We are one step closer to defunding Planned Parenthood (PP)! But, it is not done yet.
You may have heard last week that President Trump signed a law "defunding PP." The law stopped a last minute Obama Administration rule that prevented states from defunding PP from "Title X" funds. This is a good step, and we were able to do it in the Senate with only 51 votes due to certain procedural rules.
Some people may be under the assumption this defunded PP once and for all. Sadly, it does not.
Title X funds are just one portion of federal funds that some PP affiliates receive. In Louisiana, according to most recent research, PP receives NO Title X funding, meaning the new law has no impact on PP funds in Louisiana.
Almost all funds going to PP in Louisiana are through Medicaid fee-for-service reimbursements. We need a federal law to stop these funds, and unless it goes through the reconciliation process, it would require 60 votes in the Senate. The reconciliation process is a definite possibility, but the pause on the GOP healthcare law slowed the process down. We hope this gets moving soon.
As for our state law defunding PP, it only applies IF PP is performing abortions, which they are not doing right now.
There will be more to come, but we are thankful that President Trump and Congress passed and signed this law. Any tax dollars we can prevent from going to the abortion industry's coffers is a good step forward. We just want to stop it all!
For a Pro-Life Louisiana,
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CLICK HERE to read about the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch and more in the April issue of National Right to Life News.
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Thank you to Louisiana Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy who voted to confirm Judge Gorsuch!
Click Here to Watch Sen. Kennedy's speech in favor of Judge Gorsuch to the Judiciary Committee.
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Bowties for Babies to Feature New Orleans Jazz, Auction, More!
Have you gotten your tickets to Bowties for Babies yet? Don't miss out on a chance to dance to the sounds of New Orleans Jazz by Bean 'N' the Boys, win a painting created onsite by Baton Rouge artist Stephanie Torregrossa, and outbid your friends in the silent auction!
Bowties for Babies: A Southern Soiree Benefiting Life, is from 7-10 p.m. May 11 at the Capitol Park Museum in Baton Rouge. (A patron party begins at 6 p.m.)
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry will be the guest speaker, and former Sen. Ben Nevers and former Rep. Tom Willmott will be honored with the 2017 Leadership for Life Awards.
Will you join us at this event and help us raise money for our Advertise for Life project? This program uses targeted online advertising to connect women in crisis pregnancies with one of the state's pregnancy resource centers that can help them choose life.
For more information on the event and award winners,
click here.
To visit our Facebook Event Page,
click here.
To become a patron or buy tickets,
click here.
To view our growing list of silent auction items,
click here.
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Next PULSE Weekend Is Getting Close!
The next PULSE Immersion Weekend is less than two weeks away, and you still have time to register!
This weekend event will be April 28-30 at Camp Abbey in Covington.
Students will learn more about pro-life activism, visit Northlake Crisis Pregnancy Center, hear testimonies that bring to life the reality of abortion and the love of the pro-life movement, and participate in games, team building activities and the famous Coffee House.
Register now and don't miss out on this fun, inspiring experience!
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The annual PULSE Leadership Institute is scheduled for June 5-9 at the Bishop Robert E. Tracy Center in Baton Rouge.
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House Runoff, Senate Election are April 29
Some Louisiana voters will have new legislators to elect on April 29.
The District 4 House seat, previously held by U.S. Congressman Mike Johnson, will be decided in a runoff between candidates Raymond Crews and Robbie Gatti, both of Bossier City. Both answered Louisiana Right to Life's questionnaire 100 percent pro-life.
Fourteen candidates are vying for the District 2 Senate seat, vacated earlier this year by Troy Brown. Five candidates, Wayne Brigalia of Sunshine, Warren Harrang III of Donaldsonville, Patrick Lawless of Belle Rose, Tommy Lyons of Thibodaux and Willie Massey-Farve of Geismer, have answered the LARTL Legislative Questionnaire.
You can vote early through Saturday. If a runoff is necessary in the Senate race, it will be held May 27.
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CLOSED! 1 Less Facility Destroying Lives in LA
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40 DFL Prayers Answered, Unborn Babies Saved
Bossier Abortion Facility Closes
When the Shreveport-Bossier 40 Days for Life team began this year's spring campaign on March 1, prayer warriors and sidewalk counselors had no idea what would transpire in the days to come. They'd prayed and counseled outside the Bossier City Medical Suite for years, and at the close of the campaign on April 9, the group had reached some huge milestones.
- 104 babies saved!
- 1 abortion worker quit!
 The group had been told a week earlier by an employee the facility was closing, and the facility's website was taken down. But not taking any chances, prayer warriors vowed during the April 9 closing candlelight vigil to keep praying an additional 40 days, hoping what they believed was a temporary closure of the facility would become permanent. But the next day they had their answer when a moving van showed up. And another milestone was reached.
- 1 abortion facility CLOSED FOR GOOD!
Chris Davis, longtime leader of the Shreveport-Bossier 40 Days for Life team, said:
"We are absolutely thrilled that no more abortions will be occurring at this facility. This means that about 1,000 babies per year will be saved!
"The excitement level on the sidewalk is unreal. We are so glad to witness what God is doing through peaceful prayer and loving advocacy.
"We have been standing in prayer ardently for many years outside this facility. We could sense a level of discord from the workers who talked to us. They would complain about a bad working environment and asked us to pray for them. So pray we did. We referred them to Abby Johnson's ministry. And each year, there would be almost a completely new staff with many new faces, most of which would be gone the next year.
"The Shreveport-Bossier area has unfortunately become the abortion capital of Louisiana because the two facilities perform more abortions than Baton Rouge or New Orleans. With the closing of this facility, we can shed that dubious distinction and usher in a new era with a new motto,
'One down, one more to go!'"
The Bossier facility had been open for many years, likely into the 1980s.
From just 2006 to 2015, this facility sold 7,482 abortions. The reason for the closure is unclear; Shreveport area media outlets reported they'd been unsuccessful in attempts to reach the owners of the facility.
Read Story in Shreveport Times
Last week Louisiana Right to Life obtained a letter filed as a public court document in the federal case June Medical Services LLC, et al. v. Rebecca Gee, et al. That case was filed in 2015 after the Louisiana Legislature passed a law requiring that each physician who performs outpatient abortions have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. The case, which remains in the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, was originally filed in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana.
The letter written to Judge John W. deGravelles by the Center of Reproductive Rights confirmed the center had closed, saying the facility's outpatient license had been returned to the Louisiana Department of Health.
Click Here to Read Letter
"With the closure of Bossier City Medical Suite, there is one less facility in Louisiana destroying the lives of innocent unborn babies," said Benjamin Clapper, executive director of Louisiana Right to Life. "From 2006 to 2015, this facility sold 7,482 abortions. We mourn for these lives that will never enjoy life in Louisiana but rejoice that this facility will no longer be in the business of abortion.
"We encourage the pro-life community to continue its efforts to provide help to mothers and babies, both before and after birth. We look forward to a day when all babies are protected by law and welcomed with joy."
There are currently three facilities selling abortion in Louisiana: Women's Health Care Center in New Orleans, Delta Clinic of Baton Rouge, and Hope Medical Group for Women in Shreveport.
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Poo-Dat Diaper Drive in New Orleans
Begins Tomorrow!
Louisiana Right to Life's first "Poo-Dat Diaper Drive" begins this week! It is definitely a cause you can get "behind!"
About the Diaper Drive
Between Wednesday, April 19 and Tuesday, April 25, those of you in the New Orleans area can donate diapers of any size at the Louisiana Right to Life headquarters (200 Robert E. Lee Blvd.) or the Robert's Fresh Market (135 Robert E. Lee Blvd.). Diapers will be stored in our Go Mini Portable Storage Unit located near our office and then donated to local families in need. Thanks to Robert's Fresh Market and Go Mini's Portable Storage for their support.
Volunteers Needed
We still need volunteers to help work a booth at Robert's Fresh Market on Saturday, April 22 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, April 23 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. It's super simple. Just show up and be a friendly reminder to shoppers to buy some diapers and donate them.
This is a great service hour opportunity for students. If you can help, contact Shanon Snyder at snyder@prolifelouisiana.org or 504.835.6520 to sign up for an hour or two.
Closing Party and Open House
As the diaper drive concludes on Tuesday, April 25, there will be a closing party and open house at the LARTL headquarters at 200 Robert E. Lee Blvd. from 6:30 - 8 p.m. We hope you will join us to celebrate the total number of diapers donated and to officially open our new headquarters. You can bring your diaper donation to the party if you haven't given already!
RSVP for the party by clicking here.
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Interested in a future "Poo-Dat Diaper Drive" in your community? Contact us at info@prolifelouisiana.org and maybe we can get one started in your community!
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April 19-25:
April 28-30:
May 11:
Pro-Life Day at the Capitol
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