The pro-life movement supports stem cell research, so long as that research does not involve the destruction of human embryos. That is
why we do support adult stem cell research. Should we be forced to fund research on embryonic stem cells that destroys human embryos?
On July 18, the U.S. Senate debated H.R. 810, a bill to substantially weaken President Bush' pro-life stem cell policy by requiring that federal tax dollars be spent for research on embryonic stem cells obtained by destroying human embryos. Texas Alliance for Life strongly opposed this bill. After lengthy debate, the Senate passed H.R. 810 on a vote of 63-37. Texas' two U.S. Senators voted differently. Senator John Cornyn voted pro-life. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison did not. Please write our U.S. Senators to let them know how you feel. See sample emails by clicking -HERE-.(Both Senators Cornyn and Hutchison did support two other pro-life bills -- S. 3504, which bans some forms of fetus farming, and S. 2754, which funded efforts to find alternatives to embryonic stem cells without destroying human embryos.)On July 19 President Bush vetoed H.R. 810, emphasizing that human embryos should not be sacrificed for research." Rather, human embryos "orphaned" in IVF clinics should be adopted rather than destroyed. At a news conference Bush said, "Yet we must also remember that embryonic stem cells come from human embryos that are destroyed for their cells. Each of these human embryos is a unique human life with inherent dignity and matchless value. We see that value in the children who are with us today. Each of these children began his or her life as a frozen embryo that was created for in vitro fertilization, but remained unused after the fertility treatments were complete. Each of these children was adopted while still an embryo, and has been blessed with the chance to grow up in a loving family."
Later the same day, the U.S. House took a vote to override the President's veto. The result was that Bush's veto was sustained -- 235 lawmakers voted to override the veto and 193 voted to sustain the veto. That was 51 votes of the two-thirds necessary to override, and the veto stands.
TAL's summer interns have logged an impressive 650 hours conducting crucial research in a variety of arenas. Veronica Roberts, Jonathan Webb, and Jeff Morhman helped us accomplish much more this summer than we would have been able to do alone. We appreciate their efforts immensely!
Veronica returns to Boston College for her junior year studying Political Science and Philosophy. She would like to attend law school after she graduates. Her work both on the Walk for Life in June and her targeted research were vital to our operation this summer. Veronica and her family are longtime supporters of Texas Alliance for Life.Jonathan, a native of California, has completed his first year at Pepperdine University School of Law and is entertaining the thought of moving to Texas for good! He says that the genuine, passionate people he met here impressed him by their dedication to pro-life causes. Jonathan aspires to be a community activist, start businesses, and get involved in public interest issues.Jeff returns for his second year at Ohio State College of Law, emphasizing in Constitutional Law and Business. He says his experience at TAL has been rewarding in the sense that he always knew why he was pro-life, but didn't have an in-depth grasp on all of the issues. He hopes his research will leave a lasting mark on the pro-life movement in Texas and beyond.Jonathan and Jeff were supported by the Alliance Defense Fund as part of their prestigious Blackstone Legal Fellowship program. Veronica was supported by TAL's internal funds. Texas Alliance for Life wishes to thank these three rising stars for their hard work this summer for the cause of Life.
Texas Alliance for Life invites you to support our critical efforts to protect innocent human lives in a special way -- by becoming a member of the Leadership Circle. The Leadership Circle holds three meetings a year for members and their spouses or guests with prominent pro-life medical and legal experts, community leaders, and elected officials. Meetings are planned for January, April, and August. Members also receive a complimentary table for 10 at our annual October dinner.Membership requires an annual financial contribution (monthly, quarterly, or onetime). For more information, click -HERE-.
Partial-Birth AbortionNext fall the Supreme Court will consider the constitutionality of the federal ban on partial-birth abortions, which was signed into law in 2003 by President Bush and challenged by abortion providers. The Court will hear oral arguments on Wednesday, November 8, on two similar cases, Gonzales v. Carhart and Gonzales v. Planned Parenthood. A decision could be issued anytime before the end of June 2007.For an excellent summary of the issues before the Court from National Right to Life, click HERE."Choose Life" License PlatesIn June the Court decided to not consider challenges to two state's "Choose Life" specialty license plates, Louisiana (Keeler v. Stalder)and Tennessee (ACLU v. Bredesen). That means those states can continue their "Choose Life" license plate programs, which advocate the state-sponsored life-affirming "Choose Life" educational message and raise funds for adoption and other compassionate alternatives to abortion.
Texas Congressional DistrictsAlso in June, the Supreme Court upheld as constitutional nearly all of Texas' 32 congressional districts (which the Texas Legislature had adopted in 2003), finding a problem in only District 23. District 23 is a geographically large district that goes from San Antonio to El Paso. The Court sent the case back to a special three-judge panel to redraw District 23 and adjacent districts as necessary. On August 3, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas issues a map that changes the lines of five congressional districts -- 15, 21, 23, 25, and 28. All other districts remain the same. The new map goes into effect for the fall General Elections. To see the new map, click -HERE-.The court ruling does not affect in any way the Texas State House, State Senate, and State Board of Education districts.
If you've not already received it, watch for the summer edition of our Life Matters newsletter in the mail. CLICK HERE to view the newsletter online. We appreciate your help to cover the costs of mailing it to thousands of households, churches, and elected officials across Texas. Please send a donation with the enclosed return envelope, or make a secure online donation by clicking HERE.
Want a speaker or pro-life informational booth at your church or civil event? Contact Kristin Jones, TAL's director of communications, at 512-477-1244 or kristin@texasallianceforlife.org. Our speakers bureau has experts on numerous topics including "Stem Cell Research and Cloning," "Exposing Planned Parenthood," "Roe v. Wade's Effect on Society," "Pro-Life: A Winning Issue," "When Does Life Begin?", "End of Life Issues," and more.
