Virginia General Assembly Update – Week 2
Virginia General Assembly Update – Week 2
The week began with the sad news of the passing of Geline Williams on Sunday, January 12. When the Virginia Catholic Conference began more than 20 years ago, Geline was among the first to reach out to us to provide support, encouragement and wisdom. She served on one of our original advisory committees and helped guide and grow our organization in numerous ways. The strong partnership in advocacy that she helped forge between the Virginia Society for Human Life and the VCC continues to flourish. We are deeply grateful to you, Geline, and may you rest in peace.
Constitutional amendments: Activity on all three proposed constitutional amendments sped forward on Tuesday, January 14, with early afternoon floor votes in the House and Senate committee votes later in the afternoon. All three passed the House as well as the Senate committee. Senate floor votes are anticipated early next week. Please act on our alert if you have not already done so!
Here are the House floor and Senate committee votes on each proposed amendment:
House floor vote on extreme abortion amendment (NAY = VCC Position)
House floor vote to remove one-man/one-woman marriage provision (NAY = VCC Position)
House floor vote on restoration of voting rights (YEA = VCC Position)
Senate committee vote on extreme abortion amendment (NAY = VCC Position)
Senate committee vote to remove one-man/one-woman marriage provision (NAY = VCC Position)
Senate committee vote on restoration of voting rights (YEA = VCC Position)
Other Key Issues: We testified in committee on a wide range of issues this week. We spoke against bills mandating coverage of contraceptives and abortion-inducing drugs and creating a commercial marketplace for marijuana. We expressed support for legislation to limit solitary confinement, make prescription drugs more affordable, help tenants struggling to keep up with rent, increase the minimum wage, keep hospital workers safe from violence, and ban assault firearms.
Act here on our alert against the coercive contraceptive mandate that violates life and liberty!
Virginia Pro-Life Day: Virginia Pro-Life Day is less than two weeks away! Register today to join pro-life advocates from around the commonwealth in Richmond on January 29. Meet with your legislators to advocate against dangerous bills that expand abortion and for policies that affirm the life and dignity of every mother and every child.
After your meetings with legislators, please join Bishop Knestout and Bishop Burbidge for Mass at noon at St. Peter’s Pro-Cathedral, across the street from the General Assembly Building. Bishop Knestout will be the celebrant, and Bishop Burbidge will be the principal concelebrant.
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In prayer and in public, your voices are urgently needed to bring Gospel values to bear on vital decisions being made by those who represent you.
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The Virginia Catholic Conference is the public policy agency representing Virginia’s Catholic bishops and their two dioceses.
