We Give Thanks
“We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father…" 1 Thessalonians 2-3
God in His wisdom has connected us all in this struggle for LIFE. He has brought us together for this time and this place so that we can save lives and change hearts. We have been called to build a Culture of Life and while doing so, give glory to God.
God is all-powerful and all-knowing, and He could end abortion at any moment but instead He calls us to participate in this struggle. He allows us to be part of this life saving work and calls us to oppose the evil of abortion, and it will be through His grace that abortion will end. Until then, we must pray for faithfulness to His calling and obedience to His will.
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Pro-Life Waiting Period Law in Court
"25-40% of women seeking abortion arrive at the abortion facility undecided.....information and time benefit women."
Dr. Priscilla Coleman, Bowling Green State University Professor of Human Development and Family Studies, testimony in Federal court
Last week, leaders of Tennessee Right to Life spent 4 days attending the Federal court trial in the case challenging Tennessee’s Pro-life informed consent and 48-hour waiting laws. We were the only Pro-life group that attended the trial.
In 2015, members of the Tennessee General Assembly overwhelmingly passed a TRL-sponsored law requiring a 48 hour waiting period for any woman seeking an abortion. The law also requires that the woman receive information about her unborn child as well as the possible complications from the procedure. Combining the two provisions was meant to give women truth and time so that abortion facilities could not easily rush a woman into a decision that will affect her for the rest of her life.
The Right to Life-initiated law is credited as one of the reasons the abortion rate in Tennessee is the lowest it’s been since 1974. Click here to view Tennessee's latest abortion numbers. During the trial, Dr. Vanessa Lefler with the TN Dept of Health & Vital Statistics testified that the rate and number of abortions of Tennesseans have been declining since 2008.
After four long years, the case was heard last week in the Middle Tennessee Federal District Court in Nashville by Judge Friedman from Detroit. The list of Plaintiffs’ attorneys included five law groups, two of which are from New York. The Tennessee Attorney General’s office defended the life-protecting measure as they have challenges to Pro-life Amendment 1 and the state's ban on doctor-assisted suicide.
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Pro-Life State Legislative Leader Retiring
"Rep. Dunn's prudence and persistence toward accomplishing pro-life goals have been key to establishing one of the most significant state records of Right to Life policy in the country."
Karen Brukardt, TRL Board Member
Raised by parents who served as early founders of Tennessee Right to Life in the 1970s, state Rep. Bill Dunn's pro-life roots run deep. His leadership during the 1990s as president of the local Right to Life chapter in Knoxville exemplified an astute understanding of pro-life politics and the importance of organizing advocates for effective action. Dunn's election to the state House in 1994 would prove pivotal in the fierce legislative battles that followed to promote meaningful pro-life policies, especially the sixteen-year effort to pass pro-life Amendment 1 in 2014.
"It is hard to imagine a more important figure in Tennessee's pro-life legislative history," said Karen Brukardt, Tennessee Right to Life Board member, and former Legislative Liaison."Rep. Dunn's prudence and persistence toward accomplishing pro-life goals have been key to establishing one of the most significant state records of Right to Life policy in the country," said Brukardt. "Tennessee remains the only state to have now passed both a pro-life amendment to our state Constitution as well as legislation to fully restore our state's pre-Roe laws upon overturn of the landmark ruling in whole or in part. Dunn's thoughtful guidance and careful counsel to pro-life leaders and legislators over the years has been instrumental in passing laws that are enforceable and effective in saving lives and helping women and families in need."
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Governor Lee Signs Human Life Protection Act
Act will ban abortion when Roe v. Wade is overtuned in whole or in part
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Planned Parenthood Withdraws From Title X Funding
Planned Parenthood Federation of America announced on Tuesday, August 20, that they will no longer participate in the federal Title X (ten) family planning program because of President Trump'sinsistence that abortion providers be excluded.
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Trump Administration and HHS take immediate action on Title X
The Trump Administration formally announced that it has begun immediately enforcing its Title X rules which state that grantees, such as Planned Parenthood, may not co-locate with abortion clinics or refer clients for abortion.
“We praise the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for their immediate enforcement of this reasonable policy,” said National Right to Life President Carol Tobias. “This rule makes it very clear that abortion is not a method of family planning. We are very grateful for President Trump and his commitment to protecting innocent unborn babies and preventing taxpayer monies from subsidizing abortion clinics through Title X.”
Ninth Circuit Upholds Title X Rules
For immediate release: Thursday, July 11, 2019
For more information: Laura Echevarria, (202) 626-8825, [email protected]
NINTH CIRCUIT, IN 7-4 DECISION, LETS STAND PRESIDENT TRUMP'S REINSTATEMENT OF TITLE X FUNDING RULE
WASHINGTON -- In a 7-4 decision, the 9th Circuit Court today let stand its June 20th decision to lift injunctions that would bar enforcement of the Trump Administration's reinstatement of Title X funding rules. The rules would prevent federal grants from being used by facilities performing, or referring for, abortions.
"National Right to Life praises the Ninth Circuit for its decision," stated National Right to Life President Carol Tobias. "We thank President Trump for his continued leadership in protecting the most vulnerable among us."
Prior to President Trump re-establishing the Protect Life Rule, existing Title X regulations blurred the line between abortion and family planning. Today's decision abides by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that upheld the original rule.
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National Right to Life Endorses Trump
For immediate release: Thursday, July 4, 2019
For more information: NRLC 2019 Press Office, (202) 642-1675, [email protected]
National Right to Life Endorses President Trump for Re-Election
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – On the eve of its 49th annual convention, the National Right to Life Committee, the federation of state right-to-life affiliates and local chapters, today endorsed pro-life President Donald Trump for his re-election.
"As our nation celebrates Independence Day, we are proud to endorse the only presidential candidate who stands for the unalienable right to life," said Carol Tobias, president of the National Right to Life Committee. "From his first day in office, President Trump and his Administration have been dedicated to advancing policies that protect the fundamental right to life for the unborn, the elderly, and the medically dependent and disabled."
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National Right to Life praises Trump Administration on fetal tissue research regs
The following statement can be attributed to Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life:
Today's decision by HHS to no longer allow the use of fetal tissue in internal research reflects the goal of President Trump and his administration to promote respect for all human life. As HHS continues to advocate the use of alternatives to fetal tissue research and review future requests regarding the use of fetal tissue in external research, we know that this president and his administration will continue to do all that they can to ensure protection for the most vulnerable members of society.
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Tennessee House Joins Senate, Passes Human Life Protection Act
Bans Abortion When Roe v. Wade is Overturned
Tennessee Right to Life applauds final passage of the Human Life Protection Act which will take effect upon the reversal of Roe v Wade, in whole or in part, by the U.S. Supreme Court. It will enact the full restoration of Tennessee's protective pre-Roe laws. The act restores the right of Tennesseans to decide these public policies on abortion for ourselves.
"It has always been the priority of Tennessee's pro-life movement to restore the fullest possible protection to the largest number of unborn children and women in our state," said Brian Harris, president of Tennessee Right to Life. "While states like New York are moving to strip any limits to abortion--even at the moments before birth---Tennessee wants to be known for protecting our children."
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