Fight The Freedom of Choice Act

The "Freedom of Choice Act" (FOCA) is a proposed federal law that would establish a federal "fundamental" right to abortion, which would be even broader than the current right under the Roe v. Wade decision. FOCA would strike down virtually all pro-life laws, including such common sense provisions as parental consent requirements, partial-birth abortion bans, and women's right to know laws. It would also require taxpayer funding of abortions.

Email Your Senators and Representative Today

ACTION REQUESTED:
Please contact Senators Sherrod Brown and George Voinovich and your Representative to Congress and urge them to oppose the Freedom of Choice Act.
Links to contact your Senators and Representative are found below.

Suggested email text you may use :

"At this time of serious national challenges, Americans should unite to serve the good of all, born and unborn. The Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), the most radical and divisive pro-abortion bill ever introduced in Congress, would create a "fundamental right" to abortion that government could not limit but would have to support. FOCA would overturn many existing widely-supported policies, including laws protecting parental involvement and conscience rights and those preventing partial-birth abortion and taxpayer funding of abortion. Please oppose FOCA or any similar measure, and retain laws against federal funding and promotion of abortion.”

As your constituent, I would appreciate a written response telling me how you would vote on these matters."

Simply click on the links below to leave your message:

Ohio Senators

Senator Sherrod Brown
http://capwiz.com/nrlc/mail/?id=472&lvl=C&chamber=S

Senator George Voinovich
http://capwiz.com/nrlc/mail/?id=457&lvl=C&chamber=S


Ohio Representatives to Congress
Click here to find your Representative by zip code
http://www.capwiz.com/nrlc/dbq/officials/

Governor Signs Bill to Expand Safe Havens Law


(Source: Ohio Right to Life) On December 23, 2008, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland signed a bill that greatly expands the timeframe for taking a newborn baby to a "safe haven" as an alternative to unsafe abandonment. S.B. 304, which was sponsored by pro-life Senator Gary Cates, increases the timeframe that a parent could voluntarily deliver a newborn to a safe location from 72 hours to 30 days after birth. The bill also requires the state to develop a plan to educate "at-risk populations" about the Safe Havens law. Ohio Right to Life promoted and testified in support of the bill.

Ohio's Safe Havens Law provides immunity from criminal prosecution for parental abandonment of a newborn, who has not been abused, to a peace officer, a hospital worker, or an emergency medical service worker. "Safe Havens" laws, which have been adopted in all 50 states, are intended to reduce infanticide and unsafe newborn abandonment.

"We believe that extending the timeframe when a parent can use the Safe Havens law will help protect babies," said Mike Gonidakis, Executive Director of Ohio Right to Life.

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reports that, between April 2001, when Ohio's Safe Havens law went into effect, and June 30, 2007, 54 babies have been safely surrendered under the law. The National Council for Adoption reports that over 1,000 newborns have been surrendered under such laws in the U.S. The majority of state Safe Havens laws have timeframes longer than 72 hours.

The new law will take effect in 90 days.

Governor Signs Protecting Pregnant Women from Coercion & Violence Act

(Source, Ohio Right to Life) Governor Ted Strickland recently signed Sub. H.B. 280, the Protecting Pregnant Women from Coercion & Violence Act. In addition to protecting pregnant women from violence and coerced abortions, the new law will allow proof of a pattern of failing to report known or suspected child sexual abuse in a lawsuit for damages against abortion facilities or others who are required to report child abuse.

Sub. H.B. 280, which was sponsored by Rep. Michelle Schneider, will:

1) Require abortion facilities to post a "No One Can Force You to Have an Abortion" poster;
2) Require mandatory minimum prison sentences for assault and increase penalties for domestic violence if the offender knew the victim was pregnant;
3) Permit recovery of compensatory and exemplary damages and use of reports of prior abuse incidents (with identifying information removed) in a civil action for failure to file required reports of known or suspected child abuse; and,
4) Provide mandatory prison sentences and payment of restitution to victims in cases of "human trafficking" for prostitution.

"We are delighted that Ohio has enacted this law to protect women and children from coercion and abuse," said Mike Gonidakis, Executive Director of Ohio Right to Life. "All Ohioans should join in opposing coerced abortion and violence against pregnant women," Gonidakis said.

"Although we have a statute requiring professionals to report child abuse, recent reports indicate that some abortion facilities failed to report sexual abuse of minors by adults. This new law will clarify that a failure to report can result in recovery of damages and that evidence of a pattern of failing to report abuse can be used in a lawsuit seeking such damages," Gonidakis said.