Ways to Participate in Virtual Hearings
From Hawaii Family Forum, Jan 24, 2021
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the State Capitol building is closed and in-person attendance at Senate and Housing committee hearings is suspended for the 2021 legislative session. All committee hearing will be conducted virtually using Zoom. There will be many ways for you to follow the action and participate:
Livestream: Visit the Legislature's Live & On-Demand Video webpage to access the House and Senate YouTube channels.
Cable Television Broadcasts: The Legislature will continue broadcasting selected committee hearings and floor sessions on public access cable television channels. For broadcast schedule information, visit the Legislative Broadcasts webpage.
Testimony: The House and Senate standing committees will be accepting both written and remote testimony via Zoom during the 2021 session. This remote testimony option will allow broader participation by those who were previously unable to get to the State Capitol to testify in person.
Anyone interested in submitting written testimony or testifying remotely on a measure scheduled for a public hearing should create an account on the Legislature's website and use the online testimony form.
Instructions on submitting testimony and participation guidelines have been posted on the State Capitol website. Please click the link below to learn about the new procedures for submitting testimony in House Committee hearings.
2021 Testimony Instructions
Bill Tracking at the Legislature Begins
HERE COME THE BILLS
As session opened, the task of introducing bills has begun. This will happen until the deadline to introduce bills on January 27. Some of the bills we are seeing would:
--Legalize recreational marijuana for personal use (HB7) introduced by Rep(s): KAPELA, GANADEN, LOWEN, MCKELVEY, MIZUNO, NAKASHIMA, ONISHI, PERRUSO, TAM, WILDBERGER, Nakamura, Sayama
--Expand assisted suicide by adding Advanced Practice Registered Nurses as providers (SB323) introduced by KEOHOKALOLE (oddly enough, we also expect bills to prevent suicides in Hawaii).
We are expecting bills that would legalize gambling on Hawaiian Homelands, expand abortion by allowing Advanced Practice Registered Nurses to provide medical abortions. In light of the ongoing pandemic, we are also expecting bills to limit (or expand) Governor's powers, vaccinations (to mandate or remove the right of people to refuse on religious grounds) and bills to protect minors from sex trafficking.
As bills are still being introduced, this list is NOT COMPLETE! By next week, we should have a more exhaustive list.
Upcoming Legislative Deadlines
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.
JAN 25- LAST DAY TO INTRODUCE ADMINISTRATION BILL PACKAGE
This is what is known as the "Governor's Package." The bills are prepared by executive branch agencies for consideration by the legislature and are introduced on behalf of the executive branch by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. View the package of legislation by clicking here and selecting the "Measures by Package" bar. The administrative package will be listed as "Governor".
JAN 27 - STATE-OF-THE-JUDICIARY ADDRESS
The Chief Justice's biannual address to the assembled joint legislature.
JAN 27 - LAST DAY TO INTRODUCE BILLS
A bill is "introduced" when it has been filed with the House or Senate Clerk, who gives it a number (with an HB or SB prefix) and then puts it on the calendar for First Reading by the chamber. After First Reading, it is given its committee referrals which specify which committees must hear and pass the measure for it to succeed. Only legislators may introduce bills. [Note: At introduction, each bill is given a "Bill Status" webpage that can be accessed via the Legislature's website and used to track all the measure's activity.]
House & Senate Directory
Click here for an updated directory of legislators.
UPCOMING EVENTS
2021 Annual March for Life Goes Virtual!
Watch KALO TV Live on YouTube and Facebook beginning at 3:00 today. The event begins at 4:00 but there will be a special screening of part two of Faith in Politics starting at 3:00 with a lead up to the event.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH NOW.
FROM AROUND THE NATION
Proclamation on National Sanctity of Human Life Day, 2021 | The White House
[President Trump signed this before leaving office and it has been removed from the Presidential Website.]
Every human life is a gift to the world. Whether born or unborn, young or old, healthy or sick, every person is made in the holy image of God. The Almighty Creator gives unique talents, beautiful dreams, and a great purpose to every person. On National Sanctity of Human Life Day, we celebrate the wonder of human existence and renew our resolve to build a culture of life where every person of every age is protected, valued, and cherished.
This month, we mark nearly 50 years since the United States Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision. This constitutionally flawed ruling overturned State laws that banned abortion, and has resulted in the loss of more than 50 million innocent lives. But strong mothers, courageous students, and incredible community members and people of faith are leading a powerful movement to awaken America's conscience and restore the belief that every life is worthy of respect, protection, and care. Because of the devotion of countless pro-life pioneers, the call for every person to recognize the sanctity of life is resounding more loudly in America than ever before. Over the last decade, the rate of abortions has steadily decreased, and today, more than three out of every four Americans support restrictions on abortion.
Since my first day in office, I have taken historic action to protect innocent lives at home and abroad. I reinstituted and strengthened President Ronald Reagan's Mexico City Policy, issued a landmark pro-life rule to govern the use of Title Ten taxpayer funding, and took action to protect the conscience rights of doctors, nurses, and organizations like the Little Sisters of the Poor. My Administration has protected the vital role of faith-based adoption. At the United Nations, I made clear that global bureaucrats have no business attacking the sovereignty of nations that protect innocent life. Just a few months ago, our Nation also joined 32 other countries in signing the Geneva Consensus Declaration, which bolsters global efforts to provide better healthcare to women, protect all human life, and strengthen families.
As a Nation, restoring a culture of respect for the sacredness of life is fundamental to solving our country's most pressing problems. When each person is treated as a beloved child of God, individuals can reach their full potential, communities will flourish, and America will be a place of even greater hope and freedom. That is why it was my profound privilege to be the first President in history to attend the March for Life, and it is what motives my actions to improve our Nation's adoption and foster care system, secure more funding for Down syndrome research, and expand health services for single mothers. Over the past 4 years, I have appointed more than 200 Federal judges who apply the Constitution as written, including three Supreme Court Justices - Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. I also increased the child tax credit, so that mothers are financially supported as they take on the noble task of raising strong and healthy children. And, recently, I signed an Executive Order on Protecting Vulnerable Newborn and Infant Children, which defends the truth that every newborn baby has the same rights as all other individuals to receive life-saving care.
The United States is a shining example of human rights for the world. However, some in Washington are fighting to keep the United States among a small handful of nations - including North Korea and China - that allow elective abortions after 20 weeks. I join with countless others who believe this is morally and fundamentally wrong, and today, I renew my call on the Congress to pass legislation prohibiting late-term abortion.
Since the beginning, my Administration has been dedicated to lifting up every American, and that starts with protecting the rights of the most vulnerable in our society - the unborn. On National Sanctity of Human Life Day, we promise to continue speaking out for those who have no voice. We vow to celebrate and support every heroic mother who chooses life. And we resolve to defend the lives of every innocent and unborn child, each of whom can bring unbelievable love, joy, beauty, and grace into our Nation and the entire world.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 22, 2021, as National Sanctity of Human Life Day. Today, I call on the Congress to join me in protecting and defending the dignity of every human life, including those not yet born. I call on the American people to continue to care for women in unexpected pregnancies and to support adoption and foster care in a more meaningful way, so every child can have a loving home. And finally, I ask every citizen of this great Nation to listen to the sound of silence caused by a generation lost to us, and then to raise their voices for all affected by abortion, both seen and unseen.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fifth.
President Biden Calls for "A National Day of Unity"
FROM THE INAUGURATION SPEECH
"As we start the hard work to be done, I pray this moment gives us the strength to rebuild this house of ours upon a rock that can never be washed away. And, as in the Prayer of St. Francis, for where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith, where there is darkness, light."
Read full transcript of speech made by President Biden on his Inauguration on January 20, 2021.
Faith in Politics Podcast
Part Two of Pregnancy Resources Centers in Hawaii
PART TWO OF TWO: Highlighting Hawaii's Pregnancy Resource Centers
Featuring Malama Pregnancy Center on Maui, Pearson Place in Downtown Honolulu and A Place for Women in Waipio.