  | In this week's Family Update we cover: - Mandatory Vasectomy Bill Speaks Volumes of Pro-Abortion Activists
- Law Enforcement Strongly Opposes Legalizing Marijuana for Recreational Use - For Good Reason
- Hear Our Own Jeremy Samek Speak at the 'Help Not Harm' Virtual Summit
- A Win for Parents: House Advances School Curriculum Transparency Bill
- Another Win for Parents: Expanding Families Eligible for EITC Scholarships
- Governor Wolf Seeks to Stifle Popular School Options for Parents
- Do You Want to Make a Difference in PA? We're Hiring!
- Less Than One Month Away from General Elections!
| | | | Mandatory Vasectomy Bill Speaks Volumes of Pro-Abortion Activists Last Thursday, PA Rep. Chris Rabb (D-Philadelphia) understandably shocked many when he tweeted: | |  | Rep. Rabb then sent a memorandum to his colleagues last week elaborating on these extremist ideas: "I will be introducing legislation that will require all inseminators to undergo vasectomies within 6 weeks from having their third child or 40th birthday, whichever comes first.Further, this legislation will allow Pennsylvanians to take civil action for unwanted pregnancies against inseminators who wrongfully conceive a child with them." His anti-family efforts are in response to the growing pro-life movement rapidly gaining momentum across the country, resulting in historic events like our March for Life held in Harrisburg just last Monday. More than 5,000 supporters attended Pennsylvania's first March for Life, whereas the nationally coordinated "Women's March" focused on "abortion rights" only turned out a few hundred in Harrisburg over the weekend. To put it simply, the pro-abortion crowd is fretting. Even if Rep. Rabb's suggestion of forced sterilization was supposed to be a satirical jab at the pro-life laws being enacted across the country, his actions reveal the desperation an extremism of pro-abortion advocates. The abortion lobby works ceaselessly to disguise the fact the unborn child is a distinct, unique life with his or her own body. By suggesting obscene legislation about "regulating men's bodies," Rep. Rabb tries to ironically perpetuates the myth that the pro-life movement wants to control women's bodies. However, this has been disproven many times, not least by the fact that the pro-life movement is led by women, and most of the attendees at the March for Life in Harrisburg last week were, in fact, women. But the pro-life movement is pro-family. We want to see mothers and fathers unified in their commitment to respect and cherish the lives of their children, born and pre-born – with no limits on the number of children! It is sad Rep. Rabb felt compelled to spew such an obscene bill at the expense of taxpayers, so we will offer him our prayers. | | | | Law Enforcement Strongly Opposes Legalizing Marijuana for Recreational Use - For Good Reason A push in Pennsylvania to legalize the commercial sale of marijuana - which science and experience prove to be an addictive and dangerous drug - continued this week as Republican State Senator Mike Regan (R-Cumberland) announced he's flipped his position and is sponsoring a bill to do so. One alarming statement made by Sen. Regan, a former US Marshal, is that he believes it's a law enforcement position to support the legalized commercial sale of marijuana for recreational use. He rationalizes this in part by claiming legalization will stop the violent activities of cartels on the black market. Fact: Not only are black markets thriving in states that have legalized marijuana for recreational use, but law enforcement in Pennsylvania is strongly opposed to any effort towards full legalization. "Current information validates our concerns and strengthens our collective resolve that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania should not legalize the use of recreational marijuana," wrote Scott Bohn, executive director for the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association, in an op-ed last year. Law enforcement joins many other health and safety organizations in recognizing the reality that marijuana is an addictive drug that can cause significant harms, especially with high-potent marijuana concentrates and edibles, and are opposed to any push to legalize the state-sponsored commercial sale of marijuana. For more information on these realities, visit TruthOnWeed.com. | |  | | | Hear Our Own Jeremy Samek Speak at the Help Not Harm Virtual Summit The extremist gender ideology that has been growing in popularity is putting thousands of children at risk of irreparable damage. Now, when children may not fit into rigid gender stereotypes or when they suffer from gender dysphoria, they are pressured to take off-label cross-sex hormones or puberty blockers. While the long term effects of these drugs on young children are alarmingly understudied, we do know that they can cause infertility, permanent physical changes, and harm bone density. On Friday, October 15th from 10:30am - 4:00pm, the Family Policy Alliance is hosting the Help Not Harm virtual summit. You can register here and sign up for specific sessions. Senior Counsel at the Independence Law Center, Jeremy Samek, will be speaking in one of these sessions titled, "Bootcamp: How to raise your voice and make a difference." Sign up to learn more about this issue and what you can do to make a difference. | | | | A Win for Parents: House Advances School Curriculum Transparency Bill Thanks to State Rep. Andrew Lewis's (R-Dauphin) support for parental rights, his House Bill 1332 was passed yesterday out of the PA House of Representatives and now goes to the state Senate for consideration. The bill would require public school districts to publish on their websites the actual curriculum that will be taught for each grade and for each subject area, so parents can review the lessons and textbooks in advance of the school year. "This bill was authored on the simple premise that every parent has the right to know what is being taught to their kids in school, and this information should be available to them online. I'm grateful to each of my colleagues who voted yes — we passed this with 110 votes. Transparency — and parents — won today." - Rep. Lewis Let your state senator know that you support HB 1332. Click here to take action. | | | | Another Win for Parents: Expanding Families Eligible for EITC Scholarships Another good education bill was passed by the State House that would expand parental choice. HB 1642 by Rep. Martina White (R-Phila.) would increase the amount of tax credits available under the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) by $150 million (to $335 million), providing tens of thousands of additional Pennsylvania families the ability to choose a school that best fits their needs. The EITC program helps students by strengthening school choice opportunities, especially for students who would not otherwise be able to attend the school of their choice without access to scholarship funds. HB 1642 goes to the state senate for consideration. If passed, it would require Gov. Wolf's signature. | | | | Governor Wolf Seeks to Stifle Popular School Options for Parents It is no secret that private and charter schools have experienced significant increases in enrollment since the beginning of the pandemic. As Broad and Liberty reported, "Charter school enrollment went up 15.5 percent from 2020 to 2021 as public school enrollment dropped by 3.2 percent, according to the report. Statewide, the number of charter school students grew to 169,252 pupils." In the process, many parents have been empowered to make the educational choice that best fits their child's needs, thanks to the increased options provided through charter schools. Pennsylvania's charter schools are growing in popularity, and Governor Wolf's response, unfortunately, is to try and regulate and control them more. Worse, he wants these changes to occur outside of the legislative branch and entirely through bureaucratic agencies, removed from the voice of the people. When will Governor Wolf realize that the problem lies in the public school system, not the private and charter schools? | | | | Do You Want to Make a Difference in PA? We're Hiring! We are seeking an Administrative Assistant Pennsylvania Family Institute is seeking an Administrative Assistant to work with the Church Ambassador Network, as well as the broad PA Family organization. This position is full-time in our Harrisburg office. The primary purpose of this position is to increase the capacity of the Director of the Church Ambassador Network/Strategic Partnerships, and to act as the liaison, on behalf of the Director, to pastors and constituents. A likely candidate must possess the ability to respond effectively and efficiently to challenges and opportunities with professional poise and demeanor and to represent the organization well. With a keen awareness of expectations and the ability to initiate and lead relevant processes and procedures, they will anticipate the needs of the Director, both immediate and long-term, and take decisive action. If interested, please contact Emily Kreps at ekreps@pafamily.org or call our office at (717) 545-0600. | | | | Less Than One Month Away from General Elections! With the General Elections quickly approaching, on November 2, visit PaFamilyVoter.com for a voter guide filled with the information you need to make an impact for the sanctity of life and family here in Pennsylvania! We have information on judicial candidates and candidates for school board. Ballots will vary locally for municipal elections but statewide, voters will be voting on candidates for judges on the State Supreme Court, Superior Court and Commonwealth Court. We also provide information on where to register to vote and how to find your polling place. Thank you for using your voice to make a difference. | |  | | | Prayer and Praise - Pray that God would bring the right person along to fill our Administrative Assistant role!
- Pray that God would be glorified in the upcoming general elections.
If you have any prayer requests, we would be glad to pray for you. Please forward them to mail@pafamily.org. | | | | Mark your calendars Monday, October 11 - Rally and Prayer Walk Outside UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital Tuesday, October 12 - Pitt Exposed: Now What? A panel discussion with David Daleiden. Click here for more details Friday, October 15 - Help Not Harm Virtual Summit on the topic of minor gender transition. RSVP here. Saturday, October 30 - PA Family Institute's Friends of the Family Banquet. Find out more at pafamily.org/banquet. July 17 - 23, 2022 - 21st Annual City on the Hill Youth Leadership and Worldview Conference. | | | | | | | | Pennsylvania Family Institute
23 N Front St | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17101
(717) 545-0600 | mail@pafamily.org | | | | | | | | | | | |
