Dear CWA of Washington Member,
Greetings from your state office! I am so thankful for your support and involvement in Concerned Women for America! I encourage you to spread the word about our organization and the opportunities for citizens concerned about the state of our nation and Washington State to engage the culture through prayer, education and activism, all to promote and protect the Biblical values that made this nation great amongst nations. For more information on getting involved, please visit our state website at wa.cwfa.org. Or, you may access that site through the amazing national website at cwfa.org.
This era certainly contains its share of challenges and still God’s Word is our best source of hope and encouragement: “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart.” (Galatians 6:9) Just before that verse, Paul wrote, “Do not be deceived. God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” (Galatians 6:7) If we are on God’s side and follow His principles, He will be our steadfast foundation, no matter what the world throws at us. So, do not lose heart and let’s continue to run the race together with endurance!
LEGISLATION
There are seven bills CWA is following and many more worthy of our time, but in this short session, we’ll limit ourselves to those seven bills.
For this session, the legislative calendar sets this coming Friday, February 5, as the last day to read in-committee reports in the house of origin, except for budget or transportation issues. Therefore, we must make our contacts immediately in order to impact the legislative process. I urge you again to call, e-mail, or visit your three legislators. This site gives you an easy way to do so on any bill, in addition to providing the bill’s text: app.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/. After you type in the bill number, that particular bill will show up and there is a “Comment on this bill” link to the right where you can easily contact your legislators.
Remember: Prayer is the most important action we can take!
FAMILY
HB 6443 relating to the human rights commission’s rule-making authority…
CWA of Washington supports this bill.
I have exciting news for you! Because of your prayers and action, 700 people showed up last Wednesday for the public hearing on SB 6443 to reverse the Human Rights Commission’s ruling which obliterates our expectation of privacy and safety in gender-segregated public and private facilities. That bill was passed out of committee (4:3) and on to the Rules Committee for a second reading, from which it can head to the floor for a vote of the whole Senate. Your prayers and action are still needed in order to encourage your own district senator to vote in support of our protection, privacy and dignity for all of us.
HB 2589 relating to allowing the use of gender-segregated facilities…
CWA supports this bill.
This bill is more comprehensive in dealing with this issue, including protection for public and private entities’ decision making re: use of their facilities and provides an exception for minor children or persons with disabilities supervised by a parent, guardian or caretaker.
This bill is in the House Committee on Judiciary and Rep. Laurie Jinkins (E-district 27) (laurie.jinkins@leg.wa.gov) still refuses to hold a hearing. Please contact her and remind her that we the people have a right to be heard, as well as House Majority Leader Frank Chopp (D-District 43) (Frank.Chopp@leg.wa.gov) and urge him to overrule Jinkins so that this bill can be discussed and considered by all sides in our democratic republic.
SB 6548 relating to allowing the use of gender-segregated facilities…
CWA supports this bill.
This is the senate companion bill to HB 2589 (see above). Introduced on 1/26/16, there was a public hearing in the Senate Committee on Law and Justice on 2/1/16. At the time of this alert, there is no posted committee action.
In addition to our concerns about privacy, public safety and public and private facilities’ decision making processes, we believe the HRC ruling publicized an issue allows the greater likelihood of opportunists who will take advantage of this ruling to enter opposite-sex facilities as voyeurs or worse. Prayer needed as we await the committee’s vote results.
SANCTITY OF LIFE
HB 1493 and SB 5289 relating to requiring parental notification for abortion; adding a new section to chapter 9.02 RCW; prescribing penalties; and declaring an emergency
CWA supports these two bills.
HB 1493 is not moving at this point, but SB 5289 has been moved to the Senate Rules White Sheet, which is step one of three. We need to urge our legislators to move this bill on so that it can have a public hearing. The bill restores parental rights in the care of their minor children while providing alternatives if needed for neglect, abuse or emergencies.
HB 2294 relating to restricting public funds from being used for elective abortions…
CWA supports this bill.
From the bill, NEW SECTION. SEC. 1 (1) “the supreme court has repeatedly affirmed the constitutionality of federal and state restrictions on government funding for abortions firmly resolving the public funding issue.” In the public interest, the legislature needs to defund elective abortions. There is an exception for medical emergencies, but no public funds may be used to support “any organization that provides elective abortions.”
This is a conscience and/or a religious issue for many citizens; we should never be forced to fund anything that assaults either of those constitutional rights.
Leave your comments at app.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/ for the bill #2294. Currently, this bill is in the House HealthCare & Wellness Committee; you may contact those committee members at leg.wa.gov/House/Committees/HCW/Pages/MembersStaff.aspx.
HB 1423 relating to female genital mutilation.
CWA supports this bill.
The last bill I want to bring to your attention is about an intensely disturbing issue, one that has come to American shores with the increase of Muslim immigrants. This practice (fgm) is not part of Islamic law, but rather a cultural practice by some Muslims and therefore this is not a religious freedom issue. The agony of this practice to girls and young women all through their lives is horrifying and inhumane. It is truly a war on women and needs to be outlawed and reported as “child abuse under chapter 26.44” and as “a class B felony.” (NEW SECTION. Sec. 1, (4) and (5).
As before, this bill has been introduced and retained in its present status, but there is no movement toward any committee. This is a matter of the public interest as the practice grows here. Please be in prayer about this issue and contact your three state legislators to ask that this bill be moved into committee and scheduled for a public hearing before Friday.
Even if this bill is not moved along to the next step, we need to educate others on this practice until we generate public outcry to stop it here in our state.
UPCOMING EVENTS
40 DAYS OF PRAYER: February 10 – March 20, 2016
Don’t miss this opportunity to pray with other pro-life citizens in front of clinics that perform abortions. Many such clinics have closed down and many staff members have quit their jobs because of our prayers. This is always a peaceful demonstration of our love for the mothers and their unborn children, so participate if you are able. This website gives you locations: 40daysforlife.com/browse-campaigns/.
PRAYER
Encourage A Legislator! It isn’t too late to volunteer to pray daily for a state legislator and send a weekly postcard! Please fill out this form and join CWA of Washington in encouraging our elected senators and representatives. God’s Word and your sharing just may change a heart!
“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart.” (Galatians 6:9) Pray, educate and take action according to your sincerely held views and, insofar as is possible, do it with Christ like love, living at peace with all others.
PARTNER WITH US
If you have not yet renewed your CWA of Washington membership, please use this form to do so and encourage others to join as well. Or, click here to donate online. Thank you for standing fast in the faith with Concerned Women for America!