North Dakota

Praise the Lord!  A great majority of the North Dakota House of Representatives supported LIFE! HB 1285, HB 1336 and HB 1546 were passed and are now headed to the North Dakota Senate!

On January 21, CWA of North Dakota submitted testimony in support on HB 1336, the Abortion Pill Reversal bill to the House Human Services Committee.   On January 28, this bill was passed by a vote of 73 yeas and 16 nays!

And again on January 21, CWA of North Dakota submitted testimony.  This time testimony in support of the HB 1546, Prohibition of Dismemberment Abortion bill to the House Human Services Committee. On January 31, the prohibition of dismemberment bill was passed by vote of 78 yeas and 13 nays!  Media coverage of the Prohibition of Dismemberment bill: North Dakota Passes Bill Prohibiting Abortion Method.

On January 31, CWA of North Dakota submitted testimony in support of HB 1285, relating to improving the Safe Haven Law for Children to the House Human Services Committee. On February 6, 2019 this bill was passed by a vote of 92 yeas and 0 nays!

Please take note! 

Elections have consequences for LIFE! Please spread the word to family members and friends living in the districts below about the votes these 13 representatives took not to stand against dismemberment abortions in North Dakota. We must take note.  Click here to find out in which district you live.

Mary Adams (D), District 43, Grand Forks

Matt Eidson (D), District 43, Grand Forks

Gretchen Dobervich (D), District 11, Fargo

Ron Guggisberg (D), District 11, Fargo

Laurie Beth Hager (D), District 21, Fargo

March Schneider (D), District 21, Fargo

Pamela Anderson (D), District 41, Fargo

Josh Boschee (D), District 44, Fargo

Karla Rose Hanson (D), District 44, Fargo

Mary Johnson (R), District 45, Fargo

Richard Holman (D), District 20, Mayville

Bob Martinson (R), District 35, Bismarck

Marvin Nelson, (D), District 9, Rolla

Thank God for the voices of Concerned Women for America national leaders who have spoken out for life!  Watch videos of Penny Young Nance, CEO and President, and Denise Cappuccio,  Director of Finance, speak out against late term abortion in the state of Virginia just last weekend.

Let’s join their voices and stand up to defend life in the womb!

Please pray  that as a family of believers, may we mobilize together around the world, and invite the presence and power of Jesus.  “Awake oh sleeper, arise from the dead and Christ will shine on you.”  Ephesians 5:14

“Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech.”  Proverbs 1:20,21

“Do you now know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  Therefore, honor God with your bodies.”  I Corinthians 6:19-20

Linda Thorson
State Director
CWA of North Dakota
[email protected]

State Director quoted in High Plains Reader.  Check it out!

On Monday, January 21, Concerned Women for America of North Dakota provided testimony to the House Human Services Committee on HB 1336, the abortion pill reversal bill.  This bill mandates that abortionists tell women seeking an abortion about the possibility of reversing the effects of an abortion-inducing drug if they change their mind.  The bill also requires women to be given information about the abortion-inducing drug, in writing, and assistance with reversing the effects of the drug.

Media on the hearing:

• West Dakota Fox News at Nine: Emotion Drives Testimony on 2 ND Abortion Bills
• The Bismarck Tribune: Two Committee Hears Two North Dakota Abortion Bills in Packed Room

Status of bill: HB 1336 received a Do Pass out of committee on an 8-3 vote.  The bill now heads to the House floor for a vote.  

Please Act TODAY:  Contact your two House members and ask them for a “Yes” vote on HB 1336, the Abortion Pill Information Consent bill. To find your House members and their contact information, click here and then type in your street number and zip code. Be sure to let them know that you are a member of Concerned Women for America of North Dakota.  If time allows, please send an e-mail message to all House members listed below and ask for a “Yes” vote on HB 1336, the Abortion Pill Information Consent bill. Be sure to let them know that you are a member of Concerned Women for America of North Dakota.

[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

Pray! Join us in praying for healing for mothers who have had an abortion. Dear Heavenly Father, give comfort that only comes from You to face the future, knowing that forgiveness is free and complete.  Give mothers faith to believe they are forgiven, made pure and that there is no sin that is so bad that You are unwilling to forgive.  May we love one another as You have first loved us!  Thank You, Jesus.  Amen.

“In Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

What will you do to help bring healing to our land?  Will you send a message to our legislators?  Your voice matters!

Linda Thorson
State Director
CWA of North Dakota
nd.cwfa.org
[email protected]
Facebook: Concerned Women for America of North Dakota

On Wednesday, January 23, I gave testimony on your behalf to the Senate Judiciary Committee on SB 2303, relating to the proposed addition to discrimination statues in the case of sexual orientation and ‘gender identity’.”  Click here to read the bill in its entirety.  

Media on the hearing:

• West Dakota Fox News at Nine: Dozens Show Support for Bill to Protect Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination
• The Bismarck Tribune: North Dakota Senate committee rejects LGBT anti-discrimination bill, but amendments expected

Please Act Today:

1. Contact your Senator and ask for a “No vote” on SB 2303, “relating to the proposed addition to discrimination statues in the case of sexual orientation and ‘gender identity’.” Ask them to oppose special rights and to please vote “No” on SB 2303. To find your Senator and their contact information, click here and then type in your street number and zip code.  Be sure to let them know you are a member of Concerned Women for America of North Dakota.
2. If time allows, please send an email message to all Senate members listed below and ask for a “No” vote on SB 2303.

SB 2303 creates discrimination.  When “sexual orientation” or “gender identity” is added to a legal or corporate nondiscrimination code, it opens the door to policies that discriminate against people with traditional views as it attacks and opposes the notion that sexual behavior has moral dimensions. If you would like to expound, consider using some points from my testimony.

This law would not protect rights but would rather grant special privileges based strictly on someone’s sexual behavior.   

This bill is on a fast track. We were just informed that this bill will be voted on tomorrow, January 24. It is very important they receive multiple calls.  In years past, this bill has been voted down every time it has gone before a North Dakota legislative body. That does not guarantee that it is not in jeopardy.  They must hear from us!   

[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] 

Pray! God’s promise to his people is, “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”  John 14:13

Please contact Senators today!   They need to hear from you.

Linda Thorson
State Director
CWA of North Dakota
nd.cwfa.org
[email protected]
Facebook: Concerned Women for America of North Dakota

January 23, 2019

Senate Judiciary Committee

Testimony in Opposition to SB 2303

Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, my name is Linda Thorson, and I am the State Director for Concerned Women for America (CWA) of North Dakota.  We are the state’s largest public policy women’s organization and our country’s largest public policy women’s organization with over 500,000 members.  We are here today on behalf of our North Dakota members in opposition to SB 2303, relating to the prohibition of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

A choice has been put before you today – vote to defend traditional values held for hundreds of years or mollify activists by adopting a bill that would elevate “gender, gender identity & sexual orientation” to protected civil rights status.

CWA of North Dakota opposes SB 2303 for the following reasons:

• SB 2303 is not necessary because special rights have historically been afforded to certain groups in order to ensure that individuals are not discriminated against due to immutable characteristics. North Dakota law already protects these characteristics.
• SB 2303 creates discrimination, not eliminates it. In general, when “sexual orientation” or “gender identity” is added to legal or corporate nondiscrimination code, it is a giant step toward the adoption of policies that discriminate against people with traditional views.
• SB 2303 will create a hostile climate for many employees and citizens, and open businesses and individuals up to government intrusion and lawsuits. The LGBT movement’s strategy has been to transform morality into a form of bigotry, and then use government power to eliminate that “bigotry.”  SB 2303 will put the law on their side to carry this out.
• SB 2303 has limited exemptions for those with personal convictions, thus forcing individuals to accept and support sexual behaviors with which they have a moral disagreement. Those exemptions apply only to those associated with religious organizations or societies. Private businesses, organizations, and individuals that hold convictions outside of religious reasons are not exempt from being forced to follow this law.

If we allow “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to become a matter of law and policy, it will reach into our workplaces, our schools, and our families creating a society that no longer has “equal protection under the law.”   This will surely challenge the common sense, strength of character and founding principles on which this great nation and state were built.

We urge your “Do Not Pass” vote on SB 2303.  Your consideration of this request is appreciated.

January 21, 2019

House Human Services Committee

Testimony in Support of HB 1336

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, my name is Linda Thorson, and I am the State Director for Concerned Women for America (CWA) of North Dakota.  We are the state’s largest public policy women’s organization and part of the country’s largest public policy women’s organization with over 500,000 members.  We are here today on behalf of our North Dakota members in support of HB 1336, the Abortion Pill Reversal Informed Consent Legislation.

Because you will be hearing from, or have already heard from, those in the medical field in support of this bill, I will confine my comments to the issue of a woman’s right to be informed of this legal procedure.

Women are strong, capable, and should have the right to know, if they change their mind after taking the first abortion pill, that they may be able to reverse the chemical abortion procedure. Women should have the right to complete information regarding their health decisions, especially one as important as this one.

The concept of “choice” and “rights” must go both ways. Those who support a woman’s right to an abortion, should have no problem supporting a woman’s right to change her mind about an abortion.

Women not only have the right to be informed; they want to know their options. The APR Hotline Medical Director, who has overseen thousands of calls, stated that when women are given the opportunity to reverse the effect of the abortion pill, they are extremely grateful.

Women are being told that there is no possibility of reversal. A number of women have told the APR Hotline nurses, that when they changed their minds and called the abortion clinic personnel asking about reversal, they were falsely told that “there is no possibility of reversal.” We need an APR informed consent law to ensure that the patient receives accurate and complete information about the reversal protocol by abortion clinic personnel.

In closing, there are three things I respectfully ask this committee to consider.  1. A positive pregnancy test is one of the most life-changing moments for a woman, 2. We all sometimes make decisions that we wish we could take back, and 3. This is a historic opportunity for you to give hope to women desiring choices.

Concerned Women for America of North Dakota urges you support this pro-information, pro-woman bill that will change lives. We urge a “Do Pass” on HB 1336.

January 21, 2019

House Human Services Committee

Testimony in Support of HB 1546

Madam Chair and members of the committee, my name is Linda Thorson, and I am the State Director of Concerned Women for America (CWA) of North Dakota. CWA is the largest public policy women’s organization in the nation. We heartily support HB1546 the prohibition on human dismemberment abortion.

It is doubtful anyone is eager to hear about abortion procedures; however, gruesome truth has the power to bring wisdom when deciding such matters on behalf of the citizens of our great state. Today, CWA of North Dakota is honored to speak on behalf of women and unborn children by giving testimony in support of HB1546 the human dismemberment abortion ban.

Thus far, the Supreme Court has not outlawed abortion outright; however, they have ruled that certain procedures are not to be used in the process of abortion. One favorable ruling was the upholding of the ban on partial-birth abortion which protects those most vulnerable, the unborn, by banning a particularly brutal and inhumane abortion method in which the child is removed from the womb feet-first and delivered part way before being killed. 

There is yet another extremely horrific, inhumane abortion procedure that we must not allow ever to be done in North Dakota, dismemberment.   

Dismemberment abortion means, with the purpose of causing the death of an unborn child, knowingly dismembering a living unborn child and extracting such unborn child one piece at a time from the uterus through the use of clamps, grasping forceps, tongs, scissors or similar instruments that, through the convergence of two rigid levers, slice, crush or grasp a portion of the unborn child’s body in order to cut or rip it off. [1]

This method of abortion takes place starting in the second trimester, week 13 – 27. Because North Dakota allows abortion up to only 20 weeks, let’s talk about the development of the baby up to only 20 weeks. The unborn child has a beating heart, brain waves, is startled by loud noises, has learned to breath, can suck its thumb, its eyes move, its bones are hardening, and the baby can feel pain. And, the mother has begun to feel the baby move. This procedure is cruel and barbaric.

Clearly, this procedure is inhumane on multiple levels for both the unborn and their mothers.  HB 1546 will protect North Dakota children from ever experiencing this kind of painful death; it will protect the mental and emotional health of women involved in these abortions. 

Concerned Women for America of North Dakota urges a “Do Pass” on HB1546.

[1] https://www.nrlc.org/uploads/stateleg/DismembermentFAQJan15.pdf

“Whoever welcomes one of these little children in My name welcomes Me…”  – Mark 9:37

There is an important pro-life bill that Concern­­­ed Women for America (CWA) of North Dakota is in full support of, House Bill 1285.  This is “a BILL for an Act to amend and reenact section 50-25.1-15 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to abandoned infants at certain locations.”

Safe Haven Laws are dedicated to eliminating harm and death to infants by offering protection to infants and immunity to parents should they choose to leave a child under one year of age at a safe haven, unharmed.   HB 1285 increases the number of harbors in our state and provides a public awareness campaigned regarding the North Dakota safe haven law.

On Tuesday, January 15, I testified before the House Human Services Committee on behalf of CWA of North Dakota members in support of this bill.  Read my testimony here. HB 1285 may come up for a vote in committee as early as Monday, January 21, 2019. 

Please Act: Ask those on the Human Services Committee to vote a “Do Pass” on HB 1285.   

Please email and/or call these committee members TODAY. Leave a voice message if needed. Be sure to let them know that you are a member of Concerned Women for America of North Dakota.

Chairwoman Karen Rohr (R-14)  [email protected] or cell phone: 701-202-1956
Representative Dick Anderson (R- 31) [email protected]  or cell phone: 701-228-4782
Representative Chuck Damschen (R-10) [email protected] or cell phone: 701-370-1758
Representative Bill Devlin (R-23) [email protected] or home phone: 701-524-2303
Representative Gretchen Dobervich (D-11) [email protected] or cell phone: 701-361-5627
Representative Clayton Fegley (R-4) [email protected] or cell phone: 701-263-1442
Representative Dwight Kiefert (R-24) [email protected] or cell phone: 701-490-0443
Representative Todd Porter (R-34) [email protected] or cell phone: 701-667-2922
Representative Matthew Ruby (R-40) [email protected]   No phone number available
Representative Mary Schneider (D-21) [email protected] or cell phone: 701-306-0860
Representative Kathy Skroch (R-26) [email protected] or home phone: 701-538-7396 Bill Sponsor
Representative Bill Tveit (R-33) [email protected] or cell phone: 701-870-4014
Representative Greg Westlind (R-15) [email protected] or cell phone: 701-739-8275

Pray for the legislators on the Human Services Committee by name that God would give them the wisdom and strength to accomplish His purposes.

“May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us – yes, establish the work of our hands.”  – Psalms 90:17 

Linda Thorson,
State Director
CWA of North Dakota
nd.cwfa.org
[email protected]
Facebook: Concerned Women for America, North Dakota

January 15, 2019
House Human Services Committee
Testimony in Support of HB 1285

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, my name is Linda Thorson. I am the State Director for Concerned Women for America (CWA) of North Dakota. I am here today on behalf of our North Dakota members in support of HB 1285.

There are several reasons we support this legislation. The changes to the Safe Haven law will help to further prevent tragic scenarios like those which occurred before parents were given immunity from being charged with child neglect.

As you may know, there are two cases in late 1990s that inspired North Dakota’s Save Haven Law. In 1998 a North Dakota State University student gave birth in a sorority house bathroom; she wrapped her child in a towel and left the baby under her bed where her baby died. When she returned from class, she put her dead baby in a campus trash bin.

The student entered an Alford plea to negligent homicide, though her baby’s body was never found. She was sentenced to three years of supervised probation under a plea agreement between her attorney and the Cass County State’s Attorney’s office.

In 1999 an infant, “Baby Moses” was found dead in a suitcase on the Fort Berthold Reservation.

Data from the North Dakota Health Department identifies 17 babies were given Safe Haven in 2017. This law, dedicated to eliminating harm and death to infants, also includes a public awareness campaign to provide information, public service announcements and educational materials to the public including medical providers, law enforcement and social service agencies.

When government and medical personnel are given the opportunity to offer a haven to a child in need of help, tragedies, as described from the late 1990s, are reduced, as is made clear from statistics that show these harbors are being used in our state. Increasing the number of harbors and providing awareness to the public is a law that protects human life.

As the state director for CWA of North Dakota I urge a “do pass” on HB1285.

There is a very important pro-homeschool education bill that CWA of North Dakota is in full support of, HB 1052.

• The bill meets CWA’s goal of providing quality of education to a level of excellence in academic achievement, without governmental mandates that are detrimental to parental rights.
• It provides needed clarification relating to home education to allow not only a child’s parent but also a child’s legal guardian to provide homeschool supervision.
• It clarifies the ways parents and legal guardians acting as supervisors have the option to use multiple outside resources to effectively enhance the student’s learning environment. It makes clear parents’ rights to incorporate resources such as tutors or online curriculum programs to enhance their child’s curriculum.

On Monday, January 8, I testified on behalf of homeschool parents and their children. Read testimony here.

HB 1052 is expected to be voted on within the Education Committee any day now.

Please Act:   Ask those on the Education Committee to vote a “Do Pass” on HB 1052. Let them know that you are a member of Concerned Women for America of North Dakota.

Please email or call these Representatives on the Education Committee (do not hesitate to leave a message on their voicemail this weekend if you prefer):

Chairman Rep. Mark Owens at [email protected] or call 701-792-1819

Vice Chairman Rep. Cynthia Schreiber-Beck at [email protected] or call 701-642-5777

Rep. Ron Guggisberg at [email protected] or call 701-367-2478

Rep. LaurieBeth Hager at [email protected] or call 701-280-2535

Rep. Pat Heinert at [email protected] or call 701-222-1354

Rep. Jeff Hoverson at [email protected] or call 701-340-8237 (Bill Sponsor)

Rep. Dennis Johnson at [email protected] or call 701-739-9328 (Bill Sponsor)

Rep. Mary Johnson at [email protected] or call 701-235-5912

Rep. Donald Longmuir at [email protected] or call 701-628-2617

Rep. Andrew Marschall at [email protected]

Rep. Brandy Pyle at [email protected] or call 701-388-2622

Rep. Michelle Strinden at [email protected] or call 701-566-9768

Rep. Denton Zubke at [email protected] or call 701-842-3081 

Please Pray:  Pray for our legislators by name.  May God give them wisdom and confidence to vote in support of families involved in home-based education.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9

Linda Thorson
State Director
CWA of North Dakota
[email protected]
nd.cwfa.org
Facebook: Concerned Women for America of North Dakota