St. Joseph's Catholic Church
11730 Old Saint Augustine Road Jacksonville, Florida 32258 (904) 268-5422
Respect-Life Committee
Legislation
HR 1295 – “To provide for parental notification and intervention in the case of a minor seeking an abortion.” This law, if passed, would put parental authority back into the hands of the parents. Parents would have to be notified that their child is seeking an abortion and allows the parents to right to stop the abortion. Proposed by Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave from Colorado, this common sense bill shows a certain amount of courage that most of our legislators lack. We should not have to settle for weak parental notification laws that abortionists easily circumvent. Write to our Congressmen and strongly urge them to endorse this bill. Also write to Congresswoman Musgrave and show her your support. http://musgrave.house.gov/contactform
Stem Cell Research - There are several bills in the U.S Congress concerning stem cell research. S.5, S.362, S363 and HR.3 all would provide federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. And should be opposed. S.5 may be voted on very soon.
S.51 and HR.322 if passed would promote stem cell research that does not harm human embryos. This one should be supported.
Currently all stem cell legislation, both embryonic and non-embryonic, have been stuck in committees since January.
Florida Legislation
Florida House Bill 1191 and Senate Bill 1156 [Reproductive Health Services and Family Planning]
HOUSE SPONSORS: Yolly Roberson (D), Susan Bucher (D), Edward Bullard (D), Keith Fitzgerald (D), Luis Garcia (D), Bill Heller (D), Evan Jenne (D), Ari Porth (D), Kelly Skidmore (D), Shelley Vana (D), James Waldman (D)
SENATE SPONSORS: Nan Rich (D), Michael Bennett (R), Arthenia Joyner (D)
SUMMARY: This bill creates the “Prevention First Act”, which will require the Secretary of Health to develop and maintain certain information on family planning and health services on its website. The bill also requires the Department of Education to develop a comprehensive family life and sexuality education plan. Finally, the bill provides duties of licensed health care facilities and practitioners regarding the treatment of rape survivors. This bill is endorsed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida.
This bill requires the Secretary of Health to develop and maintain, as part of the Department of Health’s website, information on family planning and referrals to local community resources to assist women and families in preventing unwanted pregnancies. The website must contain information on the following items:
- Family planning methods, including all methods of contraception and natural family planning approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration
- Basic reproductive health procedures, including breast and pelvic examinations, cervical cancer screenings, screenings for sexually transmitted diseases, and pregnancy diagnosis and counseling.
- Referrals to local community providers, including subsidized family planning providers, which provide family planning services and counseling and basic contraceptive, pregnancy-preventative, and reproductive health services.
In addition, the Department of Education is directed to provide comprehensive family life and sexuality education for students from kindergarten to 12th grade. This education program must:
- Respect community values and encourage family communication;
- Develop skills in goal setting, communicating, decisionmaking, and conflict resolution;
- Contribute to healthy relationships;
- Promote education in human development and sexuality which is medically and age appropriate;
- Promote responsible behavior, including, but not limited to, the promotion of abstinence;
- Address the medically accurate use of contraception measures; and
- Promote individual responsibility.
Finally, the bill requires all licensed health care practitioner in the state of Florida to provide rape survivors with accurate, clear, and concise information concerning emergency contraception, including the risks associated with its use. If emergency contraception is requested, the health care practitioner must immediately prescribe or provide it if the practitioner determines it to me medically appropriate. The bill does not contain a conscience clause that would allow the practitioner to opt out of these requirements if morally opposed to the use of emergency contraception.
This bill should be opposed.
Congressman Dick Kravitz
417 House Office Building
402 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, Fl. 32399-1300
Phone (850) 488-1304
Senator Stephen Wise
Room 220
Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL. 32399-1100
(850) 487-5027