Dear Colleague, 


We are excited to share the latest commentary from the DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society and its allies:


Why Planned Parenthood Is Pushing Chemical Abortions <[link removed]>
Feat. Mallory Carroll, Vice President of Communications, Susan B. Anthony List
Virginia Allen, News Producer
The Daily Signal
Chemical abortions are conducted at home with two pills. The body is forced into labor, and women experience heavy cramping and bleeding. Despite the dangers associated with chemical abortions, the Food and Drug Administration has loosened restrictions on the pills, making them accessible to women by mail.
 
Trans Health Association Recommends Mental Health Assessment Before Teens Transition. The New York Times Isn’t Convinced. <[link removed]>
Nicole Russell, Contributor
The Daily Signal
In a recent article, the newspaper of note says, “Clinicians are divided over new guidelines that say teens should undergo mental health screenings before receiving hormones or gender surgeries.” However, despite the headline, a closer look shows one of the most liberal papers in the country still downplayed the risks of transitioning to teens and gave a lot of space to the medical community pushing adolescent transitions.
 
Chicago Schools Tell Teachers Sex Is ‘Socially Constructed,’ Tell Them to Hide Students’ Gender Pronouns From Parents <[link removed]>
Kendall Tietz, Contributor
The Daily Signal
“Discussing a student’s transition with their parent or guardian without the student’s explicit consent is not permitted,” a slide reportedly read. “Disclosure of this kind can create an unsafe situation for the student. This is both a legal and safety concern, and there is no age restriction on this guidance.”



Schools Conspire With Outside Groups Behind Parents’ Backs to Counsel Kids on Myriad Gender Choices <[link removed]>
Brenda Lebsack, Teacher and Former School Board Member
The Daily Signal
As a former school board member and currently a public school teacher of 30 years, I want to share some information with parents that school districts won’t tell them. Under a program called “multitiered systems of support,” many outside agencies have access to students without parental knowledge or consent.

 
Biden’s Anti-Marriage “American Families Plan” Fails to Build Back Better <[link removed]>
Jamie Hall and Robert Rector, Domestic Policy Studies, The Heritage Foundation
The Build Back Better Act recently promoted in Congress incorporates many elements of the Biden Administration’s “American Families Plan,” which is promoted as “an investment in our kids, our families, and our economic future.” The plan indeed represents a substantial “investment:” As the largest expansion in means-tested welfare in United States history, it raises total government support by $11,300 to $76,400 per poor family with children. However, due to the poor incentive structure of these welfare benefits, the Biden family plan is more accurately described as an “investment” in non-marriage and broken families.
 
Why Parents Need Choices in Education To Protect Their Values <[link removed]>
Jonathan Butcher, Center for Education Policy, The Heritage Foundation
During COVID, many parents wrestled with mask mandates and new vaccination requirements, along with sharply political classroom content, all while watching student achievement fall precipitously. Families appropriately started asking: Does our child’s school reflect what we believe is best—and if not, what can we do about it?
 
How to Protect Your Kids From Internet Porn: There’s an App for That <[link removed]>
Rob Bluey, Executive Editor
The Daily Signal
“I’ve come at this with a lot of humility and sympathy, but there’s a few things that I really think all parents should do. No. 1, they need to have the open door with their kids. They need to be having these conversations. And this is not only about how they’re utilizing technology, but about the content that they can access there.”
 
EXCLUSIVE: GOP Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Extend Child Tax Credit to Unborn Babies <[link removed]>
Mary Margaret Olohan, Reporter
The Daily Signal
“Expecting parents begin providing and preparing for their child the minute they learn they’re having a baby. The child tax credit should reflect the fact that unborn children are children, too,” Daines told The Daily Signal. “From prenatal care to stocking up on baby supplies, this tax relief will help parents prepare for the arrival of their baby.”
 
Men Play Large Role in Women’s Abortion Decision, Study Finds <[link removed]>
Virginia Allen, News Producer
The Daily Signal
“You can’t be serious about ending abortion unless you are serious about engaging men on the issue,” said Roland Warren, president and CEO of Care Net, a network of Christian crisis-pregnancy centers.


Sincerely,
DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society
Institute for Family, Community and Opportunity
The Heritage Foundation

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