House Approves Pro-Life Legislation

May 13, 2015 By Scott Zipperle

House Approves Pro-Life Legislation

Legislation Retains Critical Focus on Humanity of the Child

Washington, D.C – The U.S. House of Representatives voted 240 – 186 Wednesday to pass a bill that would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.“Thank you to the many pro-life women and doctors who, today on the House floor, addressed the importance of this legislation,” said Jeanne F. Mancini, President of the March for Life Education & Defense Fund. “Because of the hard work of House Leadership and the bill’s sponsors, Representatives Diane Black (R-Tenn.) and Trent Franks (R-Ariz), pro-life participation in this debate was unprecedented.”“We look forward to the Senate taking up the House version of Pain Capable legislation as well as the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act which was passed by the House last January,” said Tom McClusky, Vice President of Government Affairs for the March for Life Education & Defense Fund. “One chamber has stood up for the humanity of the child. Now it is time for the Senate and President to be clear about their stance on late-term abortions.”

A November 2014 poll from Quinnipiac found that 60 percent of Americans, including 56 percent of Independents and 46 percent of Democrats, support the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. To date, 14 states have enacted Pain-Capable laws.

The March for Life in Washington, D.C., began as a small demonstration on January 22, 1974, the first anniversary of the now-infamous Supreme Court decisions in Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton and rapidly grew to be the largest pro-life event in the world. The peaceful demonstration that has followed on this somber anniversary every year since is a witness to the truth concerning the greatest human rights violation of our time, abortion.

Jeanne Mancini, President of March for Life Education and Defense Fund, is available for interviews. For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Ryan Hughes at RHughes@SBPublicAffairs.com or (703) 739-5920.###

May 11, 2015 By Scott Zipperle

House to Vote on 20-Week Abortion Limit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 8, 2015	CONTACT: Ryan Hughes Shirley & Banister Public Affairs 703-739-5920/800-536-5920 rhughes@sbpublicaffairs.com
House to Vote on 20-Week Abortion Limit
Legislation Retains Critical Focus on Humanity of the Child
Washington, D.C – The House of Representatives will vote on a bill this week that would ban nearly all late-term abortions. The legislation would establish a national limit on abortion at 20 weeks after conception—five months into pregnancy—which is the gestational age at which infants can feel pain and survive long-term if born prematurely. “House Leadership and the sponsors of the ‘Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act’ have taken a good bill and made it even stronger,” said Jeanne Mancini, President of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund. “The new version retains the critical focus of the humanity of the child. It also provides additional helps for women, including informed consent provisions and assurance of medical treatment and counseling following the trauma of sexual assault. Significantly it also holds those who are performing late term abortions responsible and accountable to the law. As we approach the anniversary next week of the conviction of Kermit Gosnell let us hope that this bill passes and is ultimately enacted so that women and babies will receive the protection they deserve.” A November 2014 poll from Quinnipiac found that 60 percent of Americans, including 56 percent of Independents and 46 percent of Democrats, support the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. To date, 14 states have enacted Pain-Capable laws. The March for Life in Washington, D.C., began as a small demonstration on January 22, 1974, the first anniversary of the now-infamous Supreme Court decisions in Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton and rapidly grew to be the largest pro-life event in the world. The peaceful demonstration that has followed on this somber anniversary every year since is a witness to the truth concerning the greatest human rights violation of our time, abortion.
Jeanne Mancini, President of March for Life Education and Defense Fund, is available for interviews. For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Ryan Hughes at RHughes@SBPublicAffairs.com or (703) 739-5920. ###

May 6, 2015 By Scott Zipperle

May Give Life Challenge: Sign a Special Mother’s Day Card

Our Give Life Challenge for the month of May is to encourage moms raising kids with special needs! Would you sign a heartening card for moms of children with Down Syndrome?

As you may know, we have been sharing the message that “Every Life is a Gift” for the 2015 March for Life, and we have focused on the special babies that are diagnosed with a fetal abnormality, such as Down Syndrome. Tragically, children with a poor prenatal diagnosis are aborted at a rate of approximately 85%. Thankfully, many moms and families resist pressure from doctors or society to abort, and give birth to precious children that, although they may face medical or development challenges, are a gift to this world.

Your signature on our inspiring Mother’s Day card will carry on the 2015 March for Life theme that “every life is a gift.” It will be an encouragement to countless moms of children with Down Syndrome and work to erase the perception that moms who deliver babies with Down Syndrome should be told “I’m sorry” rather than “congratulations!”

>>>> Click HERE to sign our special Mother’s Day card and to access resources for families raising kids with special needs.

April 27, 2015 By Scott Zipperle

Jerome Lejeune: To the Least of My Brothers and Sisters

Our 2015 March for Life theme, “Every Life is a Gift,” has drawn upon the work of the Lejeune Foundation, a research and advocacy organization for individuals with Down Syndrome. We recently shared a report by the Lejeune Foundation-USA’s President, Mark Bradford, entitled “Abortion after Prenatal Diagnosis of Down Syndrome Reduces Down Syndrome Community by Thirty Percent.”

To the Least of My Brothers and Sisters is a new documentary on the life of Jerome Lejeune, the Father of Modern Genetics that was made to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his death. Filmed on two continents, it contains numerous interviews with former colleagues, families, current medical researchers, and others, all who express the importance of Jerome Lejeune in both the history of medicine and the defense of the dignity of human life.

For those in the D.C. area, a free showing of the documentary will be held at the Heritage Foundation:

DATE:May 6, 2015
LOCATION:Heritage Foundation, 214 Massachusetts Ave NE Washington DC 20002-4999
TIME:6:00 PM reception; 7:00 PM screening
RSVP:to contact@LejeuneUSA.org
COST:Free

BA – “Jérôme Lejeune, to the least of these my brothers & sisters” from Aloest on Vimeo.

Jerome Lejeune’s importance in the history of medical and scientific discovery cannot be overestimated. He was called “The Father of Modern Genetics” because his 1958 discovery that Down syndrome was caused by an extra copy of the 21st chromosome radically changed the course of modern medicine and initiated the new field of cytogenetics. Awarded by President John F. Kennedy in 1962, and feted by the American Society of Human Genetics in 1969, his fortunes turned when he became an outspoken advocate for the dignity of human life, and opposed the use of his discovery to prenatally diagnose and abort babies with Down syndrome. For this cause he is an icon in the current struggle to preserve the right of conscience for medical practitioners and others who are increasingly challenged by governmental mandates to set their beliefs aside in their professional work.

For more information about the Lejeune Foundation, click HERE.

April 27, 2015 By Scott Zipperle

Pro-life Leaders Call for a Vote on the 5- Month Abortion Limit

Legislation has been delayed for Three Months

Washington, D.C – Today a group of national pro-life leaders released a joint statement urging House Republican Leadership to schedule a vote on the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.

“Today marks three months since a scheduled vote on landmark pro-life legislation, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, was delayed by the House GOP.

“This legislation protects women and their unborn children after 20 weeks, or 5 months of pregnancy, from painful and dangerous late-term abortions. It is a simple, compassionate proposal supported by a large majority of Americans, including women and young people.

“The babies and mothers being targeted by the late-term abortion industry have waited long enough for protection. We call on the House GOP to schedule an immediate vote on the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.

“The Senate stands ready to take up this legislation. A vote on this popular, modest bill will serve as a benchmark as to whether the House GOP is serious about protecting unborn babies and women.”

Leaders signing on to this statement include:

Marjorie Dannenfelser, President, Susan B. Anthony List

Tony Perkins, President, Family Research Council

Penny Young Nance, CEO and President, Concerned Women for America

Jeanne Mancini, President, March for Life

Janet Morana, Co-Founder, Silent No More Awareness Campaign

Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director, Priests for Life & President, National Pro-life Religious Council.

Charmaine Yoest, President & CEO, Americans United for Life

Kristan Hawkins, President, Students for Life of America