The Life at Conception Act

S. 91: Life at Conception Act
Sponsor: Sen Wicker, Roger F. [MS]

H.R. 374: Life at Conception Act
Sponsor: Rep Hunter, Duncan D. [CA-52]

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Life at Conception Act'.

SEC. 2. RIGHT TO LIFE.

To implement equal protection for the right to life of each born and preborn human person, and pursuant to the duty and authority of the Congress, including Congress' power under article I, section 8, to make necessary and proper laws, and Congress' power under section 5 of the 14th article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States, the Congress hereby declares that the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution is vested in each human being. However, nothing in this Act shall be construed to require the prosecution of any woman for the death of her unborn child.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

For purposes of this Act:

(1) HUMAN PERSON; HUMAN BEING- The terms `human person' and `human being' include each and every member of the species homo sapiens at all stages of life, including the moment of fertilization, cloning, or other moment at which an individual member of the human species comes into being.

(2) STATE- The term `State' used in the 14th article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States and other applicable provisions of the Constitution includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and each other territory or possession of the United States.

Special Envoy to Promote Religious Freedom

H.R. 440: To provide for the establishment of the Special Envoy to Promote Religious Freedom of Religious Minorities in the Near East and South Central Asia.

Sponsor: Rep Wolf, Frank R. [VA-10] (introduced 1/25/2011)

Cosponsors:

Rep Calvert, Ken [CA-44] - 1/26/2011
Rep Eshoo, Anna G. [CA-14] - 1/25/2011
Rep Fortenberry, Jeff [NE-1] - 1/26/2011
Rep Franks, Trent [AZ-2] - 1/25/2011
Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12] - 1/25/2011
Rep Pitts, Joseph R. [PA-16] - 1/25/2011
Rep Smith, Christopher H. [NJ-4] - 1/25/2011

112th Congress - The Work Begins

Priorities

CQ Roll Call reported “Two lines from Obama … ‘The United States is going to have to “out-innovate,” “out-compete” and “out-educate” other nations’ in the 21st century and, ‘We’re also going to have to deal with our deficits and our debt in a responsible way. And we’ve got to reform government so that it’s leaner and smarter for the 21st century.’ Making good on both of those goals simultaneously … will be an enormously difficult challenge, because all that ‘out-’doing costs money.”

With a different view of the economics and a different view of the role of government, neither of those necessarily costs money. Cutting spending is only a cost as compared to a budget that includes that spending. The role of government does not have to be to pay for innovation, but to create an environment in which innovation flourishes.

• Pray that our legislators would clearly understand their role, and live up to and within that role they’ve been given.

“Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God's minister to you for good” (Romans 13:3-4).

New Congress

The 112th Congress is ready to get to work. Initial bills of the new majority have laid out some priorities. The Constitution has been read. Holds are no longer secret. The State of the Union has been clarified. The work now begins.

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The Senate is having “a ‘good old-fashioned Senate debate’ on legislation to revamp federal aviation programs. Negotiations on such a bill faltered in the lame duck, although both the House and Senate passed bills last spring that would modernize the air traffic control system and boost the private-plane fuel tax. The main sticking points were whether to allow more long-distance flights in and out of Reagan National, whether to boost the ticket tax that finances airport improvements and whether to apply the same federal labor laws to Federal Express that now apply to its rival UPS” (CQ Roll Call). “One parliamentary glitch that needs to be solved: Because the bill includes revenue-raising provisions, it must catch a ride on a House bill that mentions revenue. (The Constitution says revenue bills have to start in the House)” (CQ Roll Call).

• Pray for cooperation in divided government toward God-honoring policymaking.

“Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls” (Luke 11:17).

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The House is returning this week from the first of its monthly Constituent Work Weeks. Our prayer focus early in this Congress is on the early stages of the legislative process: hearings and legislation introductions.

Upcoming Hearings (add to your calendar for prayer!):
H.R. 3: No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act - Tue. Feb. 8, 2011, 4pm @ 2141 Rayburn
H.R. 358: The Protect Life Act - Wed. Feb. 9, 2011, 1pm @ 2322 Rayburn

• Pray for committee chairmen Franks and Pitts, the members of the committees, those testifying, and for favorable media coverage. (Hearing details)

Hearings are also useful for investigating reports such as why there has not been a production and release of the federal government’s only report on abortion statistics.

• Pray for lots of useful, informative, and light-shedding hearings this year. The seeds for those can be planted now.

“Choose life, that both you and your descendants may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19).

Legislation Introductions

In Washington, there’s an expression, “People are policy.” In 1954, then-Senator Lyndon Johnson didn’t like what a some people in some non-profit organizations were saying about him, so he quietly inserted language into a bill that prohibited any 501(c)(3) organization from saying anything in favor or against a candidate for office. This has consequently affected anyone in any tax exempt organization, including pastors, from speaking on behalf of their organization for or against any candidate for office. This law effectively and unconstitutionally flies in the face of the First Amendment, both “respecting an establishment of religion” and “prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

The office of Rep. Jones of North Carolina tells us he plans to reintroduce his Free Speech Restoration Act to repeal 1954 Johnson Amendment.

• Pray for a good title for this bill.
• Pray for many “original cosponsors” (Members signing on to the bill as its introduced).
• Pray for a hearing on this bill.
• Pray for the Church to pray for itself, our society, and our leaders.

“Proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD” (Isaiah 61:2).

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Fiscal Policy
Lastly, we want to highlight an issue that is expected to fully manifest itself in the March-May timeframe: the national debt. It currently stands at $14.1 trillion. By law, the limit is $14.294 trillion.

House Speaker Boehner “said he expects the spending and debt ceiling debates to remain ‘as separate questions’ (The current CR expires March 4, but the debt limit won’t be reached for at least several weeks after that.) Asked about the possibility of a government default because Republicans in Congress would block an increase in the borrowing limit, he said: ‘I don’t think it’s a question that is even on the table’” (CQ Roll Call).

• Pray for a spending freeze, at most, and a reduction to 2008 spending levels.
• Pray for openness on both sides to handle this. Both sides meaning, both sides of Congress, both sides of the political aisle, and both sides of the balance sheet.
• Pray for stable and low interest rates to hold down the debt increase rate.

“Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law” (Romans 13:8).

Pro-Life Hearings: H.R. 3, H.R. 358 (February 8, 9)

House Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on the Constitution

Subject: H.R. 3: No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act

Date: Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Time: 4:00 pm

Location: 2141 Rayburn House Office Building

Witnesses: Richard Doerflinger with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Cathy Ruse with the Family Research Council, and Sarah Rosenbaum of the George Washington University School of Public Health

Witness List Richard M. Doerflinger Associate Director of the Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Truth in Testimony Sara Rosenbaum Harold and Jane Hirsh Professor of Health Law and Policy and Chair of the Department of Health Policy, The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services Truth in Testimony Cathy Ruse Senior Fellow for Legal Studies, Family Research Council Truth in Testimony

Republican Committee Members: Franks, Pence, Chabot, Forbes, King and Jordan

Democratic Committee Members: Nadler, Quigley, Conyers, B. Scott

Hearing posting available here.

House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Health

Subject: H.R. 358: Protect Life Act

Date: Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Time: 1:00 pm

Location: 2322 Rayburn House Office Building

Witnesses: Helen Alvere of George Mason University, Douglas Johnson with National Right to Life, and Sarah Rosenbaum of the George Washington University School of Public Health

Republican Committee Members: Pitts, Burgess, Whitfield, Shimkus, Rogers, Myrick, Blackburn, Gingrey, Latta, McMorris Rodgers, Lance, Cassidy, Guthrie, Barton, Upton

Democratic Committee Members: Pallone, Dingell, Towns, Engel, Capps, Schakowsky, Gonzalez, Baldwin, Ross, Weiner, Waxman

Hearing posting available here.

Senate Amendments - S. 223: FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act

S. 223: FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act

Amendments:

1099 Requirement Repeal
Agreed to 81-17

Health Care Law Repeal
Rejected 47-51

Laser Pointer Penalties
Agreed to 96-1

Davis-Bacon application limits
Agreed to 55-42

House Votes

H.R. 292: Stop the OverPrinting (STOP) Act:
Passed 399-0

H.R. 2: Health Care Law Repeal:
Passed 245-189

H.R. Res 38: Budget Resolution calling for FY 2008 levels:
Passed 256-165

H.R. 359: terminating taxpayer financing of presidential elections:
Passed 239-160