Church Blog - 2012

Action Alert: Tell the Senate to support the Farm Bill

Urge Your Senators: Ensure our nation feeds the hungry, preserves God’s creation, supports small family farmers and rural America
 
Every five years, the U.S. Congress decides how our federal government will help feed hungry people here at home and overseas, support growth in U.S. rural communities, assist farmers, and promote environmental conservation. The legislation that includes all of these important objectives and many more is called the “Farm Bill.” It needs to be renewed before the current version expires at the end of September 2012. The Senate is expected to introduce its version of the Farm Bill soon. Your voice is needed now to make sure that the new Farm Bill feeds the hungry, preserves God’s creation, and supports small family farmers and rural America.

Your faith and your Church bring deeply rooted principles to this debate. As Catholics, we believe that each person’s life is a sacred gift from God and that it must be protected. Since food is required to sustain life, the Church teaches it is a basic right for all people. We believe that must support those who grow our food in their times of need, to care for God’s creation, and ensure our brothers and sisters who are poor and hungry have access to nutritious food.

Your Church also brings tremendous experience to the debate around the Farm Bill. Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) feed and assist millions of people living in poverty at home and overseas. Our National Catholic Rural Life Conference (NCRLC) has been serving the rural people and their communities for 80 years. Your Church knows from personal experience how the Farm Bill affects us all, but most significantly, how it impacts those who are hungry, living in poverty, and struggling to keep farming a viable way of life.

That is why your Church, led by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, along with CRS, CCUSA, and NCRLC, is united in support of a Farm Bill that provides for poor and hungry people in the United States and around the world, offers effective assistance for those who grow our food, ensures fairness to family farmers and ranchers, and promotes stewardship of the land.

Join us in our call to the Senate to put hungry people first, to support small family farms and poor farmers here at home and overseas, and to promote environmental conservation. Your voice is powerful and can make change happen. For all of us, for our brothers and sisters, and for God’s creation.


 

House Subcommittee Votes to Remove Funding for SSBGs
 
On Wednesday, April 18, the House Ways and Means Committee approved a draft budget proposal that would repeal the Social Services Block Grant and cut other social spending in an attempt to find $53 billion in savings over the next ten years. The measure, along with two others to recapture overpayments from federal health insurance and require a Social Security number to claim the refundable child tax credit, was sent to the House Budget Committee along by a 22-14 vote.
 
A competing proposal to finance SSBGs through a surtax on those making over $1 million annually was ruled non-germane. The limited amounts of spending on SSBGs was a result of the House leadership’s call for committees to find additional budget-cutting to avoid the automatic cuts, known as sequesters, that were passed by the Budget Control Act of 2011.
 
The proposal now goes to the House Budget Committee, which will consider whether or not to pass it along to be voted by the full House. If the bill were to pass the House, it is not expected to be considered by the Senate. Catholic Charities USA will continue to closely monitor the progress of this legislation and provide opportunities for you to make your voice heard on the importance of these programs. Please take a moment to visit this action alert to send information about local programs funded by SSBGs directly to your Members of Congress. For more information, please contact Ron Jackson, Senior Director, Government Affairs, at rjackson@CatholicCharitiesUSA.org
 
 
House Agriculture Committee Discusses SNAP Cuts
 
The House Committee on Agriculture on Thursday, April 18, voted along party lines to cut $33 billion in 10 years from SNAP (formerly known as food stamp) benefits. While the vote was taken in an attempt to meet lower spending limits to cut the federal budget deficit, it is been seen largely as a symbolic move that will not become law. The committee recommended a cut of $19.7 billion in five years, and the balance in the following five years.
 
Watch for an action alert from Catholic Charities USA, and be prepared to urge Members of Congress to ensure that SNAP benefits continue to be available for seniors, children, and others in need. Even though it is not expected that these cuts will be passed in the Senate, it is still important to engage in advocacy over this important program.
 
Catholic Charities USA will continue to monitor these cuts and will provide an action alert for you take action. For more information, please contact Ron Jackson, Senior Director, Government Affairs, at rjackson@CatholicCharitiesUSA.org
 
 
House Budget Committee Holds Hearing on Strengthening Safety Net
 
On Tuesday, April 17, the House Committee on the Budget held a hearing entitled “Strengthening the Safety Net.” The Chair of the committee, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI,) called the hearing to discuss ways in which the safety net is in need of reform and finding more efficient ways to provide services to those in need.
 
There were four witnesses on the panel: Casey Mulligan, Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago, Ron Haskins, Co-Director of the Center on Children and Families at the Brookings Institution, Robert Rector, Senior Research Fellow at the Heritage Foundation, and
Robert Greenstein, President for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
 
While discussion largely centered around the long-term budgetary impact of elevated levels of social safety net spending, witnesses and Members of Congress also talked about finding efficiencies in social spending and ensuring that recipients of SNAP and other programs received the services they need to achieve self-sufficiency.
 
For copies of the written testimony from each of the witnesses, including the opening statement by Chairman Ryan, please visit http://budget.house.gov/HearingSchedule/Hearing4172012.htm. For more information, please contact Patrick Brown, Manager, Strategic Initiatives, at pbrown@CatholicCharitiesUSA.org
 
 
 
Senate Scheduled to Take Up Farm Bill Reauthorization
 
While the House Agriculture Committee voted to cut the SNAP program, the process of authorization continued in the Senate. The Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI,) announced that she hopes to be able to make a draft of her committee’s farm bill public by early this week, with the full committee voting on its provisions (in what is called the mark-up process) starting next Wednesday, April 25, 2012.
 
In the House, the Agriculture Committee is planning to hold a series of hearings on the programs covered under the Farm Bill, including the aforementioned Supplemental Food Assistance Program. They are expected to last through the middle of May. The reauthorization of the Farm Bill will need to be passed by the House and the Senate and signed by the President – it is expected that disagreement between the chambers will continue due to the contentious election year.
 
Please join with our partners at other Catholic organizations by taking action to support a Farm Bill reauthorization that stays true to our faith's principles. Catholic Charities USA will continue to monitor this and other legislative activity pending before Congress and provide opportunities for you to weigh in during the legislative process. For more information, please contact Ron Jackson, Senior Director, Government Affairs, at rjackson@CatholicCharitiesUSA.org.


 

***
Washington Weekly
is a publication of the Social Policy Department of Catholic Charities USA
and is published regularly when Congress is in session.
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BISHOPS ISSUE CALL TO ACTION TO DEFEND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
 
Urge strong lay involvement
Outline threats to First Freedom at all levels of government and abroad
Call upon dioceses to pursue religious liberty fortnight, June 21-July 4
 
The U.S. bishops have issued a call to action to defend religious liberty and urged laity to work to protect the First Freedom of the Bill of Rights. They outlined their position in “Our First, Most Cherished Freedom.” The document was developed by the Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), approved for publication by the USCCB Administrative Committee March 13, and published in English and Spanish April 12.
 
The document can be found at http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/our-first-most-cherished-liberty.cfm.
 
“We have been staunch defenders of religious liberty in the past. We have a solemn duty to discharge that duty today,” the bishops said in the document, “… for religious liberty is under attack, both at home and abroad.”  The document lists concerns that prompt the bishops to act now.  Among concerns are:

•           The Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate forcing all employers, including religious organizations, to provide and pay for coverage of employees’ contraception, sterilization, and abortion-inducing drugs even when they have moral objections to them. Another concern is HHS’s defining which religious institutions are “religious enough” to merit protection of their religious liberty,

•           Driving Catholic foster care and adoption services out of business. Boston, San Francisco, the District of Columbia and Illinois have driven local Catholic Charities adoption or foster care services out of business by revoking their licenses, by ending their government contracts, or both—because those Charities refused to place children with same-sex couples or unmarried opposite-sex couples who cohabit.

•           Discrimination against Catholic humanitarian services. Despite years of excellent performance by the USCCB’s Migration and Refugee Services in administering contract services for victims of human trafficking, the federal government changed its contract specifications to require USCCB to provide or refer for contraceptive and abortion services in violation of Catholic teaching. Religious institutions should not be disqualified from a government contract based on religious belief, and they do not lose their religious identity or liberty upon entering such contracts. Recently a federal court judge in Massachusetts turned religious liberty on its head when he declared that such a disqualification is required by the First Amendment—that the government violates religious liberty by allowing Catholic organizations to participate in contracts in a manner consistent with their beliefs on contraception and abortion.
            
The bishops decry limiting religious freedom to the sanctuary.
Religious liberty is not only about our ability to go to Mass on Sunday or pray the Rosary at home. It is about whether we can make our contribution to the common good of all Americans,” they said. “Can we do the good works our faith calls us to do, without having to compromise that very same faith?”   “This is not a Catholic issue. This is not a Jewish issue. This is not an Orthodox, Mormon, or Muslim issue. It is an American issue,” they said.
 
The document ends with a call to action.
“What we ask is nothing more than that our God-given right to religious liberty be respected. We ask nothing less than that the Constitution and laws of the United States, which recognize that right, be respected.”  They specifically addressed several groups: the laity, those in public office, heads of Catholic charitable agencies, priests, experts in communication, and urged each to employ the gifts and talents of its members for religious liberty.
 
The  bishops called for “A Fortnight for Freedom,” the two-week period from June 21 to July 4—beginning with the feasts of St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher and ending with Independence Day—to focus “all the energies the Catholic community can muster” for religious liberty.  They also asked that, later in the year, the feast of Christ the King be “a day specifically employed by bishops and priests to preach about religious liberty, both here and abroad.”
 
Please continue to check back on our website, www.indianacc.org , for current events.
 

Congress will be on a two-week recess for the Easter break. The next issue of Washington Weekly will be published after they return to Washington. Happy Easter!
 
For the latest news from the Catholic Charities USA Social Policy team, please follow us on Twitter @CCUSA2EP (CCUSA “2” End Poverty)!
 
House Passes Budget Proposal
 
On Thursday, March 29, the House passed a budget proposal authored by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) by a vote of 228 to 191, ending a series of budget-related votes and passing the budget on to the Senate. However, it is not expected that the Senate will take action on the plan or propose one of their own, leading to a possible October showdown over spending limits.
 
Much like the budget proposed by the White House weeks ago, the budget proposal is a suggested road map to lay out tax and spending changes, and is not expected to be enacted into law. The House voted down the budget proposed by the President by a vote of 414-0 on Wednesday. A budget plan based on the Simpson-Bowles deficit reduction commission was also voted down, with only 38 members voting in favor of the plan.
 
The budget’s passage means that House appropriators will get to work writing their spending bills following their two-week recess. The House has set April 27 a target to have spending bills drafted that find an additional $261 billion in savings to forestall the automatic spending cuts agreed to under the Budget Control Act passed last August.
 
Catholic Charities USA will continue to follow the budgeting process and provide updates when they become available. For more information, please contact Patrick Brown, Manager, Strategic Initiatives, at pbrown@CatholicCharitiesUSA.org
 
 
Administration Proposes Immigration Waiver Process
 
On March 30, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a proposed rule to the Federal Register that would allow certain groups of undocumented immigrants to become lawful permanent residents. Under the proposed rule, undocumented immigrants who are immediate family members of U.S. citizens would be permitted to apply for a waiver provided they have not committed any crime and show that a separation would produce “extreme hardship.” This would significantly reduce the amount of time that families are separated, as individuals awaiting processing are forced to wait up to 10 years. The rule would also allow students enrolled in school or who have joined the military to also remain in the United States legally.
 
The proposed rule follows an announcement on March 29 that the Department of Homeland Security would suspend deportation proceedings in Detroit, New Orleans, Orlando, and Seattle while officials review cases of undocumented immigrants who have remained in the country without applying for green cards. The Administration is also expected to halt deportations in New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
 
USCIS is accepting public comment from April 2 until July 7. Details on the proposed rule are available by visiting this link. For more information, please contact Lucreda Cobbs, Senior Director, Policy and Legislative Affairs, at lcobbs@catholiccharitiesusa.org.
 
 
Supreme Court Holds Hearings on Affordable Care Act
 
Two years after being signed into law, key provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act were argued before the Supreme Court over the course of three days of hearings. In determining the constitutionality of key components of the legislation, the nine justices of the Supreme Court heard from opponents and defenders of the law and are expected to hand down their decision by late June.
 
Recognizing the importance and wide reach of the law, the Court allowed more time for oral arguments than in any other case in the past 45 years. On Monday, the justices heard arguments over whether a tax statute from 1867 prevented this case from being heard until the law is fully enacted. Tuesday was focused on a key part of the law, the individual mandate, and whether the Commerce Clause in the Constitution grants Congress the permission to require every citizen to obtain health insurance. On Wednesday, the Court heard arguments about whether the law should be treated as a whole or in severable parts and whether Congress can tie Medicaid funding to new insurance coverage thresholds for individual states.
 
This important case will likely reach a resolution by the end of June. For more information, please contact Patrick Brown, Manager, Strategic Initiatives, at pbrown@CatholicCharitiesUSA.org
 
 
House Holds Hearing on At-Risk Youth Legislation
 
On Monday, March 26, the House Education and Workforce subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary education held a hearing on the Youth Promise Act (HR 2721), legislation aimed at providing communities with much needed support to develop comprehensive responses to youth gang, crime and delinquency challenges.
 
The witness panel included:
Hill Harper: actor (CSI: NY), author of bestselling books Letters to a Young Brother and Letters to a Young Sister, philanthropist, and founder of Manifest Your Destiny, a nonprofit organization that works to empower underserved youth;
John Prendergast: author, activist and co-founder of the Enough Project, a nonprofit human rights organization affiliated with the Center for American Progress. Prendergast co-authored the book Unlikely Brothers with his mentee;
Michael Mattocks: co-author of Unlikely Brothers and mentee of John Prendergast;
Dr. Catherine Gallagher: Director of the Cochrane Collaboration College for Policy & Associate Professor of Criminology, Law and Society at George Mason University;
Dr. Jorja Leap: Adjunct Associate Professor of Social Welfare at UCLA and author of Jumped In;
Bobby Kipper: former Newport News police officer, founder of the National Center for the Prevention of Community Violence, and author of the bestselling book No Colors; and
Frank Carrillo: restorative justice activist and student.
 The bill, introduced in August 2011, includes provisions that would allow communities facing the greatest challenges with youth gang, delinquency, and crime activity to collaborate via a local council, including law enforcement, community-based organizations, schools, faith-based organizations, health, social services, and mental health providers—to develop and implement a plan to support young people and their families. Such an approach has the potential to make communities safer, reduce victimization and helps ensure that our nation’s most at-risk children are afforded the resources they need to grow into productive adults.
 
To view the bill text, please click here: http://www.bobbyscott.house.gov/images/stories/ypa_white_paper.pdf
To view the hearing, please click here: http://www.c-span.org/Events/Rep-Scott-D-VA-Holds-Discussion-on-Preventing-Youth-Incarceration/10737429335-1/
 
Catholic Charities USA supports policies that focus on prevention, intervention, and rehabilitation of our nation’s youth. For more information, contact Lucreda Cobbs, Sr. Director, Policy and Legislative Affairs, at lcobbs@CatholicCharitiesUSA.org



 

Tickets $10 each/ 6 for $50
Drawing Thursday, April 26, 8:50 pm
Smee’s Place Restaurant, Indianapolis
Prizes include three IPAD3s; need not be present to win.

You can purchase tickets ($10 each or 6 for $50) by bringing a check to Smee’s Place (1454 W. 86th Street) for the Ruckelhaus’ Benefit on April 26, between 5 and 9 PM. Or you can mail your donation or raffle purchase to Lisa Newhouse Lubbers, 8645 Sturgen Bay Lane, Indianapolis, 46236.Checks payable to Legacy Foundation, which supports Jay and the expenses associated with his recovery from a diving accident.

Jay Ruckelshaus, son of John and Mary Ruckelshaus and Cathedral H.S.’s 2011 valedictorian, was critically injured in a diving accident at Geist Reservoir in July. Instead of matriculating at Duke University, where he had earned a full scholarship, Jay went to the Shepard Center in Atlanta for treatment and rehabilitation of his
ASIA B, Sensory Incomplete, injury. Today, Jay is involved with a Neuro Recovery Network study, and he is working to get his arms stronger so that he will one day feed himself and use a manual wheelchair. Jay still plans to enroll at Duke in the fall,and between now and then, he will be working hard to continue his progress.

The Ruckelshaus family wishes to thank everyone for their continued love, prayers, and support.  For
more information about Jay’s recovery, visit www.prayforjay.com, and see Ann Ryder’s, WTHR-TV report
on Jay on YouTube.



 

The bishops have asked that all set March 30 as day of prayer and fasting for religious liberty. They have noted with gratitude the great support from the laity and the spontaneous outpouring of prayer from so many parishes, organizations, associations, and individuals.  The bishops seek to encourage that effort with new prayer resources posted at www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/conscience-protection/resources-on-conscience-protection.cfm


In addition to prayer, an understanding of the real issues at stake is important if we are to change this unjust policy. Herein is an edited copy of the recent USCCB Administrative Committee’s statement explaining their concerns regarding the Health and Human Services mandate:

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is focused in its opposition to the various threats to religious freedom in our day. In our role as Bishops, we approach this question prayerfully and as pastors—concerned not only with the protection of the Church's own institutions, but with the care of the souls of the individual faithful, and with the common good.

We begin, first, with thanks to all who have stood firmly with us in our vigorous opposition to this unjust and illegal mandate: to our brother bishops; to our clergy and religious; to our Catholic faithful; to the wonderful array of Catholic groups and institutions that enliven our civil society; to our ecumenical and interfaith allies; to women and men of all religions (or none at all); to legal scholars; and to civic leaders. It is your enthusiastic unity in defense of religious freedom that has made such a dramatic and positive impact in this historic public debate. With your continued help, we will not be divided, and we will continue forward as one.

Second, we wish to clarify what this debate is—and is not—about. This is not about access to contraception, which is ubiquitous and inexpensive, even when it is not provided by the Church's hand and with the Church's funds. This is not about the religious freedom of Catholics only, but also of those who recognize that their cherished beliefs may be next on the block. This is not about the Bishops' somehow "banning contraception," when the U.S. Supreme Court took that issue off the table two generations ago. Indeed, this is not about the Church wanting to force anybody to do anything; it is instead about the federal government forcing the Church—consisting of its faithful and all but a few of its institutions—to act against Church teachings. This is not a matter of opposition to universal health care, which has been a concern of the Bishops' Conference since 1919, virtually at its founding. This is not a fight we want or asked for, but one forced upon us by government on its own timing. Finally, this is not a Republican or Democratic, a conservative or liberal issue; it is an American issue.

So what is it about?

An unwarranted government definition of religion. The mandate includes an extremely narrow definition of what HHS deems a "religious employer" deserving exemption—employers who, among other things, must hire and serve primarily those of their own faith. We are deeply concerned about this new definition of who we are as people of faith and what constitutes our ministry. The introduction of this unprecedented defining of faith communities and their ministries has precipitated this struggle for religious freedom. Government has no place defining religion and religious ministry. HHS thus creates and enforces a new distinction—alien both to our Catholic tradition and to federal law—between our houses of worship and our great ministries of service to our neighbors, namely, the poor, the homeless, the sick, the students in our schools and universities, and others in need, of any faith community or none. Cf. Deus Caritas Est, Nos. 20-33.

A mandate to act against our teachings. The exemption is not merely a government foray into internal Church governance, where government has no legal competence or authority—disturbing though that may be. This error in theory has grave consequences in principle and practice. Those deemed by HHS not to be "religious employers" will be forced by government to violate their own teachings within their very own institutions. This is not only an injustice in itself, but it also undermines the effective proclamation of those teachings to the faithful and to the world

A violation of personal civil rights. The HHS mandate creates still a third class, those with no conscience protection at all: individuals who, in their daily lives, strive constantly to act in accordance with their faith and moral values. They, too, face a government mandate to aid in providing "services" contrary to those values—whether in their sponsoring of, and payment for, insurance as employers; their payment of insurance premiums as employees; or as insurers themselves—without even the semblance of an exemption. This, too, is unprecedented in federal law, which has long been generous in protecting the rights of individuals not to act against their religious beliefs or moral convictions. We have consistently supported these rights, particularly in the area of protecting the dignity of all human life, and we continue to do so.

We will continue our vigorous efforts at education and public advocacy on the principles of religious liberty and their application in this case (and others). We will continue to accept any invitation to dialogue with the Executive Branch to protect the religious freedom that is rightly ours. We will continue to pursue legislation to restore the same level of religious freedom we have enjoyed until just recently. And we will continue to explore our options for relief from the courts, under the U.S. Constitution and other federal laws that protect religious freedom. All of these efforts will proceed concurrently, and in a manner that is mutually reinforcing.

Most importantly of all, we call upon the Catholic faithful, and all people of faith, throughout our country to join us in prayer and penance for our leaders and for the complete protection of our First Freedom—religious liberty—which is not only protected in the laws and customs of our great nation, but rooted in the teachings of our great Tradition. Prayer is the ultimate source of our strength—for without God, we can do nothing; but with God, all things are possible.




 

Catholic Charities Network Visits Capitol Hill
 
Last Wednesday, 60 directors of local Catholic Charities agencies convened in Washington D.C. to speak to their Members of Congress and their staffs about poverty in America. Representing nearly 40 states, the directors delivered messages and discussed solutions tailored to their unique districts with their elected officials. Following the day on the Hill, the directors and Catholic Charities USA staff came together to debrief on the day and discuss how the directors might continue conversations on poverty reduction back in their local districts. Leaders from across the Catholic Charities network asked their elected officials to spend time visiting a local agency or devote a town hall meeting to the topic of poverty.
 
The directors met with elected representatives and their senior staff to push for a conversation about innovation in the social service delivery system while ensuring that those who need help will still receive it. The principles of systems-changing, results-driven, and market-based reform that were brought to the meetings were taken directly from Catholic Charities USA’s signature legislation, the National Opportunity and Community Renewal Act.
 
Please keep an eye out for more stories and pictures from the Catholic Charities network’s visit to the Hill in upcoming issues of Washington Weekly, on our website, and on our Twitter feed. For more information about these visits, please contact Anna Porto, Manager, Strategic Partnerships, at aporto@CatholicCharitiesUSA.org
 
 
GOP Budget Chairman Releases 2013 Budget Proposal
 
On Tuesday, March 20, House Budget Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan, R-WI, released a proposed budget for fiscal year 2013 that set forth principles of reforming the income tax structures, protecting defense spending, transitioning Medicare into a premium support plan, and lowering levels of discretionary spending.
 
The House budget proposal aims to reduce the federal deficit by $3.1 trillion over the next ten years by making changes to the 2010 health care overhaul, reducing federal subsidies for high-speed rail and financial aid for college, and reducing the federal workforce by 10 percent. The budget proposal also targets Medicaid spending and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for conversion into block grant programs and reducing government support for crop insurance.
 
As written, the proposal would set the discretionary spending cap at $1.028 trillion, $19 billion below the $1.047 trillion cap originally laid out in the debt limit deal last August. The budget would also overhaul the tax code, consolidating the current six income tax brackets into two, set at 10 and 25 percent. Much like the President’s budget released several weeks ago, the budget is not expected to be enacted into law. The budget was passed by the House Budget Committee and is expected to be brought to the House for a vote. If it passes the House, the Senate is unlikely to agree to spending levels laid out in the budget.
 
Catholic Charities USA is currently reviewing the entire proposal and invites to check back regularly for updates and more information. The budget proposal can be found in its entirety on the House Budget Committee website. For more information on the budget, please contact Patrick Brown, Manager, Strategic Initiatives, at pbrown@CatholicCharitiesUSA.org
 
 
Senate Passes ‘JOBS’ Act
 
In an election-year display of bi-partisanship, the Senate passed the JOBS Act by a vote of 73-26 on Thursday, March 22, two weeks after the House passed the measure 390-23. Minor changes to the bill on the Senate side will require it to be passed again by the House, but if it garners passage again, it will head to the President’s desk to be signed.
 
The Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act is intended to spur small businesses by relaxing federal regulations that apply to start-up companies. The bill would directly impact a set of six regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and would make it easier for companies to go public. Opponents of the legislation said that it would undo critical financial oversight, but supporters argued that the bill will cut red tape and lead to more hiring and investment to aid the economic recovery.
 
The bill is expected to be passed and sent to the President by the end of this week. For more information on this legislation, please contact Patrick Brown, Manager, Strategic Initiatives, at pbrown@CatholicCharitiesUSA.org



 

WASHINGTON-The U.S. bishops are strongly united in their ongoing and determined  efforts to protect religious freedom, the Administrative Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) said in a March 14 statement.
            The Administrative Committee, chaired by Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, president of the USCCB, is the highest authority of the bishops' conference outside the semi-annual sessions of the full body of bishops. The Committee's membership consists of the elected chairmen of all the USCCB permanent committees and an elected bishop representative from each of the geographic regions of the USCCB.
            The full statement can be found at www. www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/upload/Admin-Religious-Freedom.pdf
           The Administrative Committee said it was "strongly unified and intensely focused in its opposition to the various threats to religious freedom in our day." The bishops will continue their vigorous work of education on religious freedom, dialogue with the executive branch, legislative initiatives and efforts in the courts to defend religious freedom. They promised a longer statement on the principles at the heart of religious freedom, which will come later from the bishops' Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty.
            The bishops noted that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate that forces all private health plans to provide coverage of sterilization and contraceptives - including abortion-inducing drugs - called for an immediate response. Of particular concern, they said, are a religious exemption from the mandate that the bishops deem "arbitrarily narrow" and an "unspecified and dubious future 'accommodation''' offered to other religious organizations that are denied the exemption.
            The bishops thanked supporters from the Catholic community and beyond "who have stood firmly with us in our vigorous opposition to this unjust and illegal mandate."
            "It is your enthusiastic unity in defense of religious freedom that has made such a dramatic and positive impact in this historic public debate."
            The bishops said this dispute is not about access to contraceptives but about the government's forcing the Church to provide them. Their concerns are not just for the Catholic Church but also for "those who recognize that their cherished beliefs may be next on the block."
            "Indeed, this is not about the Church wanting to force anybody to do anything; it is instead about the federal government forcing the Church - consisting of its faithful and all but a few of its institutions - to act against Church teachings," they said.
            The Church has worked for universal healthcare in the United States since 1919, they added, and said the current issue "is not a Republican or Democratic, a conservative or liberal issue; it is an American issue."
            The bishops called the HHS mandate "an unwarranted government definition of religion," with government deciding who is a religious employer deserving exemption from the law.
            "The introduction of this unprecedented defining of faith communities and their ministries has precipitated this struggle for religious freedom," the bishops said.
            "Government has no place defining religion and religious ministry," they said.
"If this definition is allowed to stand, it will spread throughout federal law, weakening its healthy tradition of generous respect for religious freedom and diversity," they said.
            The bishops said the government's foray into church governance "where government has no legal competence or authority" is beyond disturbing. Those deemed by HHS not to be "religious employers," the bishops said, "will be forced by government to violate their own teachings within their very own institutions. This is not only an injustice in itself, but it also undermines the effective proclamation of those teachings to the faithful and to the world."
            The bishops also called the HHS mandate "a violation of personal civil rights."  The new mandate creates a class of people "with no conscience protection at all: individuals who, in their daily lives, strive constantly to live in accordance with their faith and values," the bishops said. "They too face a government mandate to aid in providing 'services' contrary to those values - whether in their sponsoring of, and payment for, insurance as employers; their payment of insurance premiums as employees, or as insurers themselves - without even the semblance of exemptions."
            The bishops called for the Catholic faithful, and all people of good will throughout the nation to join them in prayer and penance "for our leaders and for the complete protection of our First Freedom - religious liberty."
            "Prayer is the ultimate source of our strength," the bishops said, "for without God we can do nothing. But with God all things are possible."

 

The General Assembly is finishing up on Friday and as of this writing, many items are still in play with conference reports being amended and caucuses meeting to discuss changes.
 
Transportation of non-public school students remains alive in the conference committee process. However, now it is part of an omnibus bill dealing with many education matters including some with broad consensus and others that are divisive. In regard to transportation, there is one small change from the initial language. It now requires that the students be dropped off at a point from which they can walk to school, rather than “safely” walk to school. The adverb caused some to be concerned about liability and setting a legal standard. The change is acceptable. Now we need to see if 384 will pass.
 
The issue dealing with in-state tuition for undocumented students, but residents, did not move out of the Senate. The bill was not called down because the Senate leadership received many calls in opposition. The bill died. Its contents is one of the bills which will now become part of SB 384, without the language granting in-state tuition.
 
The conference committee dealing with SB 296, Certified scholarship program, did not fare well. Despite efforts by Senator Jean Leising (R – Oldenburg) to add grade 8 as an entry point the House Republican caucus did not want to deal with the issue. Senator Leising is expected to concur with the House version of the bill. As it returned from the House, the bill does make a small improvement in the law by allowing students whose family income exceeds the limits but later is within the income guidelines to again be eligible without having to transfer to the public school first.
 
The definition and regulations of child care ministry have been an ongoing issue within the General Assembly for several years and it looks like it will return again next year. The Senate attempted to define “registered child care ministry” to more closely affiliate with a church or religious institution, but many in the evangelical community objected since the language had not been vetted in the committee process; rather it was added on second reading. Hence, the House rejected that part and instead asked for this to be considered by a study committee. The original bill requires the Division of Family Resources to establish a child care ministries advisory committee, which remains in the bill. The conference report is still pending.
 
However, some issues are settled.
 
HB 1141, Home energy assistance, has passed after some technical changes in how the funds were administered. Now the next step is the Governor’s signature. There is no indication yet what he intends to do.
 
Next week we should have a wrap-up of the session.
 
In addition to the Update, one can obtain more detailed information regarding the bills and detailed information about the legislative process through the ICC Legislative Action Center. Under “policy tools” click on “issues and legislation” and access the state or federal bills by clicking “current legislation”. Also, you can access the archived updates, ICC positions and other background information at the ICC website www.indianacc.org

Indiana Catholic Conference (ICC) is the public policy voice of the Catholic bishops in Indiana regarding state and national matters.
 

Committees finished their work this week and many bills kept moving through the process on the floor. Next week the focus will be second and third reading. Differences between versions of the bills will be reconciled in conference committee and voting upon the agreements during the week of March 4. The intent is to adjourn on March 9.
 
The House Public Health Committee passed out SB 15, but Representative Tim Brown (R – Crawfordsville) did not move the amendment to include the Physician Scope of Treatment form. He was convinced that the health and hospital community would develop a form that the General Assembly could adopt next session.
 
The Public Health Committee also passed SB 201, Transfer of human organisms, 8 – 2. The bill will allow fertility clinics to legally reimburse donors for ova before freezing them and then using the ova in an IVF process for another. Current law only permits the recipient to reimburse (buy) the ova. However, the bill also contains a provision that prohibits the fertility clinic to use any of the ova for embryonic stem cell research. It also removes from current Indiana law the ability to do embryonic stem research using Federal guidelines. These provisions are positive but the IVF industry needs regulation. ICC attempted to have the bill amended to restrict the number of ova fertilized at any one time, but the issue required too much time to develop. This could be a topic for future sessions because one explanation of the purpose of the bill was to reduce the number of embryos created and the large number held in indefinite storage. The bill moves to the floor next week.
 
House Education Committee passed SB 296, Certified scholarship eligibility, but amended out the provision that would make students in grade 8 eligible for a tax credit scholarship. It also passed second reading. SB 296 now provides that a student who received a scholarship in an earlier year but not the preceding year to again qualify for the scholarship in a later year. ICC supports this provision and is hopeful that the grade 8 eligibility provision can be added back during conference committee.
 
As expected SB 72, dealing with chemical abortions, did not receive a hearing. The House leadership did not want to deal with this emotional topic after the emotional struggle over Right to Work.
 
Senator Luke Kenley (R - Noblesville) in Senate Appropriations Committee stripped out the language in HB 1134 which added language to clarify Indiana law that requires school districts to transport students to non-public schools. However, Representative Bob Behning (R – Indianapolis), in House Education Committee, added the transportation language in SB 384 which deals with school accreditation. Hence, it is still possible to clarify the law this session. We also have an option of including it in another bill to ensure that it is viable during the final days of the session. It will come down to conference committee discussions and final passage of the bill which contains it.
 
HB 1141, Home energy assistance, passed the Senate 50 – 0 and now returns to the House. The bill was amended to provide for funding of the sales tax through the home mortgage settlement. It is likely that the House will concur with the changes since the sales tax exemption has been extended through 2020.
 
Senator Jean Leising (R – Oldenburg) offered an amendment to HB 1326, Various education matters, in Senate Education Committee which removes the out of state tuition requirement for students who were enrolled in a university when the law changed last year. Last session, the General Assembly passed a bill that requires out of state tuition for resident students who are undocumented but have lived in Indiana most of their life and graduated from Indiana schools. The amendment passed 8 – 2. The amendment also included several other measures that had passed the Senate but did not receive a hearing in the House. The bill will be eligible for second reading amendments next week. We expect amendments to remove the provision dealing with undocumented students. ICC supports the amendment to remove this obstacle for students and opposes attempts to remove it. It will be difficult to maintain this provision when this returns to the House should it make it out of the Senate.
 
Local government reform continues but the bills have slowed down. SB 170 and HB 1005 both provide restrictions regarding nepotism and conflicts of interest for local office holders. Each is poised to pass next week. The bills have been amended but are identical. The HB 1093 dealing with public access of government documents did not receive a hearing in the Senate.  Unless sponsors can find a place for it in another bill during conference committee the issue will have to wait until next session.
 
In addition, HB 1250, State government nepotism passed the Senate 43 – 7. It contains many of same provisions as for local government. It was amended from the House version; it may end up in conference committee next week.
 
 
In addition to the Update, one can obtain more detailed information regarding the bills and detailed information about the legislative process through the ICC Legislative Action Center. Under “policy tools” click on “issues and legislation” and access the state or federal bills by clicking “current legislation”. Also, you can access the archived updates, ICC positions and other background information at the ICC website www.indianacc.org
 

Indiana Catholic Conference (ICC) is the public policy voice of the Catholic bishops in Indiana regarding state and national matters.

Committees were active this week and several bills are moving through the process. Typically at this time each body makes changes in the other’s bills. Often changes are made by stripping out the original bill and inserting a bill that did not get a hearing in the other house or by adding a bill that did not move before cross-over. For example, SB 15 passed the Senate and deals with traumatic brain injury care; it essentially sets up a study committee to provide a path for this specialized care here in Indiana. Representative Tim Brown (R – Crawfordsville), Chairman of the House Public Health Committee, has proposed an amendment to SB 15 to add his HB 1114, Physician Scope of Treatment form, which was heard but not voted on in January. The amendment is still being worked on and is expected to be voted on next week. ICC is following HB 1114 and now the amendment, for it deals with ethical and moral actions for end of life care. Dr. Brown’s intent is to develop a form that can be reviewed at the next General Assembly. The current amendment establishes the form, but makes its use voluntary.   ICC, along with the medical community is following this closely.
 
Several bills ICC has supported are moving but are changing course and not always as we hoped.
HB 1134, which provides clarity regarding transportation to school of non-public school students, passed the Senate Education Committee but was reassigned to the Senate Appropriations Committee. This means that it must this committee before it can move to the Senate for consideration.   Because the bill also contains a provision regarding bus fleets and transfer of bus replacement funds, it raised some opposition. The transfer of the bill may be an attempt to remove or address these concerns. No one raised issues with the language clarifying transportation of our students but this delay provides another opportunity for problems to arise and for the bill to stall completely.
 
SB 296, which provided an opportunity for current non-public students to access the Scholarship Tax Credit Scholarship program for high school, will receive a hearing on Monday, February 20. However, it is expected that this provision will be removed. Apparently, the House Republican Caucus is unwilling to deal with the school choice issue in any substantive manner. We expect that the bill will be amended to allow for students who have received a scholarship but whose income later exceeds the limits to be eligible again when income drops and the family again qualifies. Under current law, eligibility continues only if the student continuously receives the scholarship after the student qualifies in kindergarten or as a transfer from a public school. ICC sponsored the amendment and supports the initial bill to provide access for our 8th grade students into the program. Keeping the bill moving is needed not only to change the current law, it will allow the 8th grade provision, which passed the Senate, to be eligible for conference committee and possible final passage before the session ends.
 
In some good news
HB 1141, Home energy assistance, passed the Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee unanimously on Monday. It was amended to extend the exemption to 2020 rather than for only one year. The change came as proceeds generated from money that is received by the state under a multistate agreement related to litigation concerning mortgage foreclosure will reimburse the state general fund for the amount of state sales tax revenue that was not collected because of the sales tax exemption for home energy acquired through LIHEAP. The bill should pass the Senate next week.
 
SR 9 passed Senate Education Committee 6 – 3. The resolution addresses a problem created by passage of a bill last session that requires undocumented students who have graduated from Indiana schools to pay out of state tuition at state universities. The resolution calls for a study of the impact of this change in policy, not only for the people involved but the cost to the universities and long term costs of the policy. ICC supported the resolution sponsored by Senator Jean Leising (R- Oldenburg). Passage in the Senate will be difficult.
 
Next week is the last week for committees to move bills along. Leadership is proposing that the session end on March 9, a few days before the statutory deadline of Mach 14.
 
Bills that ICC is watching during this week include:
SB 201, Transfer of human organisms, will be heard on Wednesday in the House Public Health Committee. The bill provides for resale of ova for IVF. The bill contains provisions that curtail the use of embryonic stem cell research but the underlying premise of the bill promotes the IVF process which is illicit.
 
SB 72, Abortion matters, provides for regulations regarding chemical abortions. It is in the House Public Policy Committee and we do not expect it to receive a hearing. House leadership does not want another controversial topic. Although it passed the Senate, getting it through conference committee would be very difficult.
 

Indiana Catholic Conference (ICC) is the public policy voice of the Catholic bishops in Indiana regarding state and national matters.

The atmosphere of the session has changed dramatically. Now that Right to Work issue is no longer being discussed, the Capitol almost seems empty. But the process on many other bills continues. The Senate has begun the committee process, while the House took this week to decide which committees will handle bills and what the leadership wanted to do with many controversial bills coming from the Senate. One can expect committees to be in action next week on both sides of the Statehouse.
 
Following cross-over legislators look to allies in the other chamber to support their bills and to find ways to provide for measures not passed during the first part of the session. Bills that did not pass either body during the first part of the session are dead, and generally, the topics each deals with are not given an opportunity to be inserted in bills that are still moving. However, there are ways to resurrect some topics into similar bills in the opposite chamber. Hence, legislators often shop for homes for some of their bills. Two such bills, supported by the Conference, are looking for a home. HB 1143, Child and dependent tax credit, authored by Representative John Day (D-Indianapolis) is one, and SB 102, Food stamp assistance after drug conviction, authored by Senator John Broden (D-South Bend), is another. The path is usually difficult and not always successful but the path to becoming law is not easy, and often not a straight line. We will keep you posted.
 
This week Wednesday the Senate Education Committee heard HB 1134 which deals with transportation issues. The bill as written now will clarify Indiana’s law regarding transportation of non-public students to school.  The committee will vote on the bill next week.  Testimony was positive regarding the bill and no questions were raised regarding the transportation of non-public students.
 
Bills expected to receive hearings
SB 72, Abortion matters, attempts to prohibit “telemed” abortions by requiring the doctor to do a physical exam before and after prescribing RU 486. In some states,  prescriptions for RU 486 are provided by doctors via a computer screen from a remote location. The House sponsor is Representative Sue Ellspemann (R-Ferdinand). The bill is in the House Public Policy Committee chaired by Representative Bill Davis (R-Portland).
 
HB 1141, Home energy assistance, exempts state sales tax  allowing all Federal funds to be used for energy assistance.  It is assigned to the Senate Tax and Fiscal Committee chaired by Senator Brandt Hershman (R-Buck Creek). Its sponsors are Senators Luke Kenley (R-Noblesville), John Broden (D-South Bend), and Vi Simpson (D-Bloomington).

Indiana Catholic Conference (ICC) is the public policy voice of the Catholic bishops in Indiana regarding state and national matters.

The Federal government has taken actions that strike at the heart of Rights of Conscience and Religious Liberty in the U.S.
 
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services  (HHS) has issued a rule forcing nearly all private health plans to include coverage for all FDA-approved prescription contraceptive drugs and devices, as well as surgical sterilization. These are listed among "preventive services for women" that all health plans will have to cover without co-pays or other cost-sharing -- regardless of whether the insurer, the employer or other plan sponsor, or even the woman herself objects to such coverage.
 
The exemption provided for "religious employers" is so narrow that it fails to cover the vast majority of faith-based organizations, including Catholic hospitals, universities, and service organizations that help millions every year. Ironically, not even Jesus and his disciples would have qualified. During the public comment period last fall, the bishops' grassroots campaign alone generated over 57,000 comments to HHS opposing their mandate.
 
Now that the Administration has refused to recognize the Constitutional conscience rights of organizations and individuals who oppose the mandate, the bishops are now urging Catholics and others of good will to fight this unprecedented attack on conscience rights and religious liberty.
 
All are asked to inform themselves of the problem and to help other know about and understand it.  An action alert will be forthcoming as a first step but not the last.
 
We offer the following documents that provide background:   Preventive Services Background and Preventive Q & A ;  and  this link will provide further information.

Indiana Catholic Conference (ICC) is the public policy voice of the Catholic bishops in Indiana regarding state and national matters.
 

Despite the delays and protests during the session, the General Assembly has completed its work on time for the first half. Fewer bills were considered in the House than might otherwise have been passed, but major issues such as Right to Work, smoking ban, local government reforms such as nepotism, conflict of interest and public access all passed the House. The Senate passed most of these and many others. With crossover complete, legislators are set to consider bills from the other Chamber beginning next week.
 
HB 1134, Various education matters, which includes the language to transport students attending a non-public school to a point where they can safely walk to school, passed the House 92 – 2.
 
HB 1141, Home energy assistance, passed the House 94 – 0. However, it is limited to restoring the sales tax exemption, which expired in 2009, for home energy acquired through LIHEAP after June 30, 2012, and before July 1, 2013. While the original bill would have extended this exemption indefinitely and provided funding for hook- up costs, this can be revived again during the regular budgetary session next year. The lost sales tax revenue is between 3.7 and 4.4 million; with the exemption this amount will be available to help elderly, disabled and young children in need of assistance. All funding comes from a Federal grant.
 
SB 72, Abortion matters, was amended on second reading to limit its effect to physicians who practice and prescribe RU486 at abortion clinics. It also made changes in keeping with the levels and dosages currently used by physicians, which are lower than authorized by FDA. The bill continues to provide for informed consent and follow-up care. The bill passed the Senate 36 – 0.
 
SB 296, Certified scholarship program eligibility, passed the Senate without amendment 34 - 16. The bill will provide eligibility for families currently enrolled in Catholic schools to access tax credit scholarship funds provided by a Scholarship Granting Organization. This program was created in 2009 to help lower income families access non-public schools. The bill will assist families in meeting tuition for high school by providing edibility for students enrolled in grade 8.
 
SB 201, Transfer of human organisms, passed the Senate 47 – 3 but was not amended to restrict the number of embryos created at one time for a woman. The bill does provide some restrictions on the use of the ova and prohibits the use of embryos for embryonic stem cell research. Thus, it has some positive features but it also supports the IVF process, which is morally illicit. The bill allows a fertility clinic to store and then resell ova to its clients.
 
Bills dealing with local government reform kept moving
SB 170 and HB 1105, both dealing with nepotism and conflict of interest, passed each body with wide margins. The bills prohibit direct supervision of relatives and prohibit employees from serving on governing bodies of the unit of government in which they are employed.
HB 1093 provides for public access to government information and provide for fines of officials who deliberately violate public access laws. It passed 90 – 4.
SB 174, Local government reorganization, passed 40 – 10. The bill makes changes in procedures that allow local people to change the structure of county/city government, including townships.
Bills dealing with specific township government reforms did not receive hearings and are dead for the session.
 
Other bills moving on in the process

HB 1107, Drug testing, will establish a pilot program in three counties to require drug testing of TANF recipients. It also will require legislators to be drug tested and provides for random tests of legislators during the session with some exemptions.
 
HB 1149, Smoking ban, passed 62 – 35; it provides for a ban on smoking in work places including bars but grants exemptions including private clubs and casinos.
 
SB 83, Cursive writing, will mandate cursive writing instruction on public schools and accredited non-public schools. It passed 45 – 5.
 
SB 89, Creation science, passed 28 – 22; it provides that a school corporation may require the teaching of various theories concerning the origin of life, including creation science, within the school corporation.
 
SB 344, State taxation, passed the Senate 28 – 20; it contains many tax issues relating to economic development and also a provision that all tax credits are to be studied during the interim of 2012 and 2013 sessions. ICC requested the study rather than the initial proposal to sun-set all tax credits in 2016.
 
Most of the bills introduced this session are now dead since they did not pass the first house. Among these are bills ICC supported or followed such as HB 1143, Child and dependent tax credit; HB 1114, physician scope of treatment form; SB 102, food stamp assistance after drug conviction; SB 198, Choice scholarship eligibility, SB 331, also dealing with eligibility for choice scholarships.
 

Indiana Catholic Conference (ICC) is the public policy voice of the Catholic bishops

in Indiana regarding state and national matters.
 

President Focuses on Employment in State of the Union
 
In his third State of the Union address last Tuesday night, President Obama recapped a tumultuous year on Capitol Hill and laid out his proposals for 2012, calling on Congress to work with him to increase employment and stimulate the economy. Obama highlighted new partnerships that are helping retrain workers for new jobs, saying “It’s time to turn our unemployment system into a reemployment system that puts people to work.”
 
Entitled “An America Built to Last,” the President’s 64-minute address also touched on a number of other issues, including his hopes that Congress would pass legislation that provided a path to citizenship for those who were brought to the country illegally. In a statement issued in response to the President’s speech, Catholic Charities USA’s President, Fr. Larry Snyder, said it was heartening to hear “the initiatives outlined by President Obama in this evening's State of the Union speech that have the potential to improve the lives of many.” However, Fr. Snyder added, “we need comprehensive reform of the nation’s service delivery system that is market driven, results oriented and locally controlled, enabling the country to permanently make a difference in the lives of those living in poverty, and establishing accountability for the investment of taxpayer dollars.” For the complete response from CCUSA to the State of the Union, please click here.
 
 
Catholic Charities USA Responds to HHS Decision
 
On Friday, January 20, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a decision that will require faith-based institutions such as hospitals, charities, and schools to provide women’s health coverage that includes contraception, sterilization, and abortifacient drugs. While the administration had been petitioned to not include religious health plans in their regulations, the decision could require religious institutions to provide health care coverage that violates their beliefs.
 
In response, Fr. Larry Snyder released a statement on behalf of the Catholic Charities network. “Catholic Charities agencies are first and foremost Catholic institutions - a manifestation of the Gospel call for charity and justice for all people.   As such, remaining faithful to Catholic teaching is not a matter of choice, rather it is essential to our identity.  With the existing restrictive definition in this mandate, the ministry of Jesus Christ himself would not be considered a religious entity.” To read the statement in its entirety, please click here.
 
For more information on the HHS regulation, its impact on our network, or Catholic Charities’ response, please contact Candy Hill, Sr. Vice-President of Social Policy & Government Affairs, at chill@CatholicCharitiesUSA.org
 
 
House Disapproves of Debt Limit Increase
 
In other news from Capitol Hill, the Senate voted to reject consideration of a joint resolution that would have blocked President Obama’s request to increase federal borrowing, which will allow the way for a $1.2 trillion increase in the nation’s debt ceiling. Earlier in the week, the House voted 239-176 largely along party lines to prevent President Obama from raising the debt limit. The largely symbolic vote provides opponents of the August debt limit deal another chance to disapprove of the administration’s fiscal policies. The $1.2 trillion increase is the third in a multiple-stage process for raising the debt put in place by Congress.
 
For more information on upcoming legislation, please contact Ron Jackson, Sr. Director of Government Affairs, at RJackson@CatholicCharitesUSA.org
 
 
“Keep the Dream Alive Mass” Honors Memory of Martin Luther King, Jr.
 
 
On the holiday that commemorates his life, Catholic Charities USA and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington helped keep the dream of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., alive through prayer, service, and song. On Monday, January 16, CCUSA held the “Keep the Dream Alive” Mass and Award Ceremony, honoring three contemporary heroes who have worked to realize King’s vision of nation free of injustice.
 
CCUSA presented “Keep the Dream Alive” awards to USDA Under Secretary Kevin Concannon, former Washington, D.C., Mayor Anthony Williams, and former CCUSA Board Member Janet Pape for their advocacy and work to reduce poverty. Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington’s “Faith Does Justice” Award was presented to local television anchor Andrea Roane.
 
Following the event, more than 50 individuals volunteered with women who reside at the Harriet Tubman Women’s Emergency Shelter in southeast D.C.  Volunteers worked one-on-one with women on an art project designed to allow clients to express their dreams and what Dr. King means to them. For more information on the Keep the Dream Alive Mass and Awards, please contact Ron Jackson, Sr. Director of Government Affairs, at RJackson@CatholicCharitesUSA.org

***
Washington Weekly
is a publication of the Social Policy Department of Catholic Charities USA
and is published regularly when Congress is in session.
Catholic Charities USA
Sixty-Six Canal Center Plaza, Suite 600, Alexandria, VA 22314

The big issue was finally moved in the House and the Senate. HB 1001 and SB 269 both passed the respective bodies. Now the House may be able to handle many other significant issues that have been delayed until Right to Work was settled. The next step in this issue will be passage of the House bill in the Senate prior to it going to the Governor for signature. Look for it to be expedited in the Senate.
 
This being the last week for committee action (unless the House suspends rules and extends the deadline) committees were active amending and moving bills to the floor. Next week all bills need to move to the other body to be eligible for further consideration this session.
 
SB 72, Abortion matters, sponsored by Senator Travis Holdman (R – Markle) passed Senate Health Committee 6 -4. The bill’s focus is chemical abortions (RU486) which are on the rise in Indiana. The bill attempts to put limits on its use by requiring an in-person examination of the woman by the physician prior to providing the prescription. The bill may undergo some modifications on second reading to accommodate the developments in the use of the drugs. The bill is an attempt to get ahead of what is happening in some states, where doctors talk to women via electronic connections and provide the prescription for the drug without examining the woman. ICC supports the bill.
 
SB 201, Transfer of human organism exemption, was amended in committee before passing unanimously. It was amended to prohibit the use of the ova and embryos for stem cell research. Also, the bill amends Indiana’s law to prohibit embryo research permitted under Federal law. ICC supported the amendment. The bill now goes to 2nd reading. ICC continues to seek an amendment that would limit the number of embryo created at one time for each woman.  The bill now moves to the floor for amendments and vote next week.
 
While three bills were heard in Senate Education Committee only one will make its way to the Senate for further consideration. SB 296, sponsored by Senator Jean Leising (R – Oldenburg), passed the committee 7 – 3 after being amended to restrict 8th grade students to the Scholarship Tax credit only, instead of allowing them access to the voucher program as originally intended. The bill provides another entry point for the Tax Credit Scholarship for current non-public students who are enrolled in grade 8. This will provide the possibility for additional support to qualified families for high school tuition. The bill now goes to the Senate for possible amendment and vote next week.
 
The other school choice bills, SB 198, sponsored by Senator Doug Eckerty (R – Yorktown), which would have expanded the voucher program to include all eligible families and SB 331, sponsored by Senator Carlin Yoder (R – Indianapolis), which would have expanded it to siblings of current voucher students, both contained fiscal obligations that required them to be recommitted to Senate Appropriations, where they will not get a hearing; the bills are dead for this session. SB 198 passed the Education Committee 5 – 4 but will go no further this year. SB 331 was withdrawn when it was apparent that the bill would not have an opportunity to move.
 
During House Education Committee consideration of HB 1134, Representative Bob Behning (R – Indianapolis) added the amendment requested by ICC that provides clarification to existing Indiana law regarding transportation of students to Catholic schools. HB 1134 now goes to the House for amendment and vote. The amendment would provide that school districts take the students to the non-public school or to a point from which the student can safely walk to the school. ICC made the same request in a bill in the Senate, SB 226, but committee chair Senator Luke Kenley (R – Noblesville) did not allow the amendment.
 
In other good news
SB 4, Human trafficking, should pass third reading today, becoming law before the Super Bowl.
 
House Ways and Means Committee unanimously passed HB 1141, Home energy assistance. The bill is now eligible for consideration and passage. HB 1141 will provide additional assistance to the low income home energy assistance program (LIHEAP) by restoring the sales tax exemption for energy consumption paid for through Federal assistance.  The bill also provides that money attributable to a utility deposit or refund that remains unclaimed after 25 years can now be used to pay utility deposits and connection fees charged to households eligible to acquire home energy through LIHEAP.  ICC supports this bill as it will utilize all Federal funds for the purpose for which they were granted instead of taking 7% for sales tax. Also, it will put to good use funds that are no longer needed for other purposes.
 
Senator Brandt Hershman (R – Buck Creek) amended SB 344, State taxation, as requested by ICC and many other organizations. The bill now requires the commission on state tax and financing policy to review all tax credits during the 2012 and 2013 legislative interims. Reviewing and determining the value of the policies before sun-setting them is more prudent. The bill contains many other tax credits and tax matters also.
 
As expected, HB 1114, Physician orders for scope of treatment form, was heard in House Public Health Committee but no vote was taken. The committee heard support for the concept and its need, but the circumstances regarding its use and the complexity dealing with the legal, medical and ethical issues need time to be worked through. ICC supports taking time to be sure the form provides for proper moral as well as legal and medical use.
 
In addition to the Update, one can obtain more detailed information regarding the bills and detailed information about the legislative process through the ICC Legislative Action Center. Under “policy tools” click on “issues and legislation” and access the state or federal bills by clicking “current legislation”. Also, you can access the archived updates, ICC positions and other background information at the ICC website www.indianacc.org.

Indiana Catholic Conference (ICC) is the public policy voice of the Catholic bishops in Indiana regarding state and national matters.

As you now know, on January 20, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reaffirmed the rule first issued last August that virtually all private health care plans must cover sterilization, abortifacients, and contraception. Non-profit religious employers that do not now provide such coverage, and are not exempt under the rule's extremely narrow definition of religious employer, are given one year to comply.
 
Responding to the announcement, Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, stated: "In effect, the president is saying we have a year to figure out how to violate our consciences." Cardinal-designate Dolan urged that the HHS mandate be overturned. See: www.usccb.org/news/2012/12-012.cfm.
 
A first step is to continue to urge Members of Congress to co-sponsor the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act (H.R. 1179, S. 1467). This measure will ensure that those who participate in the health care system "retain the right to provide, purchase, or enroll in health coverage that is consistent with their religious beliefs and moral convictions."
 
NCHLA's Action Alert on this bill has been updated. Please see: nchla.org/actiondisplay.asp?ID=292.

For more information related to the HHS mandate, see: www.usccb.org/conscience.
 
Excerpted from an email from Michael Taylor, Excecutive Director, National Committee for a Human Life Amendment, Inc.

The House continues its inability to move bills on the floor but committees are meeting preparing bills to be ready when the stalemate ends. Meanwhile, the Senate continues moving bills on the floor as well as in committees.
 
Senator Brandt Hershman (R – Buck Creek) has introduced SB 433 which proposes sun setting all tax credits. The bill was heard in the Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee but no vote was taken. It will be voted on next week. ICC is concerned about the approach to sun-set all credits at once, and sun-setting them without a review to determine if they should be. Many tax credits such as Earned Income Tax Credit, Scholarship Tax Credit and Neighborhood Tax Credit benefit low income people and are achieving their purpose of helping families and the common good. We expect an amendment that may call for periodic review, which we support.
 
Senate Health Committee heard SB 201, Transfer of human organism exemption, on Wednesday. Senator Patricia Miller’s (R- Indianapolis) intent in sponsoring the bill is to reduce the number of embryos created during the in-vitro process. However, the bill as introduced only provided a means for a fertility clinic to buy ova and freeze them, allowing them to re-sell to infertile women. In addition to objecting to the process, ICC raised concerns about the expanded commercialization of this industry and sale of human organisms. Moreover, there were no restrictions on the number of embryos created at one time, nor restrictions regarding their use. Senator Miller held the bill and will work on amendments. It may be voted on next week.
 
Another health related bill will be heard in the House Public Health Committee on Monday, January 23. HB 1114, Physician order for scope of treatment form, is sponsored by Representative Tim Brown, (R – Crawfordsville) who is a physician. The bill’s objective is to replace current law regarding Do Not Resuscitate Orders for terminally ill patients.  It has been brought forward by many in the medical field, yet it is complex and with medical, ethical and legal aspects. Many, including ICC,  are working to ensure that the form meets Catholic principles regarding end of life and medical care. The author may only want to air the reasons and concerns surrounding the issue rather than move the bill at this time.
 
Due to fiscal constraints of the property tax caps, some suburban school districts have stopped or severely cut back on transporting students to school. In addition, several districts have eliminated bus transportation for students in Catholic schools. In some instances, the district will pick up the child but only transport them to a public school and not take them to the Catholic school. State law requires the public school district to take the child to the non-public school or the nearest and most easily accessible point to the non-public school;  but at least one district believes this point is miles away. In effect, this eliminates bus service for our students. We are asking lawmakers to clarify the law and have asked for amendments in SB 226 and HB 1134, which deal with school transportation issues. The amendment would require the bus to drop the students within safe walking distance to the Catholic school.  Senate Appropriations Committee held SB 226 for amendments until next week.  HB 1134 will be heard in House Education Committee Friday morning January 20.
 
Three bills all related to school choice will be addressed in Senate Education Committee on Wednesday next week.  Last year’s school scholarship (voucher) law excluded currently enrolled students. SB 198 by Senator Doug Eckerty (R – Yorktown) would provide eligibility for all students whose family’s income meets the requirements for the voucher. Another bill, SB 331 authored by Senator Carlin Yoder (R – Indianapolis), seeks to provide eligibility to siblings of students who do qualify.  Under current law, younger children would have to go to a public school for Grade 1 before being eligible. This bill would provide an exemption for these children. Senator Jean Leising’s (R – Oldenburg) bill, SB 296, would make students in grade 8, enrolled in Catholic and other non-public schools eligible for the Tax Credit Scholarship. Presently, current students are ineligible for this program; but this bill would provide another entry point and would then make these students eligible for scholarships to attend a non-public or Catholic high school. Due to fiscal considerations, it may be difficult to move these bills this year. However, getting the issues discussed, paves the way for the topics in the coming sessions.
 
SB 4, Human Trafficking passed the Senate and as expected is being expedited in the House. It is scheduled for a hearing in the House Courts and Criminal Code Committee on Friday, January 20. If the House convenes, it will be given priority for a vote in order for it to become law prior to the Super Bowl.
 
Many bills which passed committee are awaiting disposition in the House because they do not have a quorum. Until the right to work standoff is resolved, bills continue to stack up awaiting further action.  Time is running out, according to the published schedule. Both bodies initially set next week as the end of committee hearings and set the last days of January for bills to pass the first house. As last year proved, the schedule can be adjusted. But this year also provides a shorter timeframe for the session; it must end no later than March 14. We expect some late days should the House Democrats return and many bills will fall through the cracks if the original schedule is kept.
 
In addition to the Update, one can obtain more detailed information regarding the bills and detailed information about the legislative process through the ICC Legislative Action Center. Under “policy tools” click on “issues and legislation” and access the state or federal bills by clicking “current legislation”. Also, you can access the archived updates, ICC positions and other background information at the ICC web site, www.indianacc.org

Indiana Catholic Conference (ICC) is the public policy voice of the Catholic bishops in Indiana regarding state and national matters.
 

The stalemate in the House of Representatives has come to a close, at least temporarily. The leadership of both parties has agreed to move HB 1001, Employee’s Right to Work, next week. The issue has caused a two week delay in moving other bills along the process. The Conference has not taken a position on the bill or its counterpart in the Senate, SB 269. The issue involves balancing several moral principles such as the dignity of the person, a just wage, and rights of conscience and association. Last month the Bishops released a statement outlining the principles involved and asking all to thoughtfully dialogue how best to apply them in this policy debate. One can access the statement here. The Senate’s bill, SB 269, is scheduled for second reading next week also.
 
Despite the slowdown in the House, the Senate is moving bills. One bill that passed unanimously was SB 4, Human Trafficking. ICC supports the bill. It increases the penalties and expands the definition of human trafficking beyond the current definition to include participating in sexual conduct (in addition to prostitution). It also adds a special category for children under 16. The effort is to create the law prior to the Super Bowl since this type of activity has been known to exist with other Super Bowl venues. The bill is authored by Senator Randy Head (R -Logansport) but is co-sponsored by a bi-partisan group of half the Senators.
 
In order for this to be law prior to the Super Bowl, the House will have to pass the bill also.  While it is unusual for bills from the other chamber to be considered before cross-over, it is possible and it is expected that it will pass the House soon. Another bill expected to see early action in both bodies before the Super Bowl is the Smoking ban, HB 1149, authored by Representative Eric Turner (R – Cicero). It passed the House Health Committee this week on a 9 – 3 bipartisan vote.
 
ICC is following approximately 100 bills, but most will not receive a hearing. Below are some of the more salient bills which ICC supports and hope will move during this short session.
 
HB 1214 and SB 282, Abortion inducing drugs, are attempts to regulate drugs such as RU 486. At this time, surgical abortion is regulated to ensure the safety of the women and to ensure that women know the consequences and risks of their decision.  However, there are no regulations governing abortion providers who dispense these drugs. Moreover, in some instances this can be done without even an examination. The bill sponsors are Representatives Sue Ellspermann (R- Ferdinand) and Steve Davission (R – Salem) and Senator Greg Walker (R – Columbus).
 
Another abortion related bill, authored by Representative Davission, is HB 1014, Health Care profession conscience clause. It provides  that a health care professional may not be required to dispense a drug or medical device if the health care professional believes the drug or medical device would be used to: (1) cause an abortion; (2) destroy an unborn child; or (3) cause the death of a person by means of assisted suicide, euthanasia, or mercy killing.
 
HB 1143, Child and dependent tax credit, authored by Representative John Day (D – Indianapols), would provide a state tax credit for families with child and dependent care expense. It would allow 50% of the federal tax credit. The program would provide real support to working families struggling to meet its other obligations.  The bill limits eligibility to families with adjusted gross income below $45,000.
 
Senator John Broden (D – South Bend) is authoring SB 102, Food stamp assistance after drug conviction; it would remove the prohibition of persons convicted of drug offense from receiving food stamps. The problem is that this prohibition also punishes those associated with the person such as children and those who have turned their lives around. The bill would grant eligibility to those who have not been convicted of another drug offense in the previous five years before applying for food stamps to receive food stamps. It would also allow those who have a conviction in the last five years but who are receiving specified treatment and drug and alcohol testing to receive food stamps.
 
On the education front there are attempts to broaden eligibility for the school voucher program. SB 198 would provide eligibility to all who are income eligible; it would make current Catholic school families eligible. And SB 331 would provide eligibility for older siblings in families who receive a voucher. Currently, an older student already in the non-public school is not eligible for assistance even though the younger child is.
 
And, SB 296 would expand eligibility for the Scholarship Tax Credit program to all students in grade 8 currently enrolled in a non-public school. Present law prohibits current non-public students, not previously receiving a STC scholarship, from being eligible.
 
In addition to the Update, one can obtain more detailed information regarding the bills and detailed information about the legislative process through the ICC Legislative Action Center. Under “policy tools” click on “issues and legislation” and access the state or federal bills by clicking “current legislation”. Also, you can access the archived updates, ICC positions and other background information at the ICC web site, www.indianacc.org

Indiana Catholic Conference (ICC) is the public policy voice of the Catholic bishops in Indiana regarding state and national matters.



 

Sunday, January 22, the St. Luke Knights of Columbus will have a “Pancakes-n-More” Breakfast after the 7:30 and 9:00 AM Masses in the St. Luke Parish Hall. Tickets can be purchased on-line by clicking here and are: $6 for adults, $3 for children ages 6 to 12, with a maximum of $20 per family. Children under 6 are free!

Breakfast will include: biscuits and sausage gravy, scrambled eggs, sausage links, coffee, and orange juice. Proceeds from the breakfast will benefit the 8th grade Washington DC class trip.

The 2012 General Assembly convened on Wednesday, January 4 but it felt like 2011 again. The Right to Work issue is again dominating the session and Democrat caucus in the House is again using a delaying tactic to keep the House of Representatives from conducting business. By denying a quorum this effectively stops the House from filing and moving bills along the process. Thus far, they have been able to stop HB 1001 Employee’s Right to Work from first reading and therefore from committee passing it for further consideration. But this will not stop the Labor Committee from taking testimony on the bill on Friday.
 
Meanwhile in the Senate, with a quorum proof majority of Republicans, is continuing with the process of filing bills and committee hearings. The Labor and Pensions Committee will conduct a joint meeting with the House to consider the Right to Work legislation; their version, SB 269, is identical to the House bill. There is no certainty as to when the standoff will end or in what manner. But, unlike last year, it is unlikely that there will be a concession to not move the bill. The leadership in the Senate and House, as well as the Governor, is committed to moving the bill. The Democrats are hoping that enough time may convince some of the Republican support to weaken. Stay tuned.
 
Another topic with high priority for the Governor and legislators is local government reform. This topic has been debated for a couple of sessions and it came close to passing last year. This year’s version, HB 1005 and SB 170, is much like last year’s end product; it focuses on nepotism and conflicts of interest and does not tackle the broader structural concern of townships and trustees. The bill prohibits employees from being officials of governing or executive bodies and provides for guidelines and disclosure regarding contracts with companies who are connected to local officials. The nepotism issue provides some exemptions for current employees and for the office of coroner and sheriff’s jail matron and trustees with offices in their home. HB 1005 was heard on Thursday but no vote was taken, despite a bi-partisan quorum. Most groups and persons testifying were supportive. There was concern expressed regarding the small, rural counties that do not have as many qualified persons to fill positions. Some wanted to allow each county/office to establish its own nepotism policy.
 
The delaying tactics may cause some changes in the short session calendar. But at this point all bills are expected to clear the first house by end of January. The session itself must end by March 15. The schedule limits the number of bills members can file and the number that will actually get a hearing. Not all bills are yet available. But, in addition to local government reform and right to work, we expect bills dealing with chemical abortions, child care tax credits, education polices, health care and charity gaming to name a few topics. The conference is already tracking around 50 bills, with more to come.
 
In addition to the Update, one can obtain more detailed information regarding the bills and detailed information about the legislative process through the ICC Legislative Action Center. Under “policy tools” click on “issues and legislation” and access the state or federal bills by clicking “current legislation”. Also, you can access the archived updates, ICC positions and other background information at the ICC web site, www.indianacc.org

Indiana Catholic Conference (ICC) is the public policy voice of the Catholic bishops in Indiana regarding state and national matters.