Hawaii Family Forum Celebrates 23 Years in the Community!

From Hawaii Family Forum, January 15, 2021

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Hawaii Family Forum is 23 Years Old Today

Hawaii Family Forum was incorporated on January 15, 1998. 

We are pleased to continue to stand with you for FAITH, FAMILY and religious FREEDOM.

If you would like to make a one-time gift in honor of our anniversary, please click here.  And as always, continue to pray for us.  Mahalo for all that you do in the community.

Upcoming Legislative Deadlines

Hawaii State Capitol Remains Closed for 2021 Legislative Session

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the State Capitol building is closed and in-person attendance at Senate and House committee hearings is suspended for the 2021 legislative session. All committee hearings will be conducted virtually using Zoom.  

Click here for remote testimony instructions.

JAN 20 - OPENING DAY - Hawaii's constitution mandates that the regular legislative session starts at 10:00 a.m. on the third Wednesday of January.

JAN 22 - LAST DAY TO INTRODUCE ALL NON-ADMINISTRATION BILL PACKAGES - Bills bundled together by legislative caucuses (common interest groups) and accepted and labeled as a package by the clerks. You can view the various packages of legislation by clicking on the "Reports and Lists" button on capitol.hawaii.gov and selecting the "Measures by Package" bar on the left.

JAN 25 - STATE-OF-THE-STATE ADDRESS - The Governor's annual address to the assembled joint legislature. The address presents an opportunity for the Governor to report on affairs of state, and to put forth recommendations and initiatives.

UPCOMING EVENTS

2021 Annual March for Life Goes Virtual!

2021 Virtual March for Life

Live Web Streaming. Watch KALO TV programming live your computer, mobile device and more.

Spectrum Cable Channel 25.

Over the Air programming live Over the Air on Channel 38.1.

HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE EVENT?  EMAIL JANET HOCHBERG.

FROM AROUND THE NATION

Supreme Court Reinstates Authority to Enforce Safety Requirements for Mifepristone

SUPREME COURT HANDS DOWN DECISION ON MIFEPRISTON!

WASHINGTON - On Tuesday night, the Supreme Court of the United States granted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's request to reinstate its authority to enforce important health and safety requirements for mifepristone, a chemical abortion drug. On July 13, 2020, a federal district court judge in Maryland issued a preliminary injunction preventing the FDA from enforcing the "Elements to Assure Safe Use" in the Risk Evaluation Mitigation Strategy (REMS) for mifepristone and allowing the drug to be dispensed by clinics, medical offices, and hospitals through the use of mail or delivery service. The Supreme Court's decision in Food and Drug Administration v. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (FDA v. ACOG) stays this nationwide injunction. Litigation on this issue continues in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Ensuring Equal Treatment of Faith-Based Organizations

Another piece of good news, for now!

Decision by HHS may very well change under the new administration.

WASHINGTON- On January 16, 2021, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently modified a rule that will help ensure faith-based social service providers will not be excluded from certain federally-funded programs of HHS.

This proposed rule would amend the Department of Health and Human Services' ("Department") general regulations to implement Executive Order 13831, on the Establishment of a White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative. This proposed rule proposes changes to provide clarity about the rights and obligations of faith-based organizations participating in Department programs, clarify the Department's guidance documents for financial assistance with regard to faith-based organizations, and eliminate certain requirements for faith-based organizations that no longer reflect executive branch guidance or Supreme Court precedent. This proposed rulemaking is intended to ensure that the Department's programs are implemented in a manner consistent with the requirements of federal law, including the First Amendment to the Constitution and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

Read HHS announcement here.

Weekly Triple "F" Podcast

Faith in Politics: Recent Episodes

WEEKLY FAITH IN POLITICS

Please join us on this episode as we begin a two-part discussion on the great work of Hawaii's pregnancy resource centers.