Dear Friend for Life,

The West Virginia Legislative Session has ended.  We hope you’ll take the time to read the summary.  West Virginians for Life was represented this year by John Carey, who has had over a decade of experience as a lobbyist in Charleston.  He has been working in the legislature to pass an amendment to prohibit all qualified health plans offered through the new state insurance exchange from including abortion coverage.  As many as 20 other states have already provided this protection for their citizens.

Our Opt Out of Abortion Bill was not taken up by the appropriate committees during the session.  However, the entire health care implementation has been delayed.  It is our hope that the Opt Out issue will be taken up during a special session this summer, and our lobbyist is working on bringing this about.

West Virginians for Life also supported the re-introduction of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which prohibits abortion when the unborn child can feel pain after 20 weeks.  This is a ground-breaking piece of legislation, because it introduces into the law the idea that the state should take an interest in protecting the life of the unborn child, separate from the needs of the mother.  This legislation has been passed in several other states, most recently in Arkansas.

The fetal pain bill was not taken up during the session.  However, Senate President Jeff Kessler, has agreed to establish a study committee on the bill.  Such a committee will allow us to provide education to the legislature and the public about pain in the unborn.  This will help us to justify the need for passage of this bill in the next session.

John Carey has helped us to provide education about our Pain Bill by developing a website that contains important information about the research and law regarding fetal pain.  You can get this valuable information at www.wvflfetalpainbill.org.  All of the information on our bill will be available there, and you can follow the progress we are making later this summer.

We deeply appreciate your continuing financial support to help us provide this quality work in Charleston by visiting the DONATE page.

Sincerely,

Wanda Franz, Ph.D.

President, West Virginians for Life

P. S.  Our next big event tentatively scheduled for June 17, a Monday, will be a Golf Tournament to help support our work.  Watch for more information on plans for this important fund-raising event.  Our annual state convention is scheduled for Saturday, October 5, 2013 at Trinity Assembly of God in Fairmont, and our Rose Dinner will be on Friday, November 15 at Lakeview Golf Resort and Spa in Morgantown.