Support Parents’ Rights: Testimony in Support of SB 442

March 18, 2021

My name is Shannon Jaquette. I am the Policy and Education Analyst for the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops and I am testifying in support of Senate Bill 442. As the primary and principal educators of their children, parents have the right and responsibility to impart their values in all aspects of their children’s education,…

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Stop Subsidizing Abortion: Testimony in Support of SB650

March 15, 2021

My name is Jennifer Allmon and I’m the Executive Director of the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops. I am testifying in support of SB 650. Last session the legislature had the wisdom and foresight to pass legislation to protect taxpayers from subsidizing abortion through preferential contracts and property deals. Despite the fact that time and…

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Regulate Chemical Abortion: Testimony in Support of SB 394

March 15, 2021

My name is Jennifer Allmon and I am the Executive Director of the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops. I am here today to testify in support of SB 394, the Chemical Abortion Safety Protocol. I want to be clear from the outset that no abortion is safe; every abortion is the intentional killing of an…

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Prohibit Abortion: Testimony in Support of SB9

March 15, 2021

My name is Jennifer Allmon and I am the Executive Director of the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops. I’m testifying in support of SB 9. Supporting pro-life laws is part of our history and heritage as Texans. The State of Texas has repeatedly and throughout our history passed legislation to recognize and respect the dignity…

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Strengthen Freedom of Conscience: Testimony in Support of SB 247

March 8, 2021

My name is Rachana Chhin, and I am a licensed Texas attorney and Legislative Counsel of the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops testifying in support of SB 247. The Texas bishops support religious liberty especially as it pertains to human life, marriage, and the family, as well as supporting conscience protection for individuals and organizations.…

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Review Sentencing of Juveniles: Testimony in Support of HB 686

March 8, 2021

My name is Rachana Chhin, and I am the Legislative Counsel of the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops testifying in support of HB 686. The Texas bishops support criminal justice reform that provides for compassionate treatment of prisoners, responds to the needs of victims of crime, and encourages rehabilitation and forgiveness for those re-entering society.…

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Criminal Justice Reform: Testimony in Support of HB 252

March 8, 2021

My name is Jennifer Allmon, and I am the Executive Director of the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops testifying in support of HB 252. The Texas bishops support criminal justice reform that provides for compassionate treatment of prisoners, responds to the needs of victims of crime, and encourages rehabilitation and forgiveness for those re-entering society.…

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Capital Jury Instructions HB 252 (Moody) | SB 189 (Lucio)

March 6, 2021

Capital Jury instructions should be truthful The current criminal justice system has both the tools for life imprisonment without execution and has significant flaws in sentencing practices that undermine the ability for the public to trust that every convicted person on death row in Texas is actually guilty. A capitol jury has a tremendous burden…

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Conscience Protection for Healthcare Professionals HB 1291 (Bell) | SB 573 (Springer)

March 3, 2021

In 1973, the same year the Supreme Court changed abortion law in the U.S., Congress passed provisions collectively known as the Church Amendments to protect the conscience rights of workers and institutions in the healthcare industry (Federal Health Care Conscience Protection Statutes, 1973). In 1977, Texas followed suit with its own conscience protections of health…

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Chaplain Access to Prisoners HB 1579 (White) | SB 654 (Bettencourt/Lucio/Springer)

March 2, 2021

The TCCB supports criminal justice reform that provides for compassionate treatment of prisoners, responds to the needs of victims of crime, and encourages rehabilitation and forgiveness for those re-entering society. Bills filed this session address both the overall need for prisoners to have access to spiritual support and the specific concerns of those awaiting capital…

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