Virginia General Assembly Update – Week 9
Virginia General Assembly Update – Week 9
Session is scheduled to end tomorrow, March 14. However, House and Senate budget negotiators have not reached a deal on the state budget, so a special session on the budget appears likely.
Bills that passed this week: Bills we oppose that would require health plans to cover contraceptives, some abortion-inducing drugs, IVF and embryo banking passed this week. These outcomes were anticipated but are extremely disappointing nevertheless.
Bills in conference: When the Senate and House versions of a bill differ, a conference committee is appointed to resolve the differences. Numerous measures are now “in conference”. Two that we are watching closely are:
- A bill that purports to prevent “obstructing health care facility access” but would actually obstruct and inhibit those who offer peaceful prayer, witness and counseling outside abortion facilities
- Legislation to legalize the sale of marijuana in Virginia
Virginia March for Life: Come to Richmond on April 22 for the Virginia March for Life. Please RSVP here! This event will be a critically important opportunity to pray and mobilize to defeat the proposed extreme abortion amendment that would enshrine abortion as a “fundamental right” in Virginia’s constitution. In addition, please visit vacatholic.org/Amendment for more information about this radical amendment, including our VOTE NO flyer and Prayer for Protection. We encourage parishes to make wide use of these key resources.
Vote reports coming next month: Sometime next month, we will issue our annual vote reports. These compilations will show how your senator and delegate voted this session on critical issues impacting human life, dignity and the common good.
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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.
