November 22, 2019

	In This Update
	REMINDER: Help the Petition Drive to End Dismemberment Abortion Finish Strong in December! TAKE ACTION: Urge Congress to Oppose Budget Amendment Enriching Global Abortion Providers School Safety Building Code Change Approved by House November is Adoption Awareness Month The Word from Lansing: Safe Delivery Law Saves Michigan Newborns Legislature on Break Until December 3 Happy Thanksgiving!

	REMINDER: Help the Petition Drive to End Dismemberment Abortion Finish Strong in December!
	The petition drive to end dismemberment abortion has been ongoing since late June and now only three weeks remain to collect signatures. MCC and the Catholic bishops in Michigan strongly support the initiative and are thankful for the enthusiastic response of the Catholic community. To ensure a strong finish toward reaching the goal of 400,000 signatures, all parishes have been asked to host at least one more opportunity for parishioners to sign the petition to end dismemberment abortion. If you have not yet signed this petition, please check with your parish for an opportunity to sign or visit Michigan Values Life to request a petition form to circulate among family and friends in your county. Yesterday, it was announced that the target end date for signature collection is Thursday, December 12th. Mail in, as soon as possible, any forms that have been signed, so that they can be timely processed. Continue collecting signatures through December 12th and by Friday, December 13th be sure to postmark or return all remaining forms to Right to Life of Michigan offices.

	TAKE ACTION: Urge Congress to Oppose Budget Amendment Enriching Global Abortion Providers
	Global abortion providers could receive an extra $57 million a year if an amendment to a spending bill is passed by Congress. U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen's (D-NH) amendment, opposed by U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and 44 other organizations, was added to the Senate's State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs (SFOPS) appropriations bill. The amendment also effectively blacklists faith-based providers, to drive these qualified pro-life and pro-family partners away from providing much needed foreign assistance. Last year, the U.S. provided nearly $280 million in foreign aid to groups involved in abortion activities overseas. Enough is enough. Please tell Congress to reject the Shaheen amendment and its attempt to enrich global abortion providers with U.S. taxpayer dollars!

	School Safety Building Code Change Approved by House
	House Bill 4689, introduced by Representative Scott VanSingel (R-Grant) would amend the Construction of School Buildings Act to allow temporary door barricade devices to be installed in school buildings. These are anchoring mechanisms installed on the interior side of a door that, when engaged, secures the door against forced entry. Schools would have to notify local law enforcement and fire departments before installing such a device and would have to provide training to staff members on how to utilize the devices during an emergency. MCC supports the legislation as a means of increasing school safety. The bill was approved 108-0 by the House of Representatives on November 5 and is now before the Senate Committee on Regulatory Reform for further consideration.

	November is Adoption Awareness Month
	House Resolution 198 of 2019, sponsored by Representative Jack O'Malley (R-Lake Ann), was adopted by the House on November 7, declaring November 2019 as Adoption Awareness Month in the State of Michigan. Adoption is a wonderful gift. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops are also highlighting "An Adoption Love Story" this month and providing prayers and resources to help support this loving option.

	The Word from Lansing: Safe Delivery Law Saves Michigan Newborns
	Michigan's Safe Delivery of Newborns Law has saved at least 241 babies over the past two decades. This month's The Word from Lansing column explains how the law allows desperate parents to voluntarily and anonymously surrender their newborn child to an emergency service provider. This prevents the dangerous abandonment of babies and allows them to be safely placed for adoption. For more information, visit the policy's website at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Those considering or in need of the Safe Delivery option can call Michigan's hotline at 866-733-7733.

	Legislature on Break until December 3
	The Michigan House and Senate are currently in recess, with the legislative session scheduled to resume December 3, 2019.

	Happy Thanksgiving!
	Happy Thanksgiving! We join with you and your loved ones in offering this prayer from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers:   Lord, we thank you for the goodness of our people and for the spirit of justice that fills this nation. We thank you for the beauty and fullness of the land and the challenge of the cities. We thank you for our work and our rest, for one another, and for our homes. We thank you, Lord: accept our thanksgiving on this day. We pray and give thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.   If this email was forwarded to you, please click here to join the Catholic Advocacy Network, which will enable you to receive regular electronic updates and alerts. For other news and information, click here to follow MCC on Twitter, like MCC on Facebook, follow MCC on Instagram, or visit MCC's webpage.

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