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News and Events

Jan 26 2021
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Baby in womb

CWA Calls on Congress to Hold the Line on Life

By | Hyde Amendment, News and Events, Sanctity of Life | No Comments

Two hundred House Republicans sent a letter to House and Senate leaders today “to express our unified opposition to Congressional Democrats’ efforts to repeal the Hyde Amendment and other current-law, pro-life appropriations provisions.” They pledge to oppose any government funding bill that eliminates or weakens the Hyde Amendment or other pro-life appropriations protections in current law. Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee joined in support of this vital initiative with the following statement:

“Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee calls on Congress to Hold the Line on Life. We must Save Hyde as a continuing promise to American workers that our federal taxes will not be used to pay for annihilating unborn children. No humane society should promote the destruction of human life with its tax dollars.”

Read the letter to House and Senate leadership, released by the Republican Study Committee.

The Washington Examiner quotes CWA’s support for the initiative.

Jan 25 2021
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Political Revenge Impeachment Not Good for the Country

By | CEO, Legislative Updates, News and Events, Press Releases | No Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   

January 25, 2021

 

Contact: 

Natalie Panettiere

202-266-4816, [email protected]

 

Political Revenge Impeachment Not Good for the Country

Washington, D.C. – This evening, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) and House Democrats will formally transmit the article of impeachment against former President Donald J. Trump to the United States Senate. House impeachment manager Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Maryland) is expected to read the article of impeachment on the Senate floor at roughly 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Penny Nance, CEO and President of Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee (CWALAC), had this to say concerning the prospect of a political impeachment trial in the U.S. Senate:

“At a time when the country needs healing and reconciliation, the Democrats’ insistence on this constitutionally dubious political assault on a former president and his approximately 74 million supporters is unconscionable.

“There are serious issues that require immediate congressional action—from the pandemic to the economy to our national defense. That Democratic leadership finds it appropriate to waste the country’s time on yet another attempt at getting their political nemesis, Donald Trump, shows what little regard they have for the public’s needs. They are willing to inflict further damage on our frail national social fabric in order to get their political revenge.

“Senators from both sides of the aisle should consider what is best for the country as they proceed. They should not risk the nation’s long-term welfare for petty political resentment. They should put an end to this impeachment charade and move forward with the people’s business.”

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Jan 22 2021
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Penny Nance Quoted in the Washington Times

By | CEO, News and Events, Sanctity of Life | No Comments

Penny Nance, CEO and President of Concerned Women for America, is quoted in the Washington Times article, Biden, Harris commit to ‘codifying Roe’ as pro-lifers decry abortion agenda.

Nance, “This week, Joe Biden took his hand off the Holy Bible at his swearing-in and within hours began a full out assault on women and human life as president,” said Concerned Women for America president Penny Nance. “It is only the beginning of his promised actions to erase women and force taxpayers to finance the killing of unborn babies, underscoring the dark consequences of this election.”

Jan 22 2021
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Press Release: Women are Grieving as Biden Initiates Assault on Female Identity and the Sanctity of Human Life

By | CEO, News and Events, Press Releases, Sanctity of Life, Sexual Exploitation, Women's Sports | No Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 22, 2021

Contact:
Natalie Panettiere
202-266-4816, [email protected]

Women are Grieving as Biden Initiates Assault  on Female Identity and the Sanctity of Human Life

Statement from Penny Young Nance, CEO and President of Concerned Women for America:

“As women who stand for what it means to be female created in God’s image and bearers of human life, Concerned Women for America (CWA) is grieving today on the 48th anniversary of Roe v. Wade.

“This week, Joe Biden took his hand off the Holy Bible at his swearing-in and within hours began a full out assault on women and human life as president. It is only the beginning of his promised actions to erase women and force taxpayers to finance the killing of unborn babies, underscoring the dark consequences of this election.

“With the stroke of a pen, President Biden ordered federal agencies to replace the meaning of sex with “gender identity,” allowing any male to claim status as a woman. Let me be clear, CWA will never accept the identity theft of female dignity. We will actively oppose this policy along with every real feminist in America.

“Biden’s radical gender policy eviscerates protections for women in domestic violence shelters, prisons, and locker rooms. His order aims to repeal Title IX, a civil rights law enacted 48 years ago to advance women’s equal rights in education and athletics. Biden’s mandate rejects a sex-based standard in women’s sports, even though poll after poll shows 75-80% of Americans oppose allowing biological males to compete against female athletes in women’s sports.

“With equal audacity, President Biden dispatched Dr. Anthony Fauci to the World Health Organization to preview his aggressive abortion agenda. Dr. Fauci announced the repeal of Mexico City Policy, which prevents taxpayer funds from being used to promote abortion as women’s health care overseas – a restriction 75% of the American people support. Of all people, Dr. Fauci should be unifying the country to fight COVID-19, not doing Biden’s bidding to promote a culture of death.

“Biden has nominated an abortion radical, Xavier Becerra, to be Secretary of Health and Human Services.  As California’s Attorney General, Becerra aggressively sued the Little Sisters of the Poor and other states for their laws to limit abortion. Biden has promised to repeal Title X regulations and the Hyde Amendment, forcing American taxpayers to fund the destruction of innocent human life on demand, despite the fact a majority of Americans oppose these repeals.

“Unity is clearly not the objective of the Biden Administration. Americans should be shocked and appalled by the deeds this President has done to divide this country in just his first hours in office.”

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Jan 18 2021
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Why Join Young Women for America?

By | News and Events, YWA | No Comments

Why Join Young Women for America?
A Community for Politically Conservative, Christian Women in College

“The Harvard of Christian schools” —that’s Wheaton College. I chose to attend Wheaton College for many reasons, mainly because I felt called by the Lord. It is known as an academically challenging institution that prioritizes students’ faith development. From school chapels, to all school communions, to prayer in class, Wheaton clearly demonstrates its commitment to growing students intellectually and spiritually.

Even in 2021, Wheaton was named one of the most conservatives schools in the country by the Princeton Review and Niche. As someone who was interested in the political realm, I took note of that. In comparison to other colleges, Wheaton is relatively conservative. Truth be told, dancing in public just became permitted in 2003. The campus is dry. Wheaton does not have fraternities and sororities, but we find our ways to have fun.

In comparison to other secular schools, Wheaton is in fact pretty politically conservative as well, although not to the extent I expected. I have learned that even at conservative colleges, it is important for politically active, Christian, conservative women to find and support one another. That’s one of the reasons I wanted to begin a Young Women for America (YWA) chapter at Wheaton. Young Women for America seeks to educate young female leaders on Biblical and conservative issues, equipping them to then educate their peers while surrounding themselves with a community of women who share their core beliefs.

Although I identified as more politically conservative than politically progressive, I was concerned that I would not be around people with differing perspectives. I soon realized I was wrong. Whether it was politically or theologically, people across the campus shared varying stances on political issues. Even though we were brothers and sisters in Christ, we disagreed on how to approach policy. From discussions on economic systems to abortion rights, it became clear that students held a wide range of perspectives.

As I began my freshman year, I started realizing that I was one of the more politically conservative people on campus. It seemed like most of the politically engaged students tended to be more left leaning. One of my closest friends at Wheaton, for example, is pro-choice, and she is anything but alone in her thinking. In all honesty, I was surprised by how many people at Wheaton favored more liberal stances on social issues.
I expected a few people who favored pro-choice policy but did not realize their presence would be as popular as it turned out to be.

As I entered into my sophomore year, it became increasingly clear that the conservative voice on campus was relatively quiet. Whether it was faculty, students, or staff, I started to question who I could go to and discuss politics. I was wrestling with these issues. “How can I honor God politically?” “Have I been thinking about things incorrectly my entire life?” “How can so many people follow God and support abortion rights?” I was and still am in need of guidance; I am only 21.

However, I found it difficult to find support and encouragement when approaching these topics. I found it difficult to be transparent about my political views, because the conservative perspective in classes frankly seemed to be less popular among students. I felt like I had a hard time articulating my thoughts in one of my classes in particular because I did not want to be cast as insensitive or non-empathetic. In all candor, I questioned where the other politically conservative people were at Wheaton. Maybe they just are not as politically involved? Maybe they also feel isolated in their thinking? Have they already found their community of politically like-minded people?

Yes, I wanted to hear other perspectives, but I also wanted to grow in my own values and beliefs. For any person, it is important to have a community of people who support you in your beliefs. On college campuses across the country, conservative voices are lacking. Many young women, especially, feel disheartened by their inability to find people who view life through a similar ideological lens. It can be pretty discouraging to consistently face push back for possessing unpopular opinions. Young Women for America seeks to create a community for like-minded women to engage and depend on one another. There is something special and empowering about a group designed especially for Christian women. Not only does Young Women for America seek to foster members’ knowledge of political issues, but to also grow their faith. This is not simply a political group or a ministry, but a way to incorporate the two. It is unique to have a set community for young women who share the same faith which then informs their political ideology.

This marriage of Christianity and conservative principles is one of the reasons I wanted to begin a Young Women for America chapter at Wheaton. It was clear that the women’s voices on campus needed to be heard. I have found that there are many women who tend to be more conservative but are concerned about how to articulate their beliefs. That is why groups like YWA are so necessary.
Politically conservative women should be equipped to engage with those who think differently than them. Whether that be learning about special topics or hosting speakers, we need to foster and grow in our knowledge on how to have conversations with those who think differently.

YWA focuses on seven issues particularly, approaching them all from a Biblical perspective. The hope is that we can affect change in our colleges, communities, and beyond by educating, advocating, and praying for these principles. With colleges becoming more politically progressive, it is crucial that politically conservative women are able to find their voices. And YWA helps in that effort.
When it comes to political issues, it is important that we utilize research and arguments from a Biblical foundation as well. We should have an active voice that is not silent, even if society claims that being socially progressive is morally right.
In order to better represent the conservative voice, we have to surround ourselves with those who will help us engage with those who are more hesitant to hear our perspective. With an edifying community, we can grow in our ability to communicate our views and amplify our voices.

Ultimately, Young Women for American offers a place for young women to learn, support, and pray for the country and greater world.

By Hayden Sledge, YWA Chapter President at Wheaton College 

Jan 15 2021
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What To Do Until Inauguration Day

By | CEO, News and Events | No Comments

On Wednesday of next week, the United States will inaugurate a new President. Joe Biden will take the oath as the 46th President. All of us can look around and see the conflict and discontent in our country. I was seeking the Lord about the state of our nation and asking Him for a word of direction. The word I got was PRAY!

I have put together a prayer guide for the next six days until Inauguration Day, which I would encourage you to use to guide your prayer time leading up to the inauguration. We will be having a time of concentrated prayer on Wednesday, January 20,  at 4:00 p.m. Eastern (3:00 p.m. Central; 2:00 p.m. Mountain, 1:00 p.m. Pacific). By that time, we will have a new president, and we will be gathering to pray for the new President and the new administration.

Register here to attend this time of concentrated prayer. Thank you for standing with CWA in prayer for our nation.

Penny Nance
CEO and President

Jan 15 2021
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U.S. House Barrels Through Trump Impeachment

By | Legal, Legislative Updates, News and Events | No Comments

Despite a plea by many to focus on a peaceful transition of power and warnings against fomenting further political upheaval following the unconscionable violence at the U.S. Capitol, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) stoked the flames of impeachment this week to punish the departing president.  The House passed two resolutions, the first ordering Vice President Mike Pence to convene a meeting of the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment to the Constitution and declare the sitting president “unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.”

In a letter of response to Speaker Pelosi, Vice President Pence responded that with just eight days left in his term, “I do not believe that such a course of action is in the best interest of our Nation or consistent with our Constitution.” The Vice President urged the Speaker and every member of Congress to “avoid actions that would further divide and inflame the passions of the moment” and to work together to “unite the country.”

A second resolution was introduced for the purpose of “Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors.” Two hours of debate was equally divided between the parties, and a vote on the resolution passed 232-197 with ten Republicans joining the Democrats in favor of the impeachment resolution.

Meanwhile, political punishment and retribution were aggressively directed at members of Congress who opposed the certification of electors in particular states over serious irregularities in the election process. Concerned Women for America (CWA) CEO and President Penny Nance joined conservative leaders in calling out the “opportunistic attempts by some to use last week’s events as a pretext to dismiss legitimate concerns about election irregularities, and illegal and unconstitutional actions.”

In their memo titled “Cruz, Hawley, Brooks, and colleagues follow the Constitution,” Nance and leaders of the Conservative Action Project denounce the attack on the Capitol but defend the constitutional mandate of Congress:

“Conservatives condemn the violent actions that took place at the United States Capitol last week. Our self-government is founded upon the rule of law, and violence as a form of protest is never acceptable. Unlike most Democrats, we condemned the violent actions of rioters over the summer. We condemn the recent violence with equal vigor.

“But one thing is also clear: the actions of 8 Senators and 139 House members, including Sen. Josh Hawley, Sen. Ted Cruz, and many others, who intended to or did debate the certification of certain states’ 2020 electors is not, and never will be, tantamount to violence. The right and ability to object to electoral certification is written into the Constitution and housed in the procedural rights of those who represent us.”

The timeline for what happens next is unresolved and is anyone’s guess. Under the Constitution, the House is required to transmit formally the impeachment resolution to the Senate. The Senate is required to hold a trial with House managers bringing the charges against the president and the president’s defense responding to the charges. But President Trump will no longer be president as of noon on January 20.  Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has announced that he will not call the Senate back before its scheduled return on January 19 since time does not allow for a serious trial to be conducted before Inauguration Day. After that point, a new party will control the reins of the U.S. Senate, and a new president will occupy the White House. It will be incumbent on them to determine the path forward.  Will they choose to work to unite the country or to continue stoking the flames of political division?

Jan 15 2021
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Follow Through on Final Actions will Provide Foundation for Future Battles

By | Legislative Updates, News and Events | No Comments

The Trump Administration has taken several important actions in the final weeks of office that will provide an important foundation of policy, fact, and analysis as we anticipate the battleground defining the policy agenda of the next administration. Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee (CWALAC) was directly engaged in contributing to, commenting on, and advocating for these policy actions:

  1. HHS “Keep Kids First” Rule. HHS issued a final rule to protect faith-based adoption and foster care agencies that ensures federal grants are in line with nondiscrimination statutes and long-standing religious liberty protections. The final rule follows the rule of law, correcting the activism of the Obama administration that imposed new categories of sex discrimination on grantees and sidelined many faith-based adoption and foster care providers. HHS’s action aims to protect the ability of Christian adoption and foster care providers to participate in grant programs and maintain their rights under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. It also asserts the government’s responsibility to adhere to federal statutes as passed by Congress and relevant Supreme Court decisions, not pursue an activist expansion of civil rights laws.
  1. Bostock and Title IX. The U.S. Department of Education Office of General Counsel issued a concise directive to the Office for Civil Rights for how the Bostock decision relates to its authority under Title IX. The Question & Answer document, which was sent to over 56,000 education entities across the country, is an official legal analysis that will require a new administration to reckon with its facts before taking any action to impose a new definition of “sex” on schools. The directive asserts, “The Department’s longstanding construction of the term ‘sex’ in Title IX to mean biological sex, male or female, is the only construction consistent with the ordinary public meaning of ’sex’ at the time of Title IX’s enactment.” It makes clear that Bostock does not overrule biological sex with “gender identity” under Title IX and that schools must ensure equal opportunities and benefits in athletics and facilities for women and girls on the basis of biological sex.
  1. Fetal Tissue Research Rulemaking. HHS initiated a rulemaking to govern fetal tissue research conducted by outside researchers as the final step in its promised actions to end unethical research using aborted babies. The proposed rule, “Establishment of Safeguards and Program Integrity Requirements for Health and Human Services-Funded Extramural Research Involving Human Fetal Tissue,” has entered a 30-day public comment period that will continue as scheduled despite a change in administration. This important rulemaking would impose strict requirements and tighten rules on any outside research of this nature supported by federal funds, including banning any abortion provider like Planned Parenthood from supplying and profiting from the acquisition of human fetal tissue for research purposes.

CWALAC applauds these actions as a tribute to our impactful work with policymakers and the tireless dedication of federal officials who have served the Trump Administration with honor in following through on these significant policy achievements. They leave a permanent record that the incoming administration cannot erase.

Jan 14 2021
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Global Pro-Life Leadership Will Carry On in Geneva Consensus Declaration

By | Legislative Updates, News and Events | No Comments

By Doreen Denny, Vice President of Government Relations.

Protecting the sanctity of human life on the global stage was among the first acts of the Trump Administration and is set to become a lasting achievement. During his first days in office, President Trump expanded the Mexico City Policy as Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance in an Executive Order. His administration pursued a rulemaking to help secure these protections. While we can anticipate hostile action by the new administration, the fruitful effort of the Trump Administration coalescing nations to commit to policies that promote life and human flourishing will undercut their premise for any “stroke of the pen” retractions of pro-life policy in U.S. global health assistance going forward.

The Geneva Consensus Declaration initiated by the United States with co-sponsors Brazil, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, and Uganda, and co-signed by 28 additional countries provides an indelible legacy, even if a new administration seeks to reverse course. The joint declaration of October 22, 2020, Promoting Women’s Health and Strengthening the Family, asserts the commitment of coalition nations working together to promote better health care for women, protect human life, strengthen the family unit as the foundation of society, and declare every nation’s sovereignty in global politics. By “reaffirming the inherent dignity and worth of the human person,” the Geneva Consensus Declaration underscores every nation’s sovereign right to push back international abortion ideology and pass their own laws regarding abortion.

In December 2020, the U.S government, on behalf of supporting countries, officially filed the pro-life Geneva Consensus Declaration with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Kelly Craft, Permanent Representative of the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, instructed the Secretary-General to circulate  the declaration with member states as part of the official record of the General Assembly ”inviting all Member States to sign the declaration.”

The declaration has now been issued as an official document of the United Nations and translated into all six official UN languages. This action ensures that the Geneva Consensus Declaration and the good work of the Trump Administration will continue on the world stage, giving other UN member states the opportunity to embrace the declaration, even if U.S. leadership should falter.

As President Trump stated at the 2019 United Nations General Assembly, “Americans will never tire of defending innocent life. We are aware that many United Nations projects have attempted to assert a global right to taxpayer-funded abortion on demand, right up until the moment of delivery. Global bureaucrats have absolutely no business attacking the sovereignty of nations that wish to protect innocent life. Like many nations here today, we in America believe that every child born and unborn is a sacred gift from God.”

Over 76 percent of Americans continue to oppose American taxpayer dollars supporting abortion in other countries. Abortion that destroys innocent human life is not healthcare and should not be promoted as a legitimate form of family planning. There is no international right to abortion, nor any international obligation to finance or facilitate abortion. Every nation has the sovereign right to implement programs and activities consistent with its own laws and policies. They should be able to preserve human dignity as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Geneva Consensus Declaration, not be bullied by pro-abortion nations.

Please join CWA in praying for the incoming administration to stand for life: Lord, we beseech You for the future direction of our country and pray that the United States government will continue to stand for the dignity and worth of every human life.

Jan 12 2021
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Statement from Penny Nance on Impeachment Proceedings

By | CEO, News and Events | No Comments

Concerned Women for America‘s CEO and President Penny Nance released this statement regarding the impeachment proceedings against President Trump:

“If President-elect Joe Biden wants to bring the country together, we need congressional leaders to focus on a productive and peaceful transition of power, not foment political punishment. Our emotions are raw, and this nation needs time to heal. The violence and destruction at the U.S. Capitol last week is indefensible. Wielding political power to weaponize retribution and punish political opponents is antithetical to American ideals. Joe Biden has the opportunity to seek unity and healing, but that will not happen by creating greater strife and rubbing salt into our wounds.”

 

Jan 08 2021
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For America (Day 113) – A Prayer for the New Year

By | LBB, News and Events, Prayer | No Comments

How beautiful are the feet
Of those who bring good news,
Who proclaim peace, good tidings,
And the salvation of the Lord.

May our gaze turn to them;
May our ears hear the sweet sound
Of the proclamation of Your Word
In this new year.

Lord of the harvest,
Send us laborers
For we know the harvest is plentiful.
We need those who love the mission field.

The pain of so many is so evident.
Like sheep without a Shepherd,
They move here and there
Swept by the winds of every moment.

Yet we know of an immovable Rock
Jesus, the Christ
By Whose blood all our sins are swept away.
We know that He alone can save.

Forgive our callousness
Which heretofore has blinded us
And prevented us from the self-sacrifice
You require.

You showed us the way,
Yet we turn away.
Forgive us
And illuminate our hearts and minds.

You are God.
The winds still obey at Your very word.
Let the political winds of the present age
Tremble at the sound of Your Name.

Take this year. Take our lives.
Do as You please, Oh Lord on high!
We stand in awe and are still
To know You and Love You more and more.

Heal our land, heal our hearts,
Unite us as one.
In You we want to abide.
Amen— may it be so.

Jan 08 2021
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Changing the Rules in the 117th Congress – Amen and Awoman?

By | Legislative Updates, News and Events, Religious Liberty, Sexual Exploitation | No Comments

The U.S. House of Representatives convened last Sunday for the opening of the 117th Congress. It became apparent rather quickly that we will have our work cut out for us. Mario Diaz, Concerned Women for America’s General Counsel, and Doreen Denny, Vice President of Government Relations, talk about the opening events that showcased the challenges ahead.  Read the letter that CWALAC sent to the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives opposing the rules changes.

Jan 07 2021
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CWA Response to Lawlessness in D.C.

By | CEO, Legal, Legislative Updates, News and Events | No Comments

Concerned Women for America’s CEO and President Penny Nance responded to the January 6 events at the U.S. Capital in Washington, D.C.

“Lawlessness is not a Christian, conservative value.  @CWforA condemns acts of violence and destruction.  Righteous indignation and strategic political engagement are right and just reactions to injustice not mob rioting.  We are better than this as a nation.  Stop it.”

“I know good, peaceful people who came to #dc to exercise their First Amendment rights in reaction to voter fraud, but they need to go home now.  Others are using it as an excuse for criminal behavior.  Unacceptable!  @CWforA @YWforA”

Jan 06 2021
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I will not allow who I am to be erased. Will you?

By | Erasing Women, News and Events | No Comments

By Keri Ann Thompson, CWA Staff

I have several roles in my life that I cherish and would not want to change for any amount of money or treasure. They are: wife, mother, daughter, sister, godmother, and aunt. There is a feeling of belonging and identity that happens with those words.

I am a wife. My husband chose me, and I chose him. I didn’t earn it. He saw something in me that made him want to cherish me, protect me, love me. I saw something in him that made me want to walk beside him and be his confidant. As my husband, he is my provider and protector.  As his wife, I am his constant companion and support. We are different, yet we are equal.

I am a mother. Again, I didn’t earn it. This title is so incredibly precious to me. I was told at a young age that I would likely not have children. We were so surprised after seven years of marriage to find that I was pregnant. We had a beautiful son, then found out about two years later found that we were pregnant again. Tragically, we lost that baby to miscarriage.  Blessedly, we have our rainbow baby girl who came along about a year-and-a-half later.  Hearing them call me “Mommy” is one of the greatest blessings of my day each day. No other person will be their mommy, just like no other person will be their daddy.

I am a daughter. Once again, I had no choice in the matter. Biology made me a girl.  God’s wisdom gave me my unique set of parents. I played with both G.I. Joe and Barbie with my friends; I skateboarded and rode bikes; I climbed trees and jumped out of them; I wore a dress to church on Sunday. These things didn’t make me a daughter or a son. Biology did that.

I am a sister. What a unique bond sisters have. My sister and I did not get along well when we were kids, but now we are an integral part of each other’s lives. I did not choose my sister.  She was chosen for me, and I for her. To say that we are “siblings” is technically correct but does not connotate the depth of feeling and relationship that we have. There was a time when “sibling” would have been enough for me. Now, only “sister” carries the weight of our bond.

I am a godmother and an aunt. These relationships are the same to me, except that I got to choose to be a godmother. I did not choose my two nephews, but I did choose my goddaughter and godson. I love these four as if they were my own children. I want what is best for them. I love getting to spoil them, teach them, pray for them, and interact in their lives.  I love that they can see me as a second mother to them.

I have other roles in life. I am an employee, a teacher, a friend, a confidant, a counselor, and many more things. None of these things carry the weight to me that those listed previously do.  There is a responsibility in those words. There is honor in those words. There is character in those words.

The 117th Congress of the United States of America has decided that those words no longer have any meaning. This small group of people has decided that who I am, what I am, how I identify myself does not matter. As women, we have fought for centuries to be seen as having equal rights with the men around us. We fought for the right to vote.  We broke through stereotypes and became business owners, leaders in our communities, and even members of Congress.  We have worked so hard to be seen as equals. “Equal” does not mean “erased.”  Why are we now allowing ourselves to be erased?

I am a spouse, but more than that, I am a wife.

I am a parent, but more than that, I am a mom.

I am a child, but more than that, I am a daughter.

I am a sibling, but more than that, I am a sister.

I am a relative, but more than that, I am a godmother and aunt.

I will not allow who I am to be erased. Will you?

Dec 31 2020
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How to Face 2021

By | Legal, News and Events | No Comments

In some ways, many of us could not wait to put 2020 behind us. It was a terrible year for many families and businesses following the COVID-19 pandemic. In another sense, though, it feels like there is still some unfinished business with 2020 that prevents us from fully embracing the plan God is setting before us for 2021.

The election certainly feels that way. Even following a vaccine, the continued lockdowns, and the uncertainty about what is to come, have many of us are feeling exhausted even before the new year begins. How can we face 2021 feeling this way?

I will tell you; I look no further than the preeminence of Christ. Paul wrote to the Church at Colossae that, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him.” (Colossians 1:15-16)

Did you notice that by Him, thrones and dominions and rulers and authorities are created? Do you see how relevant this word is for us today in America as we face 2021 full of uncertainty?

We may not know many things, but we know one thing as sure as the sun lights the sky: by Jesus Christ, rulers and authorities are put in their positions of power.

What joy! What assurance! For we know this God is good and merciful, loving and kind; His ways are perfect.

Why do we fret then? Why do we worry? Why do we wonder how we will keep things together?

Paul continued, “And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together” (v.17).

It is in Him that all things hold together. It is through Him, that’s how.

Do you believe it? If you do as I do, then it is to Him that we should go with all our concerns over January 5 and 6, and 20. We go to Him, and we can rest in His loving care. He is in control.

“[H]e is the head of the body, the church,” Paul wrote, “the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent” (v. 18).

Here we arrive at our plan of action, dear readers. Let us allow Jesus Christ to have preeminence in all our endeavors in 2021. He is our aim—His exaltation. Our minds must be continually on Him; we live and breathe, pray and take action in a manner worthy of Him who called us by His grace.

Let joy be our trademark. Let the peace of God, which surpasses understanding, be the sweet aroma permeating all our engagements. God is in control.

In some ways, I see many of us as the disciples on the boat. The storm hit; there is chaos around. They are scared. The boat is filling up with water. Will they make it?

So, they go to Jesus, who is sound asleep in the stern. “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” they asked (Mark 4:38).

Tears fill my eyes almost every time I read that question. We are seriously this clueless—this self-absorbed. We dare question the Master’s love—His care.

Many of us are asking Him this very question today. “Jesus, will you allow them to get away with this? Do you not care?”

He does. It pains me to have to write these two words, but He does. It physically hurts me to admit that I need the reminder.

And consider Jesus’ loving response, even as He rebukes the winds and the rain: “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” (Mark 4:40)

Well, have you? Do you doubt He can rise and rebuke the political winds from our storm and restore peace?

I tell you, there is no force in nature capable of withstanding His rebuke. Believe it! God is on the move, and He will leave us standing in awe at His mighty works, wondering, “who is this that even the political winds and the pandemic sea obey Him?”

This is as true for us in 2021 as it was for the disciples in Jesus’ day.

By Mario Diaz, Esq., CWA General Counsel
Download printable copy.

Dec 31 2020
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education students

Trump Orders Emergency Learning Scholarships

By | Education, Legislative Updates, News and Events | No Comments

As 2020 Ends and Schools Stay Closed, President Trump Orders Emergency Learning Scholarships to Offer Hope in the New Year  

COVID-19 caused many public schools to stay closed for most of 2020, creating mounting hardships for American students and their ability to continue learning effectively, especially those in difficult circumstances. Building on his past actions to help support students, President Trump closed out the year by signing an Executive Order “to ensure the education, health, safety, and well-being of America’s children, our most essential resource upon which the future of our great Nation depends.”

Under the Executive Order on Expanding Educational Opportunity Through School Choice, President Trump is seeking to protect American students who need in-person learning options from prolonged school closures. Despite providing $13 billion in federal support for K-12 schools to safely resume in-person learning earlier this year, more than half of all public-school students began school remotely this fall. The lack of in-person learning is showing the greatest harm among low-income students and students with disabilities.

As noted in the President’s order, research and surveys conducted through the pandemic have revealed many sobering results:

  • Students’ math progress in low-income neighborhoods decreased by nearly 50 percent, and those from middle-income neighborhoods fell by almost a third.
  • Eighty percent of children with special needs are not receiving the services and supports to which they are entitled, and approximately 40 percent of children with special needs are receiving no services or supports.
  • Educators found student absences, including from virtual learning, have nearly doubled during the pandemic.

Analysts are projecting now that if in-person learning does not resume fully in the new year, low-income students will lose over a year of learning.

To help mitigate this harm, President Trump wants to provide “emergency learning scholarships,” offering direct support to disadvantaged families with K-12 students. Under the order, the President instructs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to act consistently with law to allow funds available through the Community Services Block Grant program to be used for emergency learning scholarships for any eligible child lacking access to in-person schooling. As outlined, these scholarships may be used for: tuition and fees for a private or parochial school; homeschool, micro-school, or learning-pod costs; special education and related services, including therapies; or tutoring or remedial education.

The President declares, “I am committed to ensuring that all children of our great Nation have access to the educational resources they need to obtain a high-quality education and to improving students’ safety and well-being, including by empowering families with emergency learning scholarships.”

With teachers’ unions standing in the way of expanding parental choice and educational options for students, we hope the President’s closing act of 2020 will be the ticket to freedom many families have been hoping for in the new year.

Dec 24 2020
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A Christmas Message from Penny Nance

By | CEO, News and Events | No Comments

It’s Christmas Day! What a wonderful time to reflect on the birth of our Savior and God’s goodness. Scripture tells us that, “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel’ (which means, God with us).”

And that is the thought I’d like to leave with you today. God is near.

I know 2020 was a tough year for many, but we must never equate adversity with the absence of God.

So, I lift up a prayer for you today wherever you are, whatever situation you are going through, that you may experience Immanuel, God with you.

Merry Christmas!

Penny Nance
CEO and President

Dec 24 2020
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For America— A Christmas Prayer

By | News and Events | No Comments

Written by CWA’s General Counsel Mario Diaz, Esq.

Oh Lord, Our God,
Your Majestic Holiness
Fills us with joy
Throughout the Christmas season.

Your wondrous works displayed
On that day in Bethlehem
Keep our hearts and minds engaged still today,
Amazed at the extent of Your Love.

The sounds of that “Silent Night,”
Are forever on our lips.
Let the people hear us sing,
“Gloria, in excelsis Deo (Glory to God in the highest!)”

Let the “thrill of hope” be felt
In the midst of our weary world.
“Born is the King of Israel,”
The babe — the King of the whole world.

Glad tidings, You brought,
A Gospel of Truth, salvation for all,
If we only believe.
What joy; what peace!

Immanuel — God with us.
God with us.
How can this be?
You, here, for me?

There is no other comfort,
Apart from this —
Apart from You: the Prince of Peace,
Eternal Father, Mighty God.

Of Your kingdom, there shall be no end.
We stand as a testament,
Moving and breathing, hoping and longing
In You, through You, and for You.

May Yours be the glory and honor,
Majesty and power,
Forever and ever,
Amen.

Dec 22 2020
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Bipartisan Duo in Congress Unites to Protect Women’s Sports

By | Legislative Updates, News and Events, Sexual Exploitation, Women's Sports | No Comments

Democrat Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) and Republican Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma) have joined hands across the aisle to protect the rights of female athletes under Title IX, the federal law that ensures equal opportunities and benefits in education on the basis of sex. A former 2020 Democrat presidential candidate and four-term member of Congress, Gabbard has bucked the Democrat party’s lock-step campaign to repeal Title IX discrimination based on biological sex and replace the definition of sex with gender identity. This manipulation of Title IX’s intent gives any male the chance to claim transgender status and compete on women’s sports teams.

In the first demonstration of bipartisanship on this issue, Reps Gabbard and Mullin introduced the Protect Women’s Sports Act patterned after a bill introduced earlier this year by Republican House members Greg Steube (R-Florida) and Debbie Lesko (R-Arizona). The legislation has a straightforward objective: reaffirm Title IX’s intent based on biological sex and require schools receiving federal funds to abide by this biological distinction in women’s sports in order to comply with federal civil rights law.

By opposing male transgender participation in women’s sports, Gabbard makes a significant statement about the current extremism of her party denying equality of rights for women and girls as female.

In 1972, Title IX provided landmark protections for female students in education by prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex. This opened a world of new opportunities for women and girls in academics and athletics that has become commonplace three generations later. Most girls today have no idea what their predecessors fought to achieve and won – nor what they stand to lose.

But some female student-athletes, like Selina Soule, Chelsea Mitchell and Alanna Smith in Connecticut; Madison Kenyon and Mary Kate Marshall in Idaho; and the daughter of world-champion track athlete Cynthia Monteleone in Hawaii, have faced a different reality as they were forced to compete on an unfair playing field against biological males identifying as girls and forfeit the chance to succeed as they should.

Activism around transgender inclusion in women’s sports is sidelining the achievements of female student-athletes, putting their safety at risk, and silencing their voices. It is also rewriting the purpose of what Title IX was enacted to protect. Democrats have been hypocritical about this discrimination against women and girls, choosing to ignore biological truths that matter in sports (and facilities) and bowing instead to transactivist demands that deny the rights of females who have the most to lose.

In a statement on the Protect Women’s Sports Act, Gabbard declares, ”Our legislation protects Title IX’s original intent which was based on the general biological distinction between men and women athletes based on sex. It is critical that the legacy of Title IX continues to ensure women and girls in sports have the opportunity to compete and excel on a level playing field.”

Mullins, the father of wrestlers including three daughters, had this to say, ”As the father of three girls involved in athletics, I want them to be able to compete on a level playing field. I am proud to lead this bill that will safeguard the integrity of women’s sports and ensure female athletes can compete fairly.”

By reclaiming Title IX protections for female athletes, Tulsi Gabbard is challenging the Democrat party establishment. Her retirement from Congress now leaves the mission to display the same courage to others.  Perhaps they can be persuaded by the substantial majorities of Americans who oppose male trans-athletes competing against females in women’s sports.  As Gabbard’s support and partnership with Mullin make clear, this should not be a partisan issue, but a matter of biological reality, fair play, and common sense – principles that should unite us.

Doreen Denny is Vice President of Government Relations for Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee.

Dec 17 2020
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Concerned Women Today! The Fight to Keep the Hyde Amendment

By | Hyde Amendment, Legislative Updates, News and Events, Sanctity of Life | No Comments

Doreen Denny, CWA’s Vice President of Government Relations, takes you inside the U.S. House of Representatives to get a first-hand account of a hearing on the fight to keep the Hyde Amendment. Should American taxpayers be forced to pay for abortion? If the Democrats in Congress have their way, the answer is Yes.

Listen to the podcast here.