Virginia

The Concerned Women for America of Virginia (CWA) Forest Prayer/Action Chapter sponsored a Sheriff Candidate Forum last month. Since CWA is non-partisan, this informational and educational forum was held so that our members will be well educated when they go to the polls.

A special thank you goes out to our host church, Forest Alliance Church, located on Jefferson Road in Forest. The fellowship hall was packed out with CWA members, guests, and four of the five candidates running for sheriff.

The candidates desiring to be our next Bedford County Sheriff who were present were: Tim Hayden (I), Mike Miller (R), Kent Robey (R), and David Wells (R). James Kirkland (I) was unavailable to attend.   Each candidate vying for the position comes with years of police experience.   They all gave an overview of what they see their role is as sheriff of Bedford County and a list of desired action points. The candidates all agreed that school safety is a concern and additional School Resource Officers are needed, however, they said they would show restraint on adding to the tax burden of the residents of Bedford County.

On the questions of marijuana decriminalization and gambling/casinos, all were in agreement that marijuana is a gateway drug and all forms of gambling, including the lottery, is detrimental to families. They all oppose the decriminalization of marijuana and all forms of gambling.

Concerning the question on “hate crimes,” all the candidates expressed that a crime is a crime and if a law is on the books, enforce it. They all echoed that if you have been a victim of any crime, hate or otherwise, report it.

The majority spoke very firmly that they supported the Second Amendment and expressed that it is not the gun that kills but the person pulling the trigger.

 Kent Robey, Tim Hayden, Mike Miller, and David Wells

Thank you for praying about and taking action on the multiple urgent e-alerts we have sent you concerning the ERA in Virginia for over a month now.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).

Your continued prayers and action worked! The ERA was stopped in Virginia for this year! On a party line vote, earlier today, the rule change vote was narrowly defeated in the House of Delegates, killing the ERA for this legislative session. The last-ditch efforts of ERA allies were thwarted. Thanks be to God!

The House of Delegates 51 Republicans voted to defeat any changes to the rules but the 49 Democrats each voted for the rule change. It was that close!

Join us in praising God for this victory in Virginia.

Please take action NOW: It is important that we thank the 51 delegates for their vote today. In your thank-you notes/emails, please remember to let them know that you are a member of Concerned Women for America of Virginia, we’re praying for them, and that we will continue to fight against ERA alongside them next session. Thank you!

Delegates who defeated the Rules Change:

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Toni DeLancey
State Director
CWA of Virginia
[email protected]
571-317-1735
va.cwfa.org

CEO and President Penny Nance tells pastors and priests in America who don’t want to be political, to “Wake up! There is a cost to your silence. . . ” Check it out on CBN News.

By now you’ve probably seen the shocking video that went viral showing Virginia Delegate Kathy K.L. Tran (D-District 42) defending a bill that she introduced, which she eventually admitted after being questioned, would allow abortion on-demand up until the moment of birth.  See Alert #2 below for additional information and action items.

We are asking pro-life Virginians to join CWA and other pro-life allies at a press conference/rally this Saturday to stand for life.  Here are the details: 

When: This Saturday, February 2, at 12:00 noon. Please arrive early if you can, and dress warmly!

Where: South County High School at 8501 Silverbrook Rd., Lorton, VA 22079

Why: To denounce radical abortion measures being introduced in our Commonwealth and to call upon Delegate Tran to abandon this extreme legislation.

Additional Details: Delegate Tran and two other pro-abortion legislators are holding a public Townhall at 1:00 p.m. at South County High School. We are asking pro-life Virginians to attend the pro-life press conference and rally before the Townhall. We are also encouraging concerned citizens to then stay for the Townhall and call upon Delegate Tran and her allies to abandon this extreme legislation.

Important request – we have been asked not to share the event out on social media. Please forward this information via email, text or word-of-mouth only. Thank you.

In His service,

Toni DeLancey
State Director
CWA of Virginia
[email protected]
va.cwfa.org

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” I Corinthians 15:58

Thank you! We can say with confidence that together we have stood firm and will continue to do so until the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is defeated in Virginia.  We are grateful for the time, energy, and prayers that have been extended the last couple of weeks by all involved. We have participated in a coalition press conference, visited the offices of multiple legislators, testified before the Senate sub-committee, spoke at a coalition lobby day, and most importantly you have joined us in both prayer and action as you encouraged your legislators to vote against the ERA.  Your prayers and actions have made all the difference. Thank you!

Status: After passing the full Senate the first week of session, the House Sub-Committee Privileges and Elections “passed by indefinitely” all four ERA bills. On Friday, January 25, an attempt to overrule the sub-committee decision on one of the bills (HJ579) was made by Delegate Mark Sickle (D-District 43). However, the full House Committee of Privileges and Elections defeated it along party lines 12 to 10.  Thanks be to God!

Stay Alert: Proponents may still have some strategy in their arsenal which might result in a motion before the House Committee of Privileges and Elections next Friday morning, February 1, or even an attempt to bring it to the full House.

Please take action by contacting Speaker of the House, Delegate M. Kirkland Cox (R-District 66), and thank him for standing with us against the ERA and to continue to do so. Be sure to let him know that you are a member of Concerned Women for America of Virginia.  He can be contacted at [email protected] and/or by phone at 804-698-1066.

Please pray for Speaker Cox. Pray for continued wisdom and courage in the midst of the aggressive ERA proponents.

As things continue to develop, we will keep you informed on how to both act and pray.

Toni DeLancey
State Director
CWA of Virginia
[email protected]
va.cwfa.org

Thank you for joining with us in prayer over the last two weeks, asking the Lord to thwart the plans of those promoting the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in Virginia.  God is faithful and answered our prayers!

The House Sub-Committee of Privileges and Elections met Monday, January 22, and voted 4-2 to pass by indefinitely (PBI) four separate bills that would have ratified the ERA. To clarify, PBI, allows the committee to reconsider legislation at a later meeting. If the committee takes no further action, the bill is “dead.” An answer to prayer, HOWEVER, we must stay diligent. 

Why must we stay diligent?! The Washington Post reported last night that the two Democrats on the committee who supported the measure expressed hope the full committee will revive the legislation. Some sources say it could be as early as this Friday! 

Now is not the time to back down! We must continue to make our voice heard! Both those on the House Committee of Privileges and Elections, and your delegate, need to hear from you. Those who support the ERA have already started to put immense pressure on the House Committee of Privileges and Elections to reconsider.  Our voices must be clear and unrelenting in our opposition. 

During Monday’s sub-committee hearing SJ284, HJ583, HJ579 and HJ577 were presented and both those in support and opposition were given opportunity to testify.  The packed committee room was overrun by those who supported the ERA, however, common sense and a strong statement from the Vice Chair, Delegate Margaret Ransone (R-District 99), overcame the odds. View her fearless comments here starting around the 43:00 mark.

Please take action now!

1. Email and/or call the members of the House Committee of Privileges and Elections and ask them to not reconsider the ERA. Click here for talking points if you would like to expound. (Even if you called them previously do not hesitate to contact them again to let them know where you stand if it were to be reconsidered.) Be sure to let them know that you are a member of Concerned Women for America of Virginia. (If convenient, when contacting the following committee members offices, thank the following delegates for courageously voting against the ERA in sub-committee: Delegate Ransone (R-District 99), Delegate Fowler (R-District 55), Delegate McGuire (R-District 56) and Delegate Ingram (R-District 62).
2. Contact your delegate in case it goes to the house floor for a vote. Click here to find out who your delegate is and how to contact him or her.
3. Attend the anti-ERA event in Richmond this Thursday. The Richmond rally and lobby day scheduled for this Thursday, January 24, has been turned into a lobby day and a time to hear speakers over lunch. The lobbying will be focused on encouraging the legislators that have consistently opposed the ERA. It will be from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon.  Do all you can do to attend and bring other women with you. Numbers matter! RSVP TODAY by clicking here. For security purposes, we need to be able to provide a list of names of those who will be attending the event. We will send you the specific location and additional details once you have registered. 
4. Please forward this to others immediately and encourage them to pray and take action.

Please continue to pray against the ERA in Virginia. First, thank the Lord for the committee’s vote against the ERA.  Second, pray that that is the last we have seen of the ERA in 2019.

Toni DeLancey
State Director
CWA of Virginia
[email protected]
va.cwfa.org

The battle continues to rage in Virginia to pass a state-level Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). The ERA passed the full Senate and is now being considered by the House Committee on Privilege and Elections. Virginians must step up NOW to stop this very dangerous amendment.

CWA of Virginia is co-sponsoring a rally/lobby day along with several like-minded groups to oppose the ERA.  I will be attending as one of the speakers as well as CWA’s Young Women for America National Coordinator, Kelsey Good.  Help us show “strength in numbers” by attending the rally and lobbying our state legislators!

Date/Time/Location: January 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 in Richmond (State Capitol).

Schedule:
8:00 a.m. – Registration opens
8:30 a.m. – Welcome, instructions on how to talk to legislators, talking points distributed, and list of delegates to visit after you visit your own.
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. – Talk to your delegate! Click here to find out who your delegate is.
11:00 a.m. – Line up to sit in the House and Senate gallery. We have “reserved” seating and our group will be recognizing from the floor. Arrive early, if possible, to insure a seat.
12:00 p.m./after verbal recognition on the floor – Purchase a lunch at the 3rd floor cafeteria in the SunTrust building.
1:00 p.m. – Rally (address location will be provided upon registration) 

RSVP TODAY by clicking here. For security purposes, we need to be able to provide a list of names of those who will be attending the event. We will send you the specific location and additional details once you have registered. 

Please take action! Whether you are able to attend or not, there are several things that you can do to stop this horrendous amendment. (Special thanks to those that have already taking these actions as instructed in past e-alerts.)

1. The ERA is currently in the House Privilege and Elections committee. Please ask each member to vote NO on the ERA, SJR 284.  Click here to contact them and click here for talking points. Be sure to let them know that you are a member of Concerned Women for America of Virginia.
2. We have joined with other pro-family groups in a video project. This week only. The goal is to inundate lawmakers with heartfelt, informal, brief videos from women expressing their opposition to ERA. It’s easy! Using your mobile phone, laptop or tablet – simply record a 30 second to two-minutevideo expressing your opposition in your own words. Use our talking points to assist you. Time is of the essence. We need these by the end of tomorrow. When recording, after you introduce yourself, state you are a member of Concerned Women for America of Virginia and then complete your brief recording. Once complete, email your video to me at [email protected] If your video is too large to email, I will provide an option for you to upload the video.
3. Pass this e-alert on to others. Encourage them to both pray and act immediately. 

Please keep this important issue in prayer. Prayer for each member of the committee as you contact them. Pray they will have the wisdom and courage to oppose the ERA.

Thank you in advance for your diligence through both your prayers and actions.

Toni DeLancey
State Director
CWA of Virginia
[email protected]
va.cwfa.org

A heartfelt thank you to all of those who responded to our last e-alert on the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) by contacting your individual senator and the members of the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee. We must continue to maintain the pressure. If you have not yet taken action – please consider reviewing that e-alert and helping in the ways it requests. In addition, there’s also something else you can do that will make a difference.

Please take action now!  

Women opposed to the ERA across the state are uniting together in a video effort this week (January 14 – 19). The goal is to inundate lawmakers with heartfelt, informal, brief videos from women expressing their opposition to ERA. It’s easy! Using your mobile phone, laptop or tablet – simply record a 30 second to two-minute video expressing your opposition in your own words. You can use these talking points to assist you.

We are already receiving videos and will also cut statements from last week’s press conference. Please don’t hesitate to take this action, and, ask others to do the same. Time is of the essence.

IMPORTANT FOR YOUR RECORDING: After you introduce yourself, state you are a member of Concerned Women for America of Virginia and then complete your brief recording.

Once complete, email your video to me at [email protected]  If your video is too large to email, I will provide an option for you to upload the video.

Please pass this e-alert on to others. Encourage them to both pray and act immediately.

Please continue to pray against this horrendous amendment. Pray for your senator and the committee members by name as you contact them.

Thank you in advance for your diligence through both your prayers and actions.

Toni DeLancey
State Director
CWA of Virginia
[email protected]

A special thanks to all of you who responded to our last e-alert by contacting the members of the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee in opposition to the ERA, SJR 284. Though it passed 8 to 6, it is always important that our legislators know where we stand.

Only five individuals for, and five individuals against, were permitted to testify.  Your new State Director, Toni Delancey, did a phenomenal job of representing you before the committee as one of the five in opposition.  Read her testimony here.

SJR 284 now goes to the Senate floor for a vote.  A vote that could happen any moment. If passed it will go to the House Privileges and Elections Committee. Click here to view its current status, history, text and more. Click here for ERA talking points.

Please take action now! 

1. Contact your senator and ask him/her to vote against the ERA, SJR 284. Feel free to use some of these talking points. Be sure to let them know that you are a member of Concerned Women for America of Virginia. Click here to find out who your senator is as well as how to contact him/her.
2. Contact the members of the House Privileges and Elections Committee. This is extremely important.  We expect the Senate to not only move fast on this but to vote for it.  This will therefore immediately place SJR 284 in committee for a vote.  With a Republican majority, the House is where we expect to have the most advantage.  They need a clear message, that as a woman, you vehemently oppose the ERA! Feel free to use some of these talking points. Be sure to let them know that you are a member of Concerned Women for America of Virginia.
3. Pass this e-alert on to others. Encourage them to both pray and act immediately.

Please continue to pray against this horrendous amendment.  Pray for your senator and the committee members by name as you contact them. 

The Attempt to Repeal Virginia’s Marriage Amendment – Failed!

Thanks be to God!  With a tie vote of 7 to 7 the efforts of the left to eliminate the definition of marriage as between one man and one woman, failed.

Thank you in advance for your diligence through both your prayers and actions.

Tanya Ditty
National Field Director
Concerned Women for America

Click here to view video.  CWA of Virginia statement can be found at 10:15.