chemical and surgical abortion and infanticide. Jeremiah 1:5a says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you …”

If SB 245 bill passes…

1. Even more California taxpayer dollars will pay for these abortions, and private insurance companies will also be forced to increase benefits and/or premiums to follow this “free” abortion scheme.
2. Our state government will be promoting and encouraging abortions by making the process even easier and more accessible to Californians.
3. This will set a precedent for other states to follow.

#2. SB 380 by Sen. Susan Eggman (D-District 5) would eliminate safety requirements in the current California assisted suicide law. The planned sunset in 2025 was intended to provide lawmakers with ten years of data for review before making the policy permanent. The bill also shortens the time between a patient’s two oral requests for life-ending drugs from 15 days to just 2. This change allows a patient to make a hasty decision against what may be their better judgment if given more time. Genesis 9:6 tells us that the Lord values human life.  We at CWA of California aim to protect society from euthanasia.

Take Action!

1. Both bills are now in the State Assembly so please contact your Assembly member today and urge him or her to vote NO on SB 245 and to vote NO on SB 380. You can find who represents you here.
2. Forward this information to family and friends.

Prayer: Lord, we come before you to intercede for our government. Guide our legislators to make wise decisions. Magnify our voices as we speak up to influence our culture for Christ. We love you, Lord. You see us, and You love us. We trust in You. In Jesus’s name.  Amen.  

God bless you for your faithfulness in prayer and action!
Marlo Tucker

“Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

Sen. Brian Dahle’s (R-District 01) Senate Bill 217 will be heard this Wednesday, April 28, in the Senate Education Committee. Senate Bill 217 recognizes the vital input of parents in education. The bill simply requires transparency for all sex education curricula, including audiovisual material and information on guest speakers covering topics of sex ed and HIV prevention set forth by the California Healthy Youth Act, which must be taught beginning in Grade 7, but may be taught as early as kindergarten.

Parents in many districts in California have had incredible challenges in accessing all the sex-ed material taught to their children in public schools. Providing materials online offers parents the transparency they are seeking, which encourages parents to be proactive, engage in dialogue and impart Biblical values regarding human sexuality to their children. Knowing what is being taught also helps parents know if they should opt their children out of the often graphic and controversial teaching.

SB 217 will be heard April 28 at 9:00 a.m., so it is important that you take action immediately. This is the bill’s only chance to continue forward.

Take Action!

1. Call your State Senator and ask him or her to support SB 217! Find your senator here. If your senator is not on the Senate Education Committee, ask him or her to encourage those who are on the committee to support SB 217.
2. Let your senator know curriculum transparency with SB 217 encourages parental guidance/oversight in their children’s development and instruction, something every government official should advocate.
3. You can also find instructions on the committee page to submit a letter to the committee and even call in to the hearing to simply offer your name, city, and support for this important bill. Click here to read more.
4. Forward this on to friends and family.

Let’s pray: Dear Heavenly Father, we pray that you would give to the members of the Senate

Education Committee wisdom and understanding to accomplish Your purpose, and that they would support curriculum transparency and vote YES on SB 217.

God bless you for your faithfulness in prayer and action!

Marlo Tucker
State Director

A warm, heartfelt thanks to all our Concerned Women for America (CWA) of California members who supported our prayer and action efforts during the 2020 legislative session. Though the session has come to an end, let us not shrink back from vigilant prayer for California and the issues it faces. Please join your local CWA of California Prayer/Action Chapter if you are not already connected. Contact me for more information.

Legislative Update
Transgender Wellness and Equity Fund (AB 2218): Gov. Gavin Newsom (Democrat) signed AB2218 into law. I reported on the bill here and here. California taxpayers will now provide grants that will distribute an unspecified amount of funds to organizations “serving” transgender and intersex adults and children. Various services include “gender-affirming health care services, such as hormone therapy or gender reassignment surgery.” Dr. James Dobson weighed in on this bill in an article here. In a recent poll, more than 64 percent of voters participating somewhat or strongly disapproved of AB 2218.

Jails and Prisons (SB 132): Gov. Newsom also signed SB 132 into law. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation will now allow transgender persons to be housed in the facility of their choice “with or without a diagnosis of gender dysphoria or any other physical or mental health diagnosis, and regardless of anatomy …”

What’s the Answer – Elect Better Legislators!
Elections have consequences. If we want a better outcome for our next legislative session, we need to elect better legislators. We do this by taking part in the privilege of voting and encouraging others to do the same. And above all else, we pray.

Please ensure that you, your family, friends, and church congregants are registered to vote. The deadline to do so is Monday, October 19. You may register to vote online at your county elections office website or on the Secretary of State’s website here.

Due to the governor’s COVID-19 orders, all California registered voters will receive a vote-by-mail ballot beginning this week. These may be returned by mail postmarked by November 3, dropped off during business hours at various official ballot drop-off locations, or dropped off at any polling place between October 31 and Election Day November 3. See locations and hours of operation for drop-off and polling places on your county elections office website.

Let us Pray Together for the Election
Please join our national prayer campaign, SHE PRAYS SHE VOTES 2020. The main goal of She Prays, She Votes 2020 is prayer. Now more than ever, Christians need to be on their knees before God praying for our nation, for our leaders, and for this election.

Lord Jesus, we pray with humble hearts for our state and our nation. Deuteronomy 3:22 says, “Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you.” Lord, we pray for fearless leaders who will stand boldly on the Word of God for what is right and true and pure. Please, Lord, pour your blessing upon our land and heal our nation. In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

United with you in peace and truth,

Marlo Tucker
State Director

Assembly Bill 2218 passed the Senate Health Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee and it could be heard on the Senate floor as early as today, August 25.  And, because of recent minor amendments to the bill it will have to return to the Assembly floor for a concurrence vote.

As you’ve learned from previous alerts here, here, and here, AB 2218 establishes a Transgender Wellness and Equity Fund to encourage, promote, and provide the means for sex-change operations, cross-sex hormones, and puberty-blocking drugs to minors and adults. The taxpayer funds to provide grants were originally set at $15 million, but now there is no limitation – simply “as appropriated by the Legislature.”

Take action today to help us stop this dangerous bill!

1. Contact both your state senator and assembly member asking for a “no” vote on AB 2218. Find your senator and assembly member here. Be sure to let them know you are a member of Concerned Women for America of California.
2. Forward this email to friends and family.

The legislative session will end on Monday, August 31, so AB 2218 could be heard any time during the next several days, first in the Senate and then the Assembly. Do not delay in contacting your elected officials.

Please pray: Father, please help our senators and assembly members to understand the enormity of this vote and to understand Your truth about our creation, male and female, in Your image. Give them the wisdom and COURAGE to say “no” to this bill. Protect our vulnerable children and give their parents the wisdom to guide and protect them throughout their lives. Lord may Your will be done in California. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

We thank you for your prayers and action once again. You are our faithful warriors!

Marlo Tucker
State Director

The California legislature is fast-tracking Assembly Bill 2218 to provide millions of taxpayer dollars (an open-ended amount!) to establish a Transgender Wellness and Equity Fund which would encourage, promote, and provide the means for sex-change operations, cross-sex hormones, and puberty-blocking drugs to minors. This fund “shall be available to a hospital, health care clinic, or other medical provider that currently provides gender-affirming health care services, such as hormone therapy or gender reassignment surgery.”

Right now, many girls and boys are becoming part of a dangerous phenomenon in which, unsatisfied with their bodies, they are being pressured into disfiguring and dangerous operations and puberty-blocking drugs. These “treatments” can cause irreversible damage, rendering them infertile and in chronic pain. For females, such medical measures have included mutilation, such as cutting off breasts. For both males and females, they lose child-bearing abilities.

In the midst of all the social issues bombarding our families today, why would our state government choose to pay attention, spend money, and focus their time and energy on passing a law that undermines a child’s identity, the sanctity of womanhood and manhood, and use California tax dollars to fund this measure?

Concerned Women for America (CWA) of California is linking arms with organizations, groups, and concerned citizens to send a strong message that we oppose AB 2218. The bill has already passed the Assembly and is now being heard in the Senate Health Committee.

Day of Action: This Thursday, July 23

1. Call the offices of the nine Senate Health Committee members and urge them to oppose AB 2218. The office contact information is directly below my signature line. Be sure to let them know you are a member of Concerned Women for America of California.
2. Forward this alert to your community of prayer warriors, family, and friends as a call to pray and action.

We need to act in defense of the family and stop this threat to the futures of our daughters and sons. Be a part of this powerful call to action! Do not let the government harm our children with this proposed law.

“So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27

Please pray: Lord, most urgently, we pray for the bill to end in the senate committee and progress no further. We pray especially for our leaders that you would provide wisdom, knowledge, and understanding to our legislators. May you open their eyes to what is good for our young children. Lord may Your will be done in California. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

United with you in prayer and action,

Marlo Tucker
State Director

Call the following nine offices on Thursday, July 23.

Sen. Richard Pan (Chair)
Democrat – District 6
District Offices
1020 N. Street, Room 576, Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 651-1529
2251 Florin Road, Suite 156, Sacramento, CA 95822; (916) 262-2904

Sen. Melissa A. Melendez (Vice Chair)
Republican – District 28
District Offices
25186 Hancock Avenue, Suite 320, Murrieta, CA 92562; (951) 894-3530
45-125 Smurr Street, Suite B, Indio, CA 92201; (760) 398-6442

Sen. Lena A. Gonzalez
Democrat – District 33
District Offices
3939 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 107, Long Beach, CA 90807; (562) 256-7921
6550 Miles Avenue, Room 214, Huntington Park, CA 90255; (323) 277-4560

Sen. Shannon Grove
Republican – District 16
District offices
5701 Truxtun Avenue, Suite 150, Bakersfield, CA 93309; (661) 323-0443
7248 Joshua Lane, Suite B, Yucca Valley, CA 92284; (760) 228-3136

Sen. Melissa Hurtado
Democrat – District 14
District Offices
201 E. California Avenue, Suite A, Bakersfield, CA 93307; (661) 395-2620
611 N. Douty Street, Hanford, CA 93230; (559) 585-7161
2550 Mariposa Mall, Suite 2016, Fresno, CA 93721; (559) 264-3070

Sen. Connie M. Leyva
Democrat – District 20
District Offices
464 W. 4th Street, Suite 454B, San Bernardino, CA 92401; (909) 888-5360
101 W. Mission Blvd., Suite 111, Pomona, CA 91766; (909) 469-1110

Sen. Holly J. Mitchell
Democrat – District 30
District Office
700 Exposition Park Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90037; (213) 745-6656

Sen. Bill Monning
Democrat – District 17
District Offices
1026 Palm Street, Suite 201, San Luis Obispo, CA  93401; (805) 549-3784
99 Pacific Street, Suite 575 F, Monterey, CA 93940; (831) 657-6315
701 Ocean Street, Suite 318A, Santa Cruz, CA  95060; (831) 425-0401

Sen. Susan Rubio
Democrat – District 22
District Office
100 S. Vincent Avenue, Suite 401, West Covina, CA 91790; (626) 430-2499

Join us for a Concerned Women for America (CWA) of California Coffee Talk event on January 25, in Blythe, California. Our Coffee Talk events are a great way to learn more about CWA of California, the work we do here in the state, and how to get involved. We talk about:

• Legislation on CWA’s seven core issues
• Praise reports at the state and national level
• Issues to pray about at the local, state, and national level
• Upcoming events and projects
• Public policy-focused initiatives

Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” And that is what our Coffee Talks are all about. We gather together as like-minded believers to praise God for His love and mercy, to fellowship and encourage one another in the Lord, and to learn how to be productive and engaged citizens in Christian advocacy here in California and our nation.

Following a recent Coffee Talk, a new member of CWA of California proclaimed, “For many years, I was a Christian who was asleep about the issues affecting our community. Now, I’m awake, eager, and engaged – going to town hall meetings and being specific in prayer. Even my husband is speaking up in the workplace for Biblical values!  Praise God!”

Event Details:
Date: Saturday, January 25
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Location: Zion Lutheran Church, 721 E. Chanslor Way, Blythe, CA 92225
Click here to download the Coffee Talk flyer.

We invite you, your friends, and your family to join us if you live in or around Blythe. It’s a great time of prayer, education, and fellowship – all over delicious and comforting tea, coffee, and cakes.

If you don’t live in the Blythe area, please contact me if you would like to host a Coffee Talk in your area.

United with you in prayer and thanksgiving,

Marlo Tucker
State Director