2020: Can ANYTHING Good Happen?



In 2020, it's easy to look around and wonder-is there
anything good happening??

I'm thankful that the answer is YES, and you have been a part of
making these good things happen!

Let me count some of the things we are grateful for at Family Policy
Alliance, and I hope you will join us in praising God for this good
news! And remember, these wins came about despite COVID-19 and all the
challenges it brought right in the middle of when state legislatures
were supposed to be busiest.

1. First, do no harm.

When we elect lawmakers to represent us and our values, the
first thing we hope and expect of them is that when they get to
our capitols, they "do no harm." In other
words, please don't mess things up.

Politicians often dash those very hopes, but this
year many states were able to block a lot of bills that would
deeply harm the lives of children and families-in large
part because believers and pro-family voices joined together to
push back against these bad bills.

For example, New Mexico was poised to pass a bill proposed by
their governor and pro-abortion legislators that would codify
abortion up to the moment of birth in state law. Believers of
all denominations joined together in opposition. The
bill's defeat is widely celebrated as the greatest
victory for New Mexico's pro-life movement in modern
history.

In Georgia, the casino lobby spent major resources to lobby for
unprecedented gambling expansion the Peach State, yet
pro-family conservatives rallied enough opposition that the
bill was pulled at the last minute.

And, in Colorado where far Left activists have been having a
field day with passing laws that are increasingly harmful to
families, the state was set to pass the latest bill that would
redefine what it means to be a "parent." The bill
would have, among other consequences, divorced child birth from
parentage making the family entirely a creature of state
contract law and encouraged the use of Artificial Reproduction
Technology - in which many extra embryos are created and,
in most cases, eventually killed - thus adding to the
loss of babies in the state. A coalition of conservatives and
believers rallied, and the bill was stopped.

2. Saving girls' sports!

As you probably know, girls' athletics are under attack
by activists who would sacrifice girls' athletic
opportunities on the altar of a political agenda so that boys
(who identify themselves as girls) can compete in girls'
divisions and steal girls' scholarships. The state of
Idaho had enough, and they became the first state in the
country to pass a law protecting girls' sports!

SaveGirlsSports

Way to go Idaho! Their new law is under attack in court by the
ACLU, so much work remains to be done to save that law so that
other states can follow Idaho's lead. Join the fight to
Save Girls' Sports if you haven't already!
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The other good news on the girls' sports front is that
the Trump Administration has repeatedly clarified that to
permit boys to steal girls' athletic opportunities would
be a violation of Title IX, the civil rights law that ensures
girls equal access to academic and athletic opportunities with
boys. And, the Trump Administration has also sided with Idaho
in protecting its new law!

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3. Stopping Planned Parenthood & Nancy Pelosi, saving lives

As the COVID situation began to unfold, Nancy Pelosi's
COVID relief plan included a billion-dollar funding stream with
a provision that would have excluded the Hyde Amendment -
which has protected against taxpayer funding of abortions for
decades. Thanks to tens of thousands of you raising your voice
and to the White House, her plan was stopped.

Then, while Planned Parenthood was seeking out masks and gloves
in the thick of the crisis, they (and the broader abortion
lobby) attempted to skirt regulations meant to protect women on
the chemical abortion pill. With your support, Family Policy
Alliance rallied a coalition of national and state-based allies
to stop the effort in its tracks.  Now that battle will
continue to be fought in courts.

Laws to save lives were also being advanced! In the midst of
COVID, Family Policy Alliance of Wyoming helped shepherd a bill
to protect babies who survive botched abortions. The bill
passed all the way through the Wyoming legislature, even though
Wyoming's governor ultimately vetoed it. This fight
isn't over!

4. Education freedom for families

In America, our legal system is built upon recognizing certain
God-given freedoms-including the right of parents to
direct their children's care and education. But
sometimes, financial limitations prevent parents from being
able to fully realize that right.

Thankfully, in the midst of the COVID crisis, two major things
happened to advance education freedom for families. First,
President Trump's Administration issued a rule to ensure
that COVID relief funding would serve all students-those
in public and private schools.

Second, the Supreme Court struck down what's called a
"Blaine Amendment," an antiquated law that has been
used to prevent faith-based schools from being part of a school
choice programs simply because they are faith-based. The ruling
was a win for parents, for religious freedom, and most
importantly-for children. We believe that children win
when their parents can choose the best education for each
child, and that no government should place limitations on a
child's future because of her zip code or her
family's income.

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We hope this list of wins to be thankful for encourages you as it does
us-and these were only a small sample of the good things
happening across the country this year! Your voice makes a difference.
Your vote can change lives. Your support is invaluable.

And certainly the fight isn't over. Because of COVID, many
state legislatures were cut short. This means that many, many good
policies that protect lives and families were also not able to
advance.

That's why Family Policy Alliance is already gearing up for
both the 2020 election and for January 2021 when most state
legislatures get back to work. The 2020 election is critical to ensure
that we have the right lawmakers representing us and our values in
every state-so that we can advance those good, pro-family
policies in 2021.

As you can see, the policies that are passed by good lawmakers can
truly save lives and create a better country for our children.

No one's claiming that any politician or law can be our
country's savior-only Jesus Christ can fill that role, and
it's clear today that we all need His saving grace. But we do
claim that God has placed each of us in this country at this time to
represent His truth in our system of government.

That is our calling and that is our unique form of ministry at Family
Policy Alliance.

As we prepare for November 2020 and the life-saving policies we seek
to pass into law in 2021, will you consider a gift to Family Policy
Alliance?

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For truth & for His calling,


Autumn Leva
Vice President, Strategy

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Mailing Address:
8675 Explorer Drive, Suite 112
Colorado Springs, CO 80920
(866) 655-4545
FamilyPolicyAlliance.com


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