WEEKLY RECAP

From Hawaii Family Forum, March 19, 2021

Looking for Funds in All the Wrong Places

Article by Eva Andrade for the Hawaii Catholic Herald.

"The nation is dreadfully divided and families are struggling to get back to a more normal life. While local leadership begins cautiously to reopen the economy, the discussion continues on how best to help Hawaii's residents. Therein lies the crux of where Hawaii's legislators are focusing their attention and action this legislative session."  Read full article.

Senate Joint Committee Approves APRNs to do Abortions in Hawaii

On Friday, March 19, 2021, a joint hearing of the Senate Health (HTH) Committee and the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection (CPN) easily passed HB576 HD3, the bill to authorize advanced practice registered nurses to perform medication or aspiration abortions.  The bill was unamended by the committee(s).

The vote was as follows:

The votes in HTH were as follows: 

• 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Baker, Moriwaki, San Buenaventura;
• 1 No(es): Senator(s) Fevella; 

The votes in CPN were as follows: 

• 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Baker, Chang, Misalucha, Nishihara; 
• Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) San Buenaventura ; 
• 2 No(es): Senator(s) Riviere, Fevella;

HFF opposed this bill and we appreciate the no votes of Senator(s) Fevella and Riviere.  

STATUS:  The bill will now move to the full Senate for a vote.  Because the bill was passed un-amended, if the bill passes the full Senate, it will go directly to the governor for signature. The bill will take effect upon approval.  

CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION AND SEND A MESSAGE TO YOUR SENATOR ASKING THEM TO VOTE NO ON HB576 HD3.

TAKE ACTION!

The Equality Act discriminates against people of faith and threatens unborn life. Tell Senators to oppose it!

Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. The Equality Act, which has now passed the U.S. House of Representatives and is being actively considered in the Senate, in many ways does the opposite and needs to be opposed. Instead of respecting differences in beliefs about marriage and sexuality, the Equality Act would discriminate against people of faith.

The Equality Act would: punish faith-based organizations, such as charities and schools who serve everyone in their communities, simply because of their beliefs; force girls and women to compete against boys and men for limited opportunities in sports, and to share locker rooms and shower spaces with biological males who identify as women; risk mandating taxpayers to fund abortions; force people in everyday life, and especially health care workers, to support gender transition; and expand what the government considers a "public" place, forcing even some parish halls to host functions that conflict with Catholic beliefs.

CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION NOW

FROM AROUND THE NATION

Pro-Life Groups Send Letter to U.S. Senators on the Equality Act

Hawaii Family Forum joined several other national pro-life organizations on a letter to the US Senate on the Equality Act.  

"We write to you as pro-life organizations united in opposition to the Equality Act (H.R.5/S.393). If passed, this legislation would be a severe bludgeon to efforts to protect the unborn by establishing abortion rights under the auspices of addressing pregnancy-related conditions. Despite the bill's sponsors' claims that this bill has nothing to do with abortion, the language in both the House and Senate versions of the bill lack critical abortion neutral language." READ FULL LETTER HERE

Hawaii Family Forum joined with 47 other national groups in a letter to Senators Schumer and McConnell regarding the Equality Act. 

Excerpt from the letter: "we believe that all people, no matter who they are, have inherent dignity and should be treated with respect, the Equality Act, and any compromise that enshrines gender identity in civil rights law, actually creates greater inequality, hurting not only women, people of faith, religious organizations, employers, and medical professionals, but especially children and their parents."  READ FULL LETTER HERE.

Analysis of Equality Act

A recent analysis of the "Equality Act" by Richard M. Doerflinger, M.A., an associate scholar with SBA List's research arm, Charlotte Lozier Institute (CLI), reads in part:

"Among other things this bill attacks the lives of countless unborn children, endangers Catholic and other pro-life health care providers, provides a basis for rescinding all state and federal limits on public funding of abortion, and treats religious believers as second-class citizens who must violate their fundamental moral convictions to serve the goals of the pro-abortion movement."

Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)

On March 17, 2021, regarding the ERA, the House passed the resolution by a 222 - 204 vote.  4 members did not vote.  

House Democrats unmasked their abortion extremism passing the resolution to remove the deadline with the slimmest support in decades. Four GOP members voted for the resolution including John Curtis (UT), Tom Reed (NY), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA), and Nicole Malliotakis (NY). Also, two members who had previously voted FOR the ERA last Congress, voted AGAINST the resolution this year: Jeff Van Drew (NJ) and Rodney Davis (IL). (Click for roll call vote)

Hawaii's Representatives Case and Kahele voted in favor.

During debate on the resolution, Congresswoman Debbie Lesko made strong pro-life remarks worth watching. The resolution now moves to the Senate.

H.J.Res.17 to Repeal the ERA Deadline

This dangerous resolution which purports to remove the deadline from the long-expired Equal Right Amendment. For more information, please check out these resources from SBA List, USCCB, CWA LAC, and ERA_No_Shortcuts on Twitter for more details. You should also be aware of the states passing "Count Us Out" resolutions like in North Dakota, noting their opposition to being counted in any new ERA ratification effort. We are hearing that more states are in the works.

Xavier Bacerra Confirmed by Senate

On Thursday, March 18, 2021, the U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination of California Attorney General Xavier Becerra as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, with a vote of 50-49.

Senator Mazie Hirono did not vote and Senator Brian Schatz voted in favor.

Becerra's confirmation is troubling for all life-affirming Americans, as he has consistently supported abortion and a radical sexual ideology. During his time as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Becerra consistently voted against life-affirming legislation-such as the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, Hyde Amendment protections, and stopping partial-birth abortions. While serving as California's Attorney General, Becerra sued a California county for its policy that would not allow transgender-identifying biological males to use women's restrooms. He also required pro-life pregnancy care centers to provide information about state-funded abortions to expecting mothers. (For more details on Becerra's past pro-abortion and pro-LBGTQ actions, read Family Research Council President Tony Perkins' op-ed in the Washington Times.)

Faith in Politics Podcast

Faith in Politics: Recent Episodes

On this episode we discuss the flooding in Haleiwa and Ha'ula with Daniel Molina and the response by KALO Outreach.  National and local issues are also discussed.