The Nebraska Legislature is just over a third of the way through its 60-day (“short”) session. Calling it a whirlwind of a last month would be an understatement. There were 10 days of bill introductions, immediate floor debate on legislative bills, committee hearings on legislative bills every afternoon, among all the normal politicking.
In the midst of this fanfare, one of our major pro-life bills (LB669) recently failed to advance from first round of legislative debate. LB669 would protect women experiencing domestic abuse or human trafficking and who are being coerced into abortion.
This commonsense legislation would require abortion facilities to ask women privately if they are being pressured or coerced into an abortion, and screen women for domestic violence and sex trafficking.
LB669 would also require women who are being abused or trafficked to be given the phone numbers for the domestic violence and trafficking hotlines, and provided a confidential phone call, to give them an opportunity to escape their abusive situation.
The horrifying fact is the abortion industry has a cozy financial relationship with human traffickers and domestic abusers. Human traffickers’ “business” model is premised on selling women for sex, and pregnancy is an impediment to profits, which necessitates the need for the abortion industry.
For women in domestic violence and especially in human trafficking, having the opportunity to make a confidential phone call to a hotline may be the only chance they get to escape their abuse. Unsurprisingly, those being trafficked are heavily controlled by their traffickers and lack access to cell phones or other means of communication.
Yet, as simple-to-support as this bill was, the bill was filibustered by a small minority of pro-abortion senators. And it fell two votes short of the needed 33 votes to overcome a filibuster by opponents.
Notably, two senators who have previously supported pro-life legislation were “Present Not Voting”: Senator Teresa Ibach of Sumner and Senator Dan Quick of Grand Island. Had they voted to end the filibuster, LB669 would have advanced in the legislative process. Instead, the bill failed.
What does this mean? There will be no guarantee that abortionists screen women being abused and trafficked and have a chance to escape their abusers and traffickers. Instead, they will continue to be exploited and used as sources of profit for malicious actors.
Though LB669 failed, we continue to persevere on behalf of mothers and unborn babies as we have been doing for decades.
We also want to express gratitude for senators who voted pro-life on LB669. We are especially grateful to Senator Tanya Storer of Whitman for introducing and championing LB669. She did an excellent job debating the legislation and advocating for women trapped in abuse and trafficking. We are also grateful to Senator Dan Lonowski of Hasting for making LB669 his personal “priority” bill. His “priority” designation ensured LB669 was debated. Take a moment to thank them by e-mail: tstorer@leg.ne.gov and dlonowski@leg.ne.gov.
Finally, thank you to those who contacted your senator on this bill. If you didn’t get a chance to advocate but want to get more involved, join our Catholic Advocacy Network at www.NEcatholic.org.
Catholics at the Capitol
As we continue to march forward into the next 40 days of the legislative session, we will have many more bills to advocate for, which means we need Catholics to step up to the plate.
On Wednesday, March 4, we will host our annual legislative advocacy day called Catholics at the Capitol. It will be an incredible day full of informative presentations from our bishops, state senators, Governor Jim Pillen, Attorney General Mike Hilgers, State Auditor Mike Foley, NCC staff, and other community leaders. You will also get a chance to meet with your state senator and advocate for issues that matter most to us as Catholics.
For the last several years, we have “sold out” this event, which means you’ll want to register now to secure your spot. Go to www.NEcatholic.org where you can register and bear the light of Christ in the public square!
Please join us—but no matter what, pray for our important work and our elected officials!
