Wow! We're amazed that thousands of Minnesotans took action on the three action alerts we sent out on Monday. I want to give you an update on the three major threats to life, family, and religious freedom that we saw unfold this week. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the so-called “Equality Act,” two Senate Committees held confirmation hearings for President Biden’s HHS nominee, Xavier Becerra, who is known for using his position as California Attorney General to attack the pro-life movement, and here in Minnesota, another hearing on a bill mandating “comprehensive” sex education in K-12 classrooms across the state moved that piece of legislation forward.

1. The Inequality Act

Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Equality Act, which, if it passes the Senate, would make sexual orientation and gender identity a protected status under the Civil Rights Act. By equating subjective, fluid, and invisible qualities like sexual orientation and gender identity with race and ethnicity, this act presents a serious threat to religious freedom, free speech, and conscience rights. Additionally, it radically expands abortion “rights,” threatens the safety and privacy of women and children, and would destroy opportunities for female athletes.

Prior to the vote, The House Rules Committee met to report out a closed rule, meaning that no amendments could be considered on the House floor. Earlier this week, Minnesota Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach pointed out that this bill would be disastrous for life if enacted.  

Minnesota Congresspeople voted along party lines, with Representatives Angie Craig, Betty McCollum, Dean Phillips, and Ilhan Omar supporting the bill and Representatives Tom Emmer, Michelle Fischbach, Jim Hagedorn, and Pete Stauber opposing it.

2. Xavier Becerra: A Pro-Abortion Radical at Health and Human Services?

On Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, two Senate committees held confirmation hearings for President Biden’s nominee for Health and Human Services Secretary, Xavier Becerra. On Tuesday he appeared before the Senate HELP (Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions) Committee, which includes Minnesota Senator Tina Smith. Senators Braun (R-IN), Marshall (R-KS), and Romney (R-UT) each made strong pro-life lines of questioning on abortion funding, chemical abortion, and partial birth abortion respectively. The #StopBecerra tweet-storm continued to highlight Mr. Becerra's radical pro-abortion record. 

On Wednesday Becerra went before the Senate Finance Committee, where Senators Lankford (R-OK) and Sasse (R-NE) scrutinized his history of hostility toward religious freedom and First Amendment rights. In response to questioning from Senator Daines, Becerra refused to name a single restriction on abortion that he would support. Becerra’s nomination will probably move to the Senate floor soon - look for an action alert to ask Sens. Smith and Klobuchar to oppose pro-abortion extremist Xavier Becerra.

3. Radical Sex Ed Bill in St. Paul

On Wednesday, the Minnesota House Preventive Health Policy Division heard HF 358, which would mandate "comprehensive" sex ed in Minnesota public schools. Comprehensive sex education (CSE) includes explicit sexual content for early elementary children, which is strongly opposed by most parents.

Your voice matters! During the hearing, Representative Glenn Gruenhagen said: "I have received more emails opposing this issue than ever before in the legislature." Thank you to everyone who has contacted their representatives about this harmful legislation!

Unfortunately, despite this swell of grassroots opposition, the committee passed the bill for further consideration by another committee, this time the Health Finance and Policy Committee. Radical legislators who passed the bill rejected several commonsense amendments, including parental notification.

This bill will next appear before the MN House Health Finance and Policy Committee. Look for an action alert to make your voice heard on this crucial issue.