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Congress is trying to force Americans to pay for abortion. The Hyde Amendment and similar laws have protected taxpayers from funding elective abortion for 45 years. Now, powerful members of Congress want to take away these laws that both Democrats and Republicans have supported for nearly half a century. Billions of taxpayer dollars could be used to pay for abortion.

This week, the House Committee on Appropriations will mark-up appropriations bills. Three decades-old provisions which prevent taxpayer funds from being used to pay for abortions in the District of Columbia, through foreign assistance, and for federal employee health plans that cover abortions were eliminated from these appropriations bills.

The following FCCB priority bills were passed during the 2021 Legislative Session and have been acted on by Governor DeSantis:

One of the FCCB's key priorities for the 2021 Legislative Session was increasing access to dual enrollment courses for non-public high school students. On June 24, Governor DeSantis signed into law SB 52 by Senator Ray Rodrigues, R-Fort Myers, providing equitable access to dual enrollment courses for all Florida high school students. The bill and its companion, HB 281 by Representative Wyman Duggan, R-Jacksonville, were strongly supported by the FCCB during the session. Dual enrollment courses allow high school students to take college-level courses while they are still in high school. Usually, these courses are taken on the college or university campus during the normal school day. Under previous law, public school and home school students had free, unencumbered access to dual enrollment courses; however, private school students had very limited access. 

Earlier this month, Governor DeSantis approved a record $100 billion budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021. Before signing the budget, the governor used his line-item veto authority to cut $1.5 billion from the spending plan approved by the legislature. 

Catholic Charities: Meeting Needs of Families and Survivors Two staff members from Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami are on hand daily at the Family Assistance Center which was set up for relatives of those missing after the June 24, 2021, partial collapse of Champlain Towers South in Surfside.

Governor DeSantis approved a record $100 billion budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021. Before signing the budget, the governor used his line-item veto authority to cut $1.5 billion from the spending plan approved by the legislature. Included in his line-item vetoes was the new $2 million recurring appropriation to promote and provide Hormonal Long-acting Reversible Contraception (HLARC).

On Tuesday, May 11, surrounded by Catholic school students, parents and elected officials, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis participated in two ceremonial bill signings where he signed into law, House Bill 7045. In the morning, the Governor was at St. John the Apostle School in Hialeah, followed by a visit to Christ the King Catholic School in Jacksonville that afternoon. 

On May 17-19, the Florida legislature gathered in a special session to give approval to a 30-year gaming compact recently negotiated by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The deal would lead to the state receiving $2.5 billion over the first five years. The tribe would operate sports betting and would receive other benefits, including being able to offer craps and roulette at its casinos. In a statement released earlier this week, the FCCB urged the legislature to put a pause on the proposed expansion of casino and internet-based gambling.

This May, during National Foster Care Month, please consider providing a loving home for a child who has been separated from his or her parents. Over 20,000 children in Florida have been removed from their parents or guardians; however, only 5,000 families are certified to meet their needs. Find contact information and learn more on two related Catholics Across the Aisle podcasts.

On May 17, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it will hear oral arguments in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. A decision by the high court is expected by June 2022 and could, for the first time since 1973, greatly diminish the ruling in Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion.

On Friday, April 30, the 2021 Regular Session of the Florida Legislature came to a close. Our final summary includes the status of FCCB budget priorities and concerns, bills of interest that were passed by the legislature and bills that died.

On Tuesday, April 27, Fr. John Cayer delivered the opening prayer for the House Session at the invitation of Rep. Demi Busatta Cabrera (R-Coral Gables). Fr. Cayer is the rector of the Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Tallahassee and serves as chaplain of the Florida Catholic Conference / Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops. 

On April 22, HB 241 (Grall) achieved final passage in the Senate (24-15). The bill was passed earlier this month by the House (78-37) and will go to the governor for his signature. This FCCB supported measure ensures that the right of parents to review instructional materials and curriculum is clearly communicated. It also establishes parental consent requirements for medical care provided to a minor child. Having access to information about their rights allows parents to make informed decisions and better direct their child's education and health care. In the Senate, HB 241 was substituted for its companion bill, SB 582 (Rodrigues, R.).

HB 7045 (PreK-12 Appropriations) was passed this week by the House (79-36) and is on third reading in the Senate. A final vote is expected in the Senate as early as Monday. The measure eliminates from all scholarship programs the requirement that scholarship recipients be previously enrolled in public schools. It also increases the maximum income eligibility and the scholarship amounts for the Family Empowerment Scholarship (FES) and the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTC). Additionally, the bill folds the McKay and Gardiner Scholarships for students with special needs and unique abilities into the FES. Earlier this year, Catholic Days at the Capitol participants urged lawmakers to support expansion of eligibility for the state's scholarship programs.

On April 23, HB 1221 (Grall) was passed by the House (74-44). The measure prohibits a physician from performing an abortion if the physician knows, or should know, that the woman is seeking the abortion solely on the basis of a prenatal test result or fetal diagnosis of a disability or the potential of a disability. The bill defines disability as any disease, defect or disorder that is genetically inherited including physical disabilities or disfigurement, mental or intellectual disabilities, or Down syndrome, and does not include a lethal fetal anomaly. An exception is provided if the abortion is necessary to save the life of the mother. FCCB supports this measure as an incremental step that limits the harm of an abortion. The Senate companion, SB 1664 (Rodriguez, A.), has yet to be heard in committee this year.

HB 7051 (Judiciary) was introduced on the House floor and is poised for House passage next week. The bill includes several provisions to address civil unrest such as collecting data on use-of-force by law enforcement, de-escalation training, and limiting chokeholds. FCCB offered these approaches as an alternative to HB 1, which aims to address public disorder and was signed into law by Governor DeSantis this week. HB 7051 includes an additional provision, supported by the FCCB this session, that prohibits a child younger than seven years of age from being arrested, charged, or adjudicated delinquent, unless the violation of law is a forcible felony.

HB 419 (Grall) was passed unanimously (118-0) by the full House on April 22. The bill streamlines agency oversight of the Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) Program, reasonably and effectively increases accountability for VPK providers, and provides more useful and accurate assessments to monitor student progress. The Senate companion, SB 1282 (Harrell), remains on the Senate Special Order Calendar. The FCCB supports reasonable oversight and accountability in Florida's VPK program. These bills accomplish that goal and enhance Florida's early learning education system.

President Joe Biden is the first sitting U.S. president to publicly oppose capital punishment and to have campaigned on an anti-death penalty platform. As the Biden administration approaches the 100-day mark, Catholics are calling on the president to uphold the Church's anti-death penalty teachings.

On April 14, HB 1475 (Tuck) passed the full House (77-40). The measure protects the rights of female athletes and promotes equality in women's sports by recognizing key biological differences between men and women and requiring separate sex-specific athletic teams. Laws and policies that affirm gender identities not aligned with biological sex often overlook the potential for serious, and often irreversible, physical harm to gender dysphoric individuals, especially minors, who attempt to "transition." In a letter to Rep. Tuck, the FCCB outlined its support for HB 1475. The Senate companion, SB 2012 (Stargel), includes an exception for "persons who transition from male to female" if they meet certain conditions, such as specified testosterone levels. SB 2012 was temporarily postponed this week by the Senate Rules Committee but is scheduled for a hearing on April 20.