Our CEO and President, Penny Nance, discusses the liberal indoctrination of our children on college campuses paid for by our tax dollars. Penny recently talked with Issues, Etc. host Pastor Todd Wilken about her personal experience at Virginia Tech’s freshman orientation described in her article: My Son’s Freshman Orientation At Virginia Tech Was Full Of Leftist Propaganda.
Listen to the Penny Nance Issues, Etc. Interview with Pastor Todd Wilken here:
CWA’s CEO and President Penny Nance signed on to this letter to Google to explain their treatment of Conservatives.
“On Tuesday, Media Research Center President Brent Bozell and other conservative leaders released a letter calling on Google to explain reports and allegations that the search engine is attempting to block conservative sites and exclude voices that don’t fit the liberal narrative. (A similar letter has also been sent to members of Congress, asking them to investigate.)”
Penny Nance, our CEO and President, sat down with Kat Trinko and Daniel Davis of The Daily Signal to discuss her experience with liberal intolerance on college campuses.
CWA’s CEO and President, Penny Nance, was featured on Fox News Radio today on The Todd Starnes Show over the backlash she received after writing about political correctness on campuses after her recent article in The Federalist titled My Son’s Freshman Orientation At Virginia Tech Was Full Of Leftist Propaganda
YWA is CWA’s collegiate initiative with chapters all across the country. YWA is this generation of Christian, conservative women fighting to protect and promote Biblical values and conservative principles on campuses and in the community. These young women on college campuses around the country educate themselves on current issues, they gather to pray for our country, and they act to influence society.
Addressing Virginia Tech College Republican’s response to Penny Nance’s recent article in The Federalist, YWA released the following statement:
The Department of Health and Human Services issued a proposed rule surrounding section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This rule rolls back previous action taken by President Obama that wrongfully interpreted the word “sex” to include “gender identity” and “termination of pregnancy” and prohibited so-called discrimination against these classes. This means that doctors who do not want to perform gender transition treatments would be forced to and doctors who don’t want to participate in abortions would be forced to participate, even if they have objections on moral or religious grounds.
This new rule clarifies that Section 1557 of the ACA cannot force a recipient of federal funding to provide or pay for an abortion. It will also be consistent with the First Amendment, the intent and language of civil rights laws, and consistent with pro-life provisions, conscience provisions, and religious liberty protections in current law. This rule is a timely clarification that the federal definition of sex discrimination in the ACA does not include abortion or gender transition treatments and thus aligns with existing civil rights laws. For many healthcare providers, performing abortions or gender transition treatments is a violation of conscience and sound medical practice.
We need your help commenting on this proposed rule so that it will move forward. You may remember that these proposed rules go through a public comment period, and then the issuing agency has to take public comments into account crafting a final rule. President Trump needs you to submit a comment praising this rule. Although these Obama-era rules never went into effect, HHS needs to uphold the biological definition of sex in civil rights laws. This proposed rule is now open for a public comment period that will close on August 13, 2019. After the comment period closes, HHS must then review each comment and issue a final ruling based on feedback. Therefore, our voice on this matter is crucial.
We’ve made it easy for you! Simply Click here to be taken to a page where we further explain what this rule is, provide a sample comment, and a place for personalization. You can submit an official comment with just one click!
Please join us and use your voice to tell President Trump to continue to protect religious liberty! Take action by next Tuesday, August 13.
WASHINGTON, DC – Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently announced the U.S. Commission on Unalienable Rights to ground U.S. foreign policy on human rights in America’s founding principles of individual dignity and freedom. A letter, signed by forty-six of the most influential human rights, women’s, and religious freedom organizations and leaders applauds Sec. Pompeo for his leadership in creating the Commission.
Concerned Women for America’s CEO and President, Penny Nance, and Vice President of International Affairs, Dr. Shea Garrison, had this to say:
“We applaud Secretary Pompeo for creating the U.S. Commission on Unalienable Rights. This is a significant moment in our history as we refocus U.S. foreign policy on the
principles of America’s founding—that all people are created with unalienable rights such as “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.”
Many activists today promote their objectives as “human rights,” confusing government-given social and economic goals with God-given fundamental or unalienable rights. This
waters-down the essence of human rights, leading to less individual freedom, not more. Dilution of human rights takes the focus off of real victims of abuse and gives
authoritarian governments cover to promote economic or social benefits as fundamental human rights, all while oppressing religious liberty, censoring the press, or
imprisoning political dissidents.
But, when our fundamental or unalienable human rights are protected, we then have the freedom to advocate for our goals, ideologies, and political preferences.
We are grateful for Sec. Pompeo’s leadership in creating the U.S. Commission on Unalienable Rights. We believe the Commission can do more than secure unalienable rights and
remedy human rights abuse, it can reassert the right kind of American leadership in our world today.
The world is freer when America leads.”
###
WASHINGTON, DC – Concerned Women for America, Family Research Council, The Heritage Foundation, American Values, Independent Women’s Forum, Forum for Religious Freedom-Europe (FOREF), and many more joined together to send a clear message of support to Secretary of State Pompeo on his announcement of the U.S. Commission on Unalienable Rights. Click here to read the official letter sent to Secretary Pompeo (pdf version).
August 6, 2019
The Honorable Mike Pompeo
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, N.W.
Washington, DC, 20520
Dear Secretary Pompeo:
So many people advocate today in the name of “human rights” that social goals are often confused with God-given fundamental or unalienable rights, a problem leading to less individual freedom, not more. Clarification of human rights is the first step in an effective strategy to protect human rights around the world. For this reason, we welcome your announcement of the U.S. Commission on Unalienable Rights which will ground U.S. foreign policy on human rights in America’s founding principles of individual dignity and freedoms, later reflected in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
As America’s founders state in the Declaration of Independence, unalienable rights are based in natural law and include “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” Rights like freedom of conscience, speech, and belief are “natural” or “God-given” because they’re inherent to all human beings—we are born with them. These rights are to be protected by the government, not given by the government, as demonstrated in the U.S. Bill of Rights.
In like manner, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) recognizes man’s inherent dignity and that “the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.” Human rights are the foundation of our common dignity, and when we protect this foundation, we then have the freedom to advocate for our goals, ideologies, and political preferences.
However, the foundation of human rights is being watered-down by activists around the world promoting political ideology and identity group goals as “human rights.” Examples of this type of activism include: the right to a clean environment, the right to free university education, the right to internet access, the right of access to abortion as healthcare, and even the right to not be offended (in direct conflict with the clear right to freedom of expression). This dilution undermines fundamental principles, including the fact that all people are equal and have common dignity. While many such activists are busy furthering their policy preferences as “rights,” they ignore clear and expressed human rights like that protected by Article 18 of the UDHR—the right to choose and change one’s faith—which is still heavily suppressed in far too many countries around the world.
Ideological activism presented as “rights” distracts from the fundamental purposes of protecting human rights. This critically undercuts the focus on the real victims of human rights abuse such as—a pregnant Sudanese woman imprisoned for her Christian faith and forced to give birth with her legs in shackles, men in Syria and Iraq being thrown off buildings to their death, a girl being shot in the head for simply wanting to go to school, and the millions of Uyghur Muslims detained, imprisoned, and oppressed because of their faith.
A diluted human rights narrative allows totalitarian and authoritarian governments the guise of promoting social or economic benefits as “human rights,” while simultaneously becoming egregious violators of fundamental human rights themselves as they censor freedom of the press, oppress religious minorities, or imprison political dissidents. The UDHR called for “the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear…”
Fundamental human rights are for all people—regardless of their background, socio-economic status, or beliefs, and we believe the U.S. Commission on Unalienable Rights can bring focus back to protecting needful victims of human rights abuse. For these reasons everyone—including the most prominent human rights organizations—should get squarely behind this commission.
We applaud you and your staff for your “fresh thinking” approach to U.S. foreign policy. Thank you for committing the time, resources, and effort to protecting the fundamental human rights of all people.
The U.S. Commission on Unalienable Rights can do more than clarify and help remedy human rights abuses; it has the potential to reassert the right kind of American leadership on the world stage. We have seen this before: Eleanor Roosevelt led and chaired the Universal Declaration of Human Rights drafting committee. We are grateful for your leadership in creating the U.S. Commission on Unalienable Rights to continue America’s legacy in defending universal human rights around the world.
The world is better and freer when America leads.
Sincerely,
Penny Nance
CEO and President
Concerned Women for America
Tony Perkins
President
Family Research Council
Carrie Lukas
President
Independent Women’s Forum
The Honorable J. Kenneth Blackwell
Former, U.S. Ambassador
United Nations Human Rights Commission
Kay Coles James
President
The Heritage Foundation
Gary L. Bauer
President
American Values
Ralph Reed
Founder and Chairman
Faith & Freedom Coalition
Anne Schlafly Cori
Chairman
Eagle Forum
William L. Walton
President
Council for National Policy
Peter Zoehrer
Executive Director
Forum for Religious Freedom-Europe (FOREF)
Mr. Kelly Shackelford, Esq.
President, CEO & Chief Counsel
First Liberty
Mark Tooley
President
Institute on Religion and Democracy
Heather R. Higgins
CEO
Independent Women’s Voice
Wendy Wright
President
Christian Freedom International
Gary Marx
Former E.D.
Faith & Freedom Coalition
Rabbi Pesach Lerner
President
Coalition for Jewish Values
Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director
Priests for Life
Art Ally
President
Timothy Partners, Ltd.
John Stemberger
President & General Counsel
Florida Family Policy Council
Frank Wright, Ph.D.
President & CEO
D. James Kennedy Ministries
Catherine Glenn Foster
President and CEO
Americans United for Life
James Bopp, Jr.
General Counsel
James Madison Center for Free Speech
Austin Ruse
President
C-Fam
David Nammo
CEO & Executive Director
Christian Legal Society
Eunie Smith
President
Eagle Forum
Mark Fitzgibbons
President of Corporate Affairs
American Target Advertising, Inc.
Janet Morana
Co-Founder
Silent No More Awareness Campaign
Dran Reese
President
The Salt & Light Council
Steve Berger
Sr. Pastor
Grace Chapel
Marlo Tucker
State Director, California
Concerned Women for America
Ruth Smith
Area Director, California
Concerned Women for America
Terri Johannessen
State Director, Florida
Concerned Women for America
Barbara Ferraro
State Director, Hawaii
Concerned Women for America
Tanya Ditty
State Director, Georgia
Concerned Women for America
Deborah Leininger
State Director, Illinois
Concerned Women for America
Tamara Scott
State Director, Iowa
Concerned Women for America
Barbara Saldivar
State Director, Kansas
Concerned Women for America
Penny Morrell
State Director, Maine
Concerned Women for America
Haven Howard
Area Director, Missouri
Concerned Women for America
Jill Coward
State Director, North Carolina
Concerned Women for America
Linda Thorson
State Director, North Dakota
Concerned Women for America
Linda Schauer
State Director, South Dakota
Concerned Women for America
Kori Peterson
Area Director, Texas
Concerned Women for America
Beverly Roberts
Area Director, Texas
Concerned Women for America
Toni DeLancey
State Director, Virginia
Concerned Women for America
Maureen Richardson
State Director, Washington
Concerned Women for America
cc: Senate Foreign Relations Committee
House Foreign Affairs Committee
Click here for a printer-friendly version (PDF) of the letter
This week the House expressed opposition to the anti-Semitic BDS Movement by passing H. Res. 246, “Opposing efforts to delegitimize the State of Israel and the Global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement targeting Israel.” The vote on the resolution was 398-17 with 5 voting present.
This is a good first step, but further action is needed in the House for there to be any meaningful impact. The next step is to pass H.R. 336, which contains the Combatting BDS Act of 2019 and passed out of the Senate as S. 1 by a vote of 77-23 reflecting significant bipartisan support.
A resolution, H. Res or S. Res, expresses a sense or sentiment of Congress. It is a way for Congress to take a position without passing actual law. There is no action resulting from a resolution. A bill, titled H.R. or S., is legislation that if passed, becomes law—it has teeth where a resolution does not.
It is helpful that the House is on record against the BDS movement, but we need the House to do more than say BDS is bad; they need to take a stand and do something about it.
And that something is passing H.R. 336, a bill that mirrors the Senate-passed S.1, which was the top priority of the Senate in the 116th Congress. This legislation affirms states have the ability to choose not to do business with entities that participate in the BDS Movement. It provides legitimacy for states to enact anti-BDS legislation and ensure tax dollars aren’t going to entities participating in a movement that contradicts the foreign policy interests of the United States. States make their own laws regarding BDS; this just equips them to do so.
Despite the statement of opposition to BDS, Speaker Pelosi has been unwilling to bring H.R. 336 to the House floor. Republicans are using a procedural tactic called a discharge petition to try and force a vote. The petition needs a majority of the House, 218 votes, to bring H.R. 336 to the floor for a vote. It is puzzling that with 348 members opposing BDS with H. Res. 246, only 196 have signed the petition to take action and combat BDS by passing H.R. 336.
We are calling on Congress to take the next step and translate the high level of bipartisan cooperation standing against the BDS Movement into action by supporting and passing H.R. 336. Please urge your member to sign the discharge petition opposing anti-Semitism. Thank them if they already have. To see the list of members who have signed, click here.
Earlier this week, we had a huge victory surrounding the Title X program and a finalized rule we asked for your help generating comments on last summer. Yet again, we have the opportunity to back up the good work that President Trump is doing through the official rulemaking process.
Last month, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a proposed rule surrounding section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This rule rolls back previous action taken by President Obama that wrongfully interpreted the word “sex” to include “gender identity” and “termination of pregnancy” and prohibited so-called discrimination against these classes. This means that doctors who do not want to perform gender transition treatments would be forced to and doctors who don’t want to participate in abortions would be forced to participate, even if they have objections on moral or religious grounds.
This new rule clarifies that Section 1557 of the ACA cannot force a recipient of federal funding to provide or pay for an abortion. It will also be consistent with the First Amendment, the intent and language of civil rights laws, and consistent with pro-life provisions, conscience provisions, and religious liberty protections in current law. This rule is a timely clarification that the federal definition of sex discrimination in the ACA does not include abortion or gender transition treatments and thus aligns with existing civil rights laws. For many healthcare providers, performing abortions or gender transition treatments is a violation of conscience and sound medical practice.
We need your help commenting on this proposed rule so that it will move forward. You may remember that these proposed rules go through a public comment period, and then the issuing agency has to take public comments into account crafting a final rule. President Trump needs you to submit a comment praising this rule. Although these Obama-era rules never went into effect, HHS needs to uphold the biological definition of sex in civil rights laws. This proposed rule is now open for a public comment period that will close on August 13, 2019. After the comment period closes, HHS must then review each comment and issue a final ruling based on feedback. Therefore, our voice on this matter is crucial.
Not sure what to say? We’ve made it easy for you! Click here to be taken to a page where we further explain what this rule is, provide a sample comment, and a place for personalization. You can submit an official comment with just one click!
Please join us and use your voice to tell President Trump to continue to protect religious liberty!
Concerned Women for America attended the Faith & Freedom Coalition’s Road To Majority Policy Conference last week. CEO and President Penny Nance addressed the attendees and introduced one of our fellow women conservative leaders, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa).
Our Young Women for America coordinator Kelsey Good participated in the conference along with our summer interns manning our CWA/YWA booth. They answered questions, handed out our materials, and presented our Christian Conservative values to those visiting our booth.
Washington, D.C. – Today, the United State Supreme Court upheld (7-2) the constitutionality of a memorial cross on public land (The American Legion v. American Humanist Association). Penny Nance, CEO & President of Concerned Women for America (CWA) had this to say:
“Today’s decision is an affirmation of the principles and freedoms our veterans have fought and died to protect. CWA members around the nation are celebrating the Court’s acknowledgment of a most common-sense reality, that this cross honoring our veterans is in no way religiously coercive.
“We are encouraged to see some justices reject the notion that a person’s distaste for a faith symbol merits the tying of government, and the American people through their tax dollars, via years of litigation. We are grateful the Court is sending a clear message that it will no longer tolerate the sort of hostility towards religion the American Humanist Association and its sympathizers try to promote.”
June is designated LGBT Pride Month, and rainbows are displayed on everywhere from T-shirts to restaurant chains to the Uber app. Even with all the gay pride flags, parades, and recognition the LGBT community receives in the U.S. during June, the Left is still not satisfied. They demand that the rainbow flag be flown over U.S. embassies abroad.
Look at this practice that’s been in place since the Obama administration — President Barack Obama actively promoted the LGBT community not just domestically but also internationally through the U.N., State Department, and U.S. Agency for International Development.
First, we should recognize that the LGBT community does have reasons for fear. Their human rights are violated around the world through harassment, killings, beatings, and imprisonment, and homosexuality is criminalized in at least 73 countries. In Tanzania, laws against homosexuality carry a sentence of up to 30 years, and authorities have been accused by human rights groups of subjecting suspected homosexuals to “forced anal exams.” And who could forget the horrific 2015 images of ISIS pushing gay men off buildings to their death? There are other incidents equally as evil, and the U.S. must stand firmly against these insidious abuses.
We should all agree that addressing human rights abuses around the world must be a central tenet of U.S. foreign policy. But why is one group singled out and others ignored?
Click here to read the rest of this op-ed as featured in the Washington Examiner.
CEO and President Penny Nance is featured in The Western Journal along with other top faith leaders such as Franklin Graham, Tony Perkins and Gary Bauer.
“Some of the nation’s top Christian leaders believe President Donald Trump will once again enjoy the strong backing of evangelicals in 2020, noting he now has a record, and not just promises, to run on.
The Western Journal spoke with Rev. Franklin Graham, Family Research Council president Tony Perkins, Concerned Women for America president Penny Nance, American Values president Gary Bauer and Christian Broadcasting Network chief political analyst David Brody to gauge their views on why Trump enjoyed such strong evangelical support in 2016, and how he looks with these voters going into the 2020 election.”
CWA’s Senior Director of Government Relations Doreen Denny‘s opinion piece was recently featured in “Human Events.”
“Where are the voices of the Women’s March fighting for women’s rights and #MeToo champions fighting against sexual exploitation and harassment? Conservative women and radical feminists are calling on Congress to protect women’s safety and dignity from the dangers of the deceptively-named “Equality Act” slated to be voted on this week.” Doreen Denny, Senior Director of Government Relations, Concerned Women for America.
Concerned Women for America LAC’s (CWALAC) Doreen Denny talks to CBN about the many dangers of the so-called Equality Act. For more information and to take action against this legislation, visit CWALAC’s Erasing Woman Page.
