ACTION REQUEST

U.S. Senators to Cast Four Crucial Votes Important to the Pro-Life Movement after the August Recess

Washington (August 12) - - Pro-life grassroots Americans must begin lobbying their Senators now for the upcoming September Senate floor votes on four issues important to the pro-life movement, if success is to be had. Urge your Senators to vote for the Child Custody Protection Act (S. 1645), to vote for the Lethal Drug Abuse Prevention Act of 1998 (S. 2151), to vote to override the President's veto of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act (H.R. 1122), and to vote against the McCain-Feingold " campaign reform" bill.

Child Custody Protection Act

Soon after the Senate returns from its summer recess on August 31, the Senate will vote on the Child Custody Protection Act, which would make it a federal crime to transport a minor across state lines for an abortion if this action were to circumvent a home state law requiring parental involvement in a minor girl's abortion decision.

This will be the first time that the U.S. Senate will vote on the Child Custody Protection Act, so it is important that Senators hear from their constituents before they cast this important vote. Remind your Senators that 85% of the American people oppose the taking of a minor girl across state lines for an abortion without her parents' knowledge.

Lethal Drug Abuse Protection Act

The Lethal Drug Abuse Prevention Act of 1998 will come before both the House of Representatives and the Senate for the first time in September. It would reverse the outrageous decision of Attorney General Reno that federally controlled drugs can be used to assist suicide and euthanasia in states like Oregon where the practice has been legalized. This is our chance to help stop euthanasia before it becomes imbedded in American medicine and culture. Please call your Senators and Representative immediately and urge them to vote FOR the Lethal Drug Abuse Prevention Act.

Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act

In September, the Senate will also vote on whether to override the President's veto of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act. Remember that every time the Senate has voted on this bill, support for the bill has gained votes. In May 1997, the Senate passed the bill with 64 votes, 3 votes short of the number needed to override a veto. The pro-life community must work hard to convince three more Senators to stop defending the indefensible. The target list is every Senator who has voted against the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act. Remind your Senator that the American Medical Association has endorsed the bill, and said that the partial-birth abortion procedure is "a procedure we all agree is not good medicine."

"Campaign Reform"

It is expected that attempts will be made to bring the McCain- Feingold "campaign reform" bill to the Senate floor again in September by attaching it to another piece of legislation. This bill would severely restrict the right of citizen groups, such as NRLC and NRLC affiliates, to educate the public regarding the voting records and positions of specific politicians on pro-life issues. The McCain-Feingold bill was blocked in the Senate in February by a filibuster (see March 11, 1998, NRL News, page 24). It is critical that the McCain-Feingold bill be blocked again. Senators who voted against the McCain-Feingold bill need to be contacted, thanked for their prior vote, and urged to vote against the McCain-Feingold bill and against cloture again. Senators who voted for the McCain-Feingold bill last February should be contacted and urged to protect free speech by voting against the bill and against cloture this time around.

Urgent Action Items

Calls and Letters to your U.S. Senators on these four important votes are urgently needed now. Please telephone the offices of your two U.S. senators - - both within the state and in Washington, D.C. The in-state numbers are available from local telephone information. The Washington offices can be reached through the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Urge them to vote for the Child Custody Protection Act, to vote for the Lethal Drug Abuse Prevention Act of 1998, to vote to override the President's veto of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act (or thank them for supporting the ban if they already support it), and to vote against the McCain-Feingold "campaign reform" bill and against cloture on the McCain-Feingold bill. Request a letter from the Senator explaining how he/she intends to vote on these key votes that are important to the pro-life movement.

Please also write to your two U.S. Senators. The mailing address for all senators is:

Senator __________

Senate Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20510.

Attend Town Hall Meetings and Meet with Your Senator While He/She is Home. The Senate is currently in recess and won't return until Monday, August 31. That provides pro-life citizens with an excellent opportunity to meet with their U.S. Senators while they are home in the state. Please contact the in-state offices of your senators (the numbers are available from local telephone information), and try to set up an appointment to meet with your Senator. Also, try to attend any town hall meetings that your Senators may hold and express your views on these important upcoming votes and request a commitment from your Senator to vote in support of S. 1645, S. 2151, and H.R. 1122, and to oppose the McCain-Feingold "campaign reform" bill.

Letters to Editors. You can help educate the public about these issues by writing a letter (usually 250-300 words is about right) to the "letters to the editor" columns of your local newspapers on these important upcoming votes.

Local Talk Radio. Use every opportunity to go on local talk radio or Christian radio to speak about these upcoming votes and to educate your fellow citizens on how important these upcoming votes are to the pro-life movement.

Resources on These Upcoming Votes

Additional information on the Child Custody Protection Act, the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, and the McCain-Feingold "campaign reform" bill can be found on the NRLC website at www.nrlc.org. Or feel free to call the NRLC Federal Legislative Office at (202) 626-8820. For information on the Lethal Drug Abuse Prevention Act, contact the NRLC Department of Medical Ethics at (202) 626-8815.

Please Help NRLC's Lobbying Efforts

You can greatly assist NRLC's lobbying efforts by sending copies of any letters from members of Congress dealing with these or any other pro-life issue, and pertinent stories and editorials from local newspapers, to: NRLC Federal Legislative Office, 419- Seventh Street, Northwest, Suite 500, Washington, D.C. 20004. Fax (202) 347-3668, e-mail: Legfederal@aol.com. Legislative Update Recording: (202) 393-5433.