CSCOPE
This week in Austin the House will be hearing HB 760 by Rep. Steve Toth (R-District 15) which proposes to bring CSCOPE curriculum under the vetting of the State Board of Education. SB 1406 by Sen. Dan Patrick (R-District 7) has passed the Senate and been referred to the House for passage. This bill will be substituted for HB 760. Members of the House Public Education Committee will hear testimony on Tuesday, April 30.
Many of you have seen the news on CSCOPE which is an online curriculum management system. It is currently used in 875 school districts in Texas. CSCOPE officials admitted under oath in a January 31 Senate Education hearing that they had prior lessons that called the Boston Tea Party an “act of terrorism”, 9/11 terrorists were called “freedom fighters”, and an Islamic world lesson that told teachers to hand out excerpts from the Qur’an that told children to SAY (yes, SAY), “Qur’an [45.26] ‘Allah gives you life, then He makes you die, then will He gather you to the day of resurrection wherein is no doubt, but most people do not know.’ Qur’an [45.28] ‘and you shall see every nation kneeling down; every nation shall be called to its book: today you shall be rewarded for what you did.'” This is not a lesson on Islam; this is called indoctrination. These types of lessons cause confusion in children. We heard from a mother in Plano where her young daughter asked her, “Mom, is it God or Allah?” This should not be, and we should not risk what parents have worked so hard to teach their children all over a dollar.
Take Action
#1: It is important to have as many substantive testimonies at that hearing as possible and many signing in, in favor of the bill. Please attend this hearing at all possible to pray and speak as a concerned citizen.
#2: Contact your representative today and express your support of this bill. Click here to find out who your representative is and their contact information.
#3: Contact each member of the committee to ask them to pass this bill.
House Public Education Committee:
Jimmy Don Aycock, Chairman, 512-463-0684
Alma Allen, Vice Chairman, 512-463-0744
John Davis, 512-463-0734
Joe Deshotel, 512-463-0662
Harold Dutton, 512-463-0510
Marsha Farney, 512-463-0309
Dan Huberty, 512-463-0520
Ken King, 512-463-0736
Bennett Ratliff, 512-463-0468
Justin Rodriguez, 512-463-0669
Mike Villareal, 512-463-0532
Pray
Please pray for both myself and Kia Mutranowski, CWA of Northern Texas Area Director, as we both testify before the committee as representatives of CWA of Texas. Pray for each committee member as well.
Religious Liberty Amendment
We are supporting the Religious Liberty Amendment which would restate in our Texas Constitution wording that already appears in our Texas Code. The Code is modified every session by the legislature. If this language is in the Texas Constitution it can only be modified by a vote of the people. The two companion bills are: HJR 110 by Rep. Jason Isaac (R-District 45) and SJR 4 by Sen. Donna Campbell (R-District 25). The text of the bill is:
“Government may not burden a person’s or religious organization’s Freedom of Religion. The right to act or refuse to act in a manner motivated by a sincerely held religious belief may not be burdened unless the government proves it has a compelling governmental interest in infringing the specific act or refusal to act and has used the least restrictive means to further that interest. A burden includes indirect burdens such as withholding benefits, assessing penalties, or an exclusion from programs or access to facilities.”
Both chambers have heard these bills in their State Affairs committees. Both committees have left the bill pending.
Take Action
#1 Contact each member of the Senate State Affairs Committee and ask them to pass the bill out of committee.
Senate State Affairs Committee:
Robert Duncan, Chairman, 512-463-0128
Bob Deuell, Vice Chairman, 512-463-0102
Rodney Ellis, 512-463-0113
Troy Fraser, 512-463-0124
Joan Huffman, 512-463-0117
Eddie Lucio, Jr, 512-463-0127
Robert Nichols, 512-463-0103
Leticia Van de Putte, 512-463-0126
Tommy Williams, 512-463-0104
#2 Contact each member of the Senate State Affairs Committee and ask them to pass the bill out of committee.
House State Affairs Committee:
Byron Cook, Chairman, 512-463-0730
Helen Giddings, 512-463-0953
Tom Craddick, 512-463-0500
Jessica Farrar, 512-463-0620
John Frullo, 512-463-0676
Charlie Geren, 512-463-0610
Patricia Harless, 512-463-0496
Harvey Hildebran, 512-463-0536
Dan Huberty, 512-463-0520
Jose Menendez, 512-463-0634
Rene Oliveira, 512-463-0640
John Smithee, 512-463-0702
Sylvester Turner, 512-463-0554
Pray
Pray for each member of these committees. May they each see the fundamental importance of religious freedom and pass the bill out of committee.
Thank you for your concern, actions and prayers on behalf of our children and religious rights. May the Lord bless them.