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.
- 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.
- 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!
 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!
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!
- 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!
- 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.
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?
For truth & for His calling,
Autumn Leva
Vice President, Strategy 
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