Illinois

Radical Left Lawmakers Draft Bill Condemning Pro-Life, Pro-Family Organization

Radical left lawmakers set their sights on the Illinois Family Institute/Illinois Family Action via an “official resolution” House Joint Resolution 55 that accuses the traditional family values organization of hate speech and other “bigoted” and hateful” stands. CWA of Illinois Stands with Illinois Family Institute/Illinois Family Action against this big government attempt to target political enemies.

HJR 55:

• Condemns the extreme rhetoric of Illinois Family Action.
• Calls for a formal investigation into the group’s hate speech and threats.
• Asks that the Secretary of State’s office suspend the lobbying credentials of any individual working on behalf of Illinois Family Action or its parent organization, the Illinois Family Institute, until an investigation is complete.
• Calls for a review of security procedures in the Capitol Complex, including, but not limited to, the Secretary of State and the Illinois State Police.

HJR 55 appears to be a malicious abuse of government power in retaliation against the Illinois Family Institute for the unprecedented attendance of over 4,500 pro-life individuals who peacefully lobbied last month during Illinois Family Institute’s Pro-life Rally/Lobby Day to defeat HB 2495, the Reproductive Health Act, and HB 2467, the Parental Notice Abortion Repeal bill. The radical left is weaponizing legislation to silence a growing opposition to abortion by “legally” denying their First Amendment rights to assemble and petition our government in the name of tolerance, diversity, and love. Every American, regardless of political persuasion should stand squarely against such an unconstitutional abuse of power.

Take Action: Contact your state senator and state representative. Ask them to vote down HJR 55. Click here to find out who your legislators are and how to contact them.

Please pray with me, Father God, we stand in agreement with Your mighty promise in Isaiah 54:17 on behalf of the Illinois Family Institute/Illinois Family Action that “No weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their vindication will come from me. I, the Lord, have spoken!” In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”- Edmund Burke

Debbie Leininger
State Director
CWA of Illinois
[email protected]
il.cwfa.org
815-297-2918

Take the next step!

• Consider donating to CWA of Illinois online or write a check out to “Concerned Women for America,” put “CWA of IL” on the memo line, and then send it to CWA of Illinois at 1255 W. Empire Street, Freeport, IL 61032. Our state is run exclusively through donations. Thank you in advance for considering this opportunity.
• Visit the CWA of Illinois webpage to see how you can become involved in our organization.
• If someone forwarded this e-alert to you, and you would like to be on our e-alert list, email me, and I will be happy to add you.  You will receive legislative, project and event notices.

Concerned Women for America (CWA) of Illinois will be joining pro-life organizations, churches, and supporters for Illinois Family Institute’s Pro-Life Rally & Lobby Day at the Illinois State Capitol on March 20. We hope you will attend to lobby your legislators to OPPOSE two horrific abortion bills: Reproductive Health Act, HB 2495, and Parental Notice Abortion, HB 2467. Read our alert on the two bills here. 

Pro-Life Rally & Lobby Day Schedule

Noon – 1:30 p.m. Lobby
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Rally in Rotunda
2:30 – 4:00 p.m. Lobby 

Take Action!

1. Take a stand for life by participating in the rally and lobby day. Here are a few details:

• State Capitol address: 401 S 2nd St, Springfield, IL 62701.
• Parking is available south and west of the capitol. There is additional parking on west side streets. (Bring quarters to feed the street parking meters.) Parking places fill up quickly, so plan to arrive early to be near the capitol.
• Write down the names of your state senator and state representative before coming to the rally. Click hereto find out who they are.
• Wear buttons and pro-life clothing.

 Be sure to stop by the CWA of Illinois booth in the capitol lobby! 

2. If you cannot attend the event, please call your senator and representative to voice your opposition to HB2495 and HB2467. Click hereto find out who they are and how to contact him/her.

Please, pray that legislators will choose to protect life by voting in opposition to HB2495 and HB2467.

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”- Edmund Burke

Debbie Leininger
State Director
CWA of Illinois
[email protected]
il.cwfa.org
815-297-2918

Take the next step!

• Consider donating to CWA of Illinois online or write a check out to “Concerned Women for America,” put “CWA of IL” on the memo line, and then send it to CWA of Illinois at 1255 W. Empire Street, Freeport, IL 61032. Our state is run exclusively through donations. Thank you in advance for considering this opportunity.
• Visit the CWA of Illinois webpage to see how you can become involved in our organization.
• If someone forwarded this e-alert to you, and you would like to be on our e-alert list, email me, and I will be happy to add you.  You will receive legislative, project and event notices.

The proselytizing of the LGBTQ lifestyle on impressionable school-aged children continues as HB 246 passed the Illinois House 60-42. Forty-four Republicans and 14 Democrats did not vote on the bill. If passed in the Senate and signed by the governor, this bill will go into effect July 1, 2020. Gov. Pritzker indicated he would sign the bill into law.

Click here to see how your State Representative voted.

HB 246 mandates:

• Students will be instructed on the roles and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in American and Illinois History.
• With regards to the textbook block grant program, it provides that the textbooks authorized to be purchased must include the roles and contributions of all people protected under the Illinois Human Rights Act and must be non-discriminatory as to any of the characteristics under the Act. 

At its core, HB 246 is about a moral issue that parents alone have the right to teach their children. As believers, we first and foremost rely on the Bible’s teachings against such lifestyles because it is in opposition to God’s plan for our lives. Secondly, medically, these lifestyles are statistically dangerous, and it is not in the interest of our children for us to portray them as normal and healthy when they medically and emotionally are not. According to a Center for Disease Control study, students in the LGB lifestyle are more likely to engage in risky behavior. This immoral lifestyle brings with it harm. This is not something to be taught or celebrated. 

Take Action:

• Call your State Senator today and voice your opposition to HB 246. Click here to find your senator. Be sure to let them know you are a member of Concerned Women for America of Illinois.
• Forward this alert to like-minded family members and friends and encourage them to call their senator.

 Please join me in prayer that the minds of public-school children will be protected from the LGBTQ ideology and that the Church will arise to defend them.

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

Debbie Leininger
State Director
CWA of Illinois
[email protected]
il.cwfa.org
815-297-2918 

Take the next step!

• Consider donating to CWA of Illinois online or write a check out to “Concerned Women for America,” put “CWA of IL” on the memo line, and then send it to CWA of Illinois at 1255 W. Empire Street, Freeport, IL 61032. Our state is run exclusively through donations. Thank you in advance for considering this opportunity.
• Visit the CWA of Illinois webpage to see how you can become involved in our organization.
• If someone forwarded this e-alert to you, and you would like to be on our e-alert list, email me, and I will be happy to add you.  You will receive legislative, project and event notices.

If Democrats have their way, Illinois public school K-12 history classes will include a study in the roles and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in American and Illinois history. Introduced by Anna Moeller (D-District 43 – Elgin) HB0246 ups the ante on LGBTQ indoctrination in the public school system. If passed, this bill will go into effect July 1, 2020.

Leftists have taken advantage of taxpayer money in public schools to promote and legitimize their LGBTQ ideology, while vilifying and stifling traditional values and beliefs. With little pushback and opposition from the Church, the LGBTQ movement has solidified their agenda via legislation.

Please make your voice heard on HB0246! It is currently in the House. Our state representatives need to know that there are many who oppose this. Legislators judge public opinion by the responses of their constituents to the bills.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION!

• Call and/or email your state representative and respectfully ask him/her to oppose HB0246. Click hereto find out who your representative is and how to contact him/her.
• Forward this alert to like-minded family members and friends and encourage them to pray and take action.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN PRAYER that our legislators would stand up and protect the minds of public-school children from the LGBTQ ideology. Pray the Church will arise to defend the children.

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

Debbie Leininger
State Director
CWA of Illinois
[email protected]
il.cwfa.org
815-297-2918

Take the next step!

• Consider donating to CWA of Illinois online or write a check out to “Concerned Women for America,” put “CWA of IL” on the memo line, and then send it to CWA of Illinois at 1255 W. Empire Street, Freeport, IL 61032. Our state is run exclusively through donations. Thank you in advance for considering this opportunity.
• Visit the CWA of Illinois webpage to see how you can become involved in our organization.
• If someone forwarded this e-alert to you, and you would like to be on our e-alert list, email me, and I will be happy to add you.  You will receive legislative, project, and event notices.

Do you want recreational marijuana in our great state?  ABSOLUTLEY NOT!  Please let your voice be heard now!

Marijuana proponent, State Sen. Heather Steans (D-District 7 Chicago,) has introduced SB 7, a bill that will legalize marijuana for recreational use in Illinois.  Sen. Stean’s bill will allow anyone 21 years or older to use cannabis (marijuana) legally.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has said that legalizing recreational cannabis could generate as much as $1 billion in tax revenue a year. He and the Democrat veto-proof Illinois General Assembly want to balance the out-of-control budget on the backs of marijuana users.

According to Gov. Pritzker, “The responsible course of action is to embrace some near term reasonable – and realistic – new revenue, which will bring in an estimated $1.1 billion in total … Let’s be honest, like it or not, cannabis is readily available right now. I would rather the state tax it and regulate it than deny the reality of its use and accessibility.” February 2019, Budget Address

 This line of thinking could not be more dangerous.  Not only with this current situation, but what happens if something much more dangerous comes along that gets to the point of being “readily available.”  Will he once again say, “I would rather the state tax it and regulate it than deny the reality of its use and accessibility.” This is setting a dangerous, naive precedent. It is an “If you can’t beat them, join them!” mentality.

While Gov. Pritzker might be championing the legalization of marijuana, law enforcement and those who study the effects of marijuana use do not. Consider these facts:

• Marijuana-impaired driver accidentsare up in legalized marijuana states, and the legalization of marijuana has not stopped the illegal drug trade.
• Medical researchconcludes that “Cannabis use is likely to increase violence and the risk of schizophrenia and other psychoses; the higher the use, the greater the risk.”
• Marijuana has been proven to be a gate-way drug.
• Legalized recreational marijuana increases the availability of the drug and acceptability of its use.
• Marijuana addiction negatively impacts users and their families.

SB 7 can be voted out of committee at any time and would then go immediately to the Senate floor for a vote.

Take Action:

Contact your state representative and state senator and urge them to oppose legalized recreational marijuana use. Tell them to vote NO to SB 7.

• Click hereto find out who your legislators are and how to contact them.
• Forward this alert to your family, friends, as well as, churches in your area.

Please pray that:

• People will wake up to the health risks and physical dangers of recreational marijuana use.
• Legislators will listen to the truth about the risk marijuana use poses to individuals, families, and communities rather than emphasizing its financial potential to balance the budget.
• Pastors and the Church would be vocal advocates for Biblical truth in legislation.

For more information read CWA’s research on the topic: Losing Wager: “Big Marijuana’s” Legalization Crusade Endangers Our Future.

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”- Edmund Burke

Debbie Leininger
State Director
CWA of Illinois
[email protected] 
il.cwfa.org
815-297-2918

Take the next step!
Consider donating to CWA of Illinois onlineor write a check out to “Concerned Women for America,” put “CWA of IL” on the memo line, and then send it to CWA of Illinois at 1255 W. Empire Street, Freeport, IL 61032. Our state is run exclusively through donations. Thank you in advance for considering this opportunity.

UPDATE: Since our February 22 e-alert on this subject, we have learned that there is a Senate companion bill, SB1594, to HB2467. Please pray and take action if you haven’t already on last Friday’s e-alert, as well as the information I have added to it below noted with an *.

“Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, ‘Behold, we did not know this,’ does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?” (Proverbs 24:11-12) 

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22 E-ALERT:
The Partial Birth Abortion repeal bill and the No Parental Notice bill are up for a vote in the Illinois House of Representatives.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Democrat-controlled General Assembly are making good on their promise to make Illinois the most progressive women’s reproductive rights state in the nation.  The provisions in these bills are evil, plain and simple.

We must do everything we can to put a stop to the murder of the unborn. If Christians in Illinois do not stand up for the unborn in Illinois, who will?

The Reproductive Health Act HB2495, sponsored by State Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-District 14), will expand abortion rights as follows:

1. Will repeal the Partial Birth Abortion Ban which would then allow babies to be killed up to the time of birth.
2. Will make it mandatory that all private health insurance companies in the state provide coverage for abortion.
3. Will repeal a 1975 Illinois abortion law (though currently not in effect) which includes criminal penalties on doctors who commit abortion and more.

The Parental Notice Abortion – Repeal, HB2467 [*and SB1594] will repeal the Parental Notice of Abortion Act of 1995 which presently requires notification – not consent.  What does this mean?

1. Parents will never know if their child has become pregnant and had an abortion unless their child shares the information
2. If the child is having multiple abortions, the parents will not know.
3. If a child is being sexually abused by an adult, the parents are not given the last opportunity to be tipped off that something may be wrong and therefore, come to the aid of their daughter.

All bills could be voted out of committee at any time.  The bills might then go immediately to the House and Senate floor for a vote.

Please take action:

1. Contact your state representative and urge him/her to oppose HB2495, the Reproductive Health Care Act, and HB2467, the Parental Notice of Abortion. Click here to find out who your representative is and how to contact him/her.
2. *Please contact your state senator and urge him/her to oppose SB1594, the Parental Notice of Abortion-Repeal. Click here to find out who your senator is and how to contact him/her.
3. Forward this alert to your family, friends, as well as, churches in your area.

Please join me in prayer that Christians will defend the sanctity of life and legislators will be convicted of the sanctity of life and vote accordingly.

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”- Edmund Burke

Debbie Leininger
State Director
CWA of Illinois
[email protected]
il.cwfa.org
815-297-2918

Take the next step!

• Consider donating to CWA of Illinois online or write a check out to “Concerned Women for America,” put “CWA of IL” on the memo line, and then send it to CWA of Illinois at 1255 W. Empire Street, Freeport, IL 61032. Our state is run exclusively through donations. Thank you in advance for considering this opportunity.
• Visit the CWA of Illinois webpage to see how you can become involved in our organization.
• If someone forwarded this e-alert to you, and you would like to be on our e-alert list, email me, and I will be happy to add you.  You will receive legislative, project and event notices.

Partial Birth Abortion Bill Repeal and No Parental Notice is up for a vote in the Illinois House of Representatives.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Democrat-controlled General Assembly are making good on their promise to make Illinois the most progressive women’s reproductive rights state in the nation.  The provisions in these bills are evil, plain and simple.

We must do everything we can to put a stop to the murder of the unborn. If the Christians in Illinois do not stand up for the unborn in Illinois, who will?

House Bills Expanding Abortion “Rights”:

Reproductive Health Act HB2495 Sponsored by State Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-District 14) will expand abortion rights.

1. Will repeal the Partial Birth Abortion Ban which would then allow babies to be killed up to the time of birth.
2. Will make it mandatory that all private health insurance companies in the state provide coverage for abortion.
3. Will repeal a 1975 Illinois abortion law (though currently not in effect) which includes criminal penalties on doctors who commit abortion and more.

Parental Notice Abortion – Repeal HB2467 Sponsored by State Rep. Chris Emanuel Welch (D-District 7) Will repeal the Parental Notice of Abortion Act of 1995 which presently requires notification – not consent.  What does this mean?

1. That parents will never know if their child has become pregnant and had an abortion unless their child shares the information
2. That if the child is having multiple abortions, the parents will not know.
3. That if a child is being sexually abused by an adult, the parents are not given the last opportunity to be tipped off that something may be wrong and therefore, come to the aid of their daughter.

Both are expected to be voted out of committee any time.  They may immediately then go to the House floor for a vote.

Please take action:

1. Please contact your state representative and urge him/her to oppose HB2495, Reproductive Health Care Act, and HB2467, Parental Notice of Abortion. Click here to find out who your representative is and how to contact him/her. Be sure to let them know that you are a member of Concerned Women for America of Illinois.
2. Forward this alert to your family, friends, as well as, churches in your area.

Please join me in prayer that Christians will defend the sanctify of life and legislators will be convicted of the sanctity of life and vote accordingly.

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”- Edmund Burke

Debbie Leininger
State Director
CWA of Illinois
[email protected]
il.cwfa.org
815-297-2918

Take the next step!

• Consider donating to CWA of Illinois online or write a check out to “Concerned Women for America,” put “CWA of IL” on the memo line, and then send it to CWA of Illinois at 1255 W. Empire Street, Freeport, IL 61032. Our state is run exclusively through donations. Thank you in advance for considering this opportunity.
• Visit the CWA of Illinois webpage to see how you can become involved in our organization.
• If someone forwarded this e-alert to you, and you would like to be on our e-alert list, email me, and I will be happy to add you.  You will receive legislative, project and event notices.

LGBTQ rights proponent, Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia (D-Aurora), has sponsored House Bill 0922.  If passed, the bill will require every public middle and high school in Illinois to provide free tampons and sanitary napkins in every bathroom.

House Bill 0922, “Amends the School Code. Provides that a school district shall make feminine hygiene products available, at no cost to students, in each bathroom of every school building (rather than in bathrooms of school buildings). Effective immediately.”

Note: The addition of the word “each” mandates the inclusion of feminine hygiene dispensers in every boy’s/men’s bathroom.

Question: How much will the installation of hygiene dispensers in each boy’s bathroom cost Illinois tax-payers?  A more cost-effective solution would be to have transgendered “boys” get their supplies from the school counselor’s office.

This bill is a legislative mandate to further the LGBTQ agenda in the state of Illinois.  They are looking for any and all opportunities to communicate a message that the LGBTQ lifestyle is common, normal, and emotionally and physically healthy. Let your voice be heard.

This bill is on its second reading, so it is important to act now.

Please take action! 

1. Contact your state representative and urge him/her to oppose HB0922 – Public School Personal Hygiene Bill. Click here to find out who your representative is and how to contact him/her. Be sure to let them know that you are a member of Concerned Women for America of Illinois.
2. Forward this alert to your family, friends, as well as, churches in your area.

Please join with me in prayer that:

• Christians will defend their pro-family values and demand Biblical truth in legislation.
• Legislators will seek God’s wisdom and guidance before voting on LGBTQ-related bills.
• God will intervene to halt the LGBTQ indoctrination of public-school children.

 “But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in Me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck” (Mark 9:42)

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”- Edmund Burke

Debbie Leininger
State Director
[email protected]
il.cwfa.org
815-297-2918

Take the next step!

• Consider donating to CWA of Illinois online or write a check out to “Concerned Women for America,” put “CWA of IL” on the memo line, and then send it to CWA of Illinois at 1255 W. Empire Street, Freeport, IL 61032. Our state is run exclusively through donations. Thank you in advance for considering this opportunity.
• Visit the CWA of Illinois webpage to see how you can become involved in our organization.
• If someone forwarded this e-alert to you, and you would like to be on our e-alert list, email me, and I will be happy to add you.  You will receive legislative, project and event notices.

Dear friend,

Good news! State Rep. Darren Bailey (R-District 109) has filed House Bill 341, which “provides that a school board may allow the motto ‘In God We Trust’ to be displayed in a conspicuous location inside or outside each school building”.

Co-sponsors of the bill are Rep. Andrew Chesney (R-District 89) and Rep. Chris Miller (R-District 110).

Earlier this month after Rep. Bailey was sworn in, he stated, “One of my first bills to sponsor will be to permit schools to prominently display the words ‘In God We Trust’ just like our American currency has on every dollar bill.” And last week Bailey said the current political climate shows a need for a return to Christian principles. “As a God-fearing Christian, I believe that the lack of such is the problem in our country today.” Is this not refreshing?! 

Rep. Andrew Chesney says the bill would protect schools who do not wish to use the phrase. “It doesn’t force schools to do this. It just simply acknowledges that some may want to do this, and there might be some uncertainty if they can do this without the threat of lawsuits, so we hope that this bill would help clarify that.”

Several states, including Florida, Louisiana, Colorado, Mississippi, Virginia, and Arkansas, have passed bills to have the National Motto displayed in public schools throughout their state.  

Please take action:

• Please contact your state representative and urge him/her to support of HB 341 SCH CD, In God We Trust Display. And, ask him/her to sign on as a co-sponsor as well. Click here to find out who your representative is and how to contact him/her. Be sure to let your representative know that you are a member of Concerned Women for America of Illinois.
• Forward this alert to your family, friends, as well as, churches in your area.

Please join me in prayer that:

• There will be a return to Christian principles in our nation.
• School-aged children will see the National Motto displayed on their school buildings.
• School-aged children will be taught the truth about American’s Christian heritage.
• Illinois legislators will support HB 341.

History of IN GOD WE TRUST

“Our National Motto has a long history, and it is deeply interwoven into our heritage. The National Motto, ‘In God We Trust,’ was created by Act of Congress and signed into law on July 30, 1956, by President Eisenhower. The National Motto was affirmed in 2002, and then in 2011 the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly (396 to 9) passed a resolution reaffirming the National Motto and encouraging the public display of this motto in all public buildings and public schools. Numerous state legislatures have passed similar laws and are encouraging schools and state offices to place a poster with the National Motto in every classroom.” – Delbra Pratt, State Director, Illinois Prayer Caucus Network 

America was founded upon Judeo/Christian precepts. Belief in God is an important part of our identity as Americans.

Illinois native, President Ronald Reagan, warned about Christian complacency.  We would be wise to heed his words:

• “Without God, a democracy cannot and will not long endure.”
• “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.”
• “If we ever forget that we are One Nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.”

Bottom line: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” (Psalm 32:12) 

Debbie Leininger
State Director
CWA of Illinois
[email protected]
il.cwfa.org

Contact me today to find out how you can get more involved with CWA of Illinois.

• Inquire if there is a Prayer/Action Chapter in your area and/or find out how to start one.
• If someone forwarded this e-alert to you, and you would like to be on our e-alert list, send me your email address and I will be happy to add you.  You will receive legislative, project and event notices.
• Donate to CWA of Illinois.  Our state is run exclusively through donations.