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*  *  *  TAL UPDATE 11/9/09  *  *  *
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MAJOR VICTORY: U.S. House Adopts Pro-Life Amendment to Remove Abortion from Health Care Bill

In a major victory that would not have been possible without thousands of calls from pro-life citizens across Texas and the nation, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to remove federally funded abortion coverage from Speaker Nancy Pelosi's national health care plan, HR 3962 (formerly HR 3200). The House adopted the pro-life Stupak-Pitts Amendment late Saturday night with a decisive 240-194 vote after hours of debate on the bill. Shortly afterward the House passed the bill on a final vote of 220-215.

"This may be our biggest win in years," said Joe Pojman, Ph.D., TAL's executive director. Planned Parenthood's Cecile Richards called the vote a "travesty" and said that they have "no choice but to oppose HR 3962."

Of the 32 U.S. representatives from Texas, all 20 Republicans supported the pro-life amendment: Joe Barton, Kevin Brady, Michael Burgess, John Carter, Mike Conaway, John Culberson, Louie Gohmert, Kay Granger, Ralph Hall, Jeb Hensarling, Sam Johnson, Kenny Marchant, Michael McCaul, Randy Neugebauer, Pete Olson, Ron Paul, Ted Poe, Pete Sessions, Lamar Smith, and William Thornberry.

Of the 12 Democrats, four voted pro-life: Henry Cuellar, Solomon Ortiz, Silvestre Reyes, and Ciro Rodriguez. The remaining eight voted pro-abortion: Lloyd Doggett, Chet Edwards, Charles Gonzalez, Al Green, Gene Green, Ruben Hinojosa, Sheila Jackson Lee, and Eddie Bernice Johnson.

In the days and hours leading up to the vote, Texas Alliance for Life conducted an extensive campaign to exclude abortion coverage in the bill. TAL focused on contacting pro-lifers across the state but especially in the 12 districts occupied by Democrats using 16,000 mailed postcards, 15,000 phone calls, 19,000 emails, and paid radio ads.

To fund the $5,000 campaign budget, TAL asked for 100 people to donate $50. The response was immediate and strong. Within a day donors met the goal, and after six days 111 people had donated a total of $8,400! More donations are welcome as attention now goes to the U.S. Senate, where a pitched battle is expected for weeks.




Great News! Bryan Planned Parenthood Director Steps Down, Joins Forces with Brazos Valley Coalition For Life

The director of a Planned Parenthood facility in Bryan has left her post after being convicted about the horror of abortion.

Abby Johnson had a "change of heart," as one KBTX headline put it, after seeing an ultrasound of an abortion procedure. According to the report, she resigned October 6.

"I feel so pure in heart (since leaving)," she told KBTX. "I don't have this guilt, I don't have this burden on me anymore that's how I know this conversion was a spiritual conversion."

The article reported that according to Johnson, "the non-profit was struggling under the weight of a tough economy, and changing it's business model from one that pushed prevention, to one that focused on abortion."

Johnson is pictured at right with Shawn Carney, executive director of the Brazos Valley Coalition for Life, which gave birth to the national 40 Days for Life campaigns. The Planned Parenthood facility that Johnson directed was the target of the very first 40 Days for Life campaign. Johnson now supports the Coalition for Life and has prayed with them in front of the facility. Read comments from Carney and Johnson in the 40 Days for Life press release.

Elizabeth McClung, the campaign director for 40 Days for Life Austin, says Johnson will attend the inaugural banquet of the Austin Coalition for Life (ACFL) on Tuesday, Nov. 10. That same day, a Texas court hearing is scheduled to address a restraining order sought by Planned Parenthood against Johnson and the Coalition for Life.

McClung, who worked with the 40 Days for Life campaign in Bryan before moving in 2008 to direct the campaign in Austin, had first reached out to Johnson in 2007. She was contacted by Johnson out of the blue in early October. McClung said Johnson had hit a breaking point with her position and had turned to the Coalition for Life for help in making the final move to resign.

"Abby's conversion proves not only the power of prayer but also the power of the constant peaceful presence of volunteers in front of abortion facilities," said McClung. She pointed out that pro-lifers had been praying outside that facility since 1998.

"The strength that Abby exhibited should serve as a motivator for all abortion workers who feel trapped in the industry. It is because of stories like Abby's that the Austin Coalition for Life is needed in central Texas. ACFL will create the year-round presence in Austin that is necessary for conversions to happen."

Johnson's story was scheduled to be featured on The O'Reilly Factor, as well as on Relevant Radio.

Photo courtesy of 40 Days for Life.


November is National Adoption Month

In celebration of National Adoption Month this November, the adoption awareness organization Act of Life will be hosting "A Celebration of Life" at the Hilton Houston Hobby Airport on Friday, Nov. 20, featuring Dr. Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.

Texas Alliance for Life Executive Director Joe Pojman, Ph.D., and Dr. John Morgan will also address the audience.

Julie Stobbe, the president of Act of Life, spoke at the 2009 Texas Rally for Life in support of the Choose Life license plate, which would raise funds to promote adoption in Texas. Act of Life advances adoption awareness by providing biblically based training and resources for pregnancy centers, birth parents, adoptive parents, pastors, churches, counselors, and schools.

A limited number of seats are still available at Texas Alliance for Life's table at the event. If you are interested in attending with Texas Alliance for Life, please call 512.477.1244 to inquire about availability.

Click on the image below for more information or to make your reservation.