Fetal tissue bill and others make first cut in legislature

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By Tom Chapman
Iowa Catholic Conference

DES MOINES — A bill that would stop the transfer or sale of fetal tissue in Iowa after an abortion has made it through the first deadline for consideration in the Iowa Legis­la­ture. So has an Education Savings Account bill. But proposed legislation that would permit doctor-prescribed suicide didn’t make the cut.

Anne Marie Cox/Catholic Mirror Bishop Martin Amos leads prayer at the Iowa Capitol Feb. 16.
Anne Marie Cox/Catholic Mirror
Bishop Martin Amos leads prayer at the Iowa Capitol Feb. 16.

Tom Chapman, executive director of the Iowa Cath­olic Conference (ICC), provides this update on the status of bills of interest to the state’s Catholics following the Feb. 19 cutoff. That was the date when bills were required to pass out of a committee to remain eligible for consideration (except for budget and tax bills).

Here’s a closer look at the bills:

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• House File 2329 would stop the transfer or sale of fetal tissue in Iowa after an abortion. Two issues are involved with this bill. The first is abortion itself: a direct attack on human life during its most vulnerable time. The second is a longstanding practice of obtaining fetal organs and tissues through abortion. “Both actions fail to respect the humanity and dignity of human life. This fact should be the center of attention in the present public controversy,” says Cardinal Sean O’Malley. He’s the archbishop of Boston and chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Chap­man urges Iowa Catholics to register their support for this bill.

• House File 2276 prohibits the state, counties and cities from limiting or restricting enforcement of federal immigration law in Iowa. The ICC opposes the bill, which calls for more state and local enforcement of federal immigration law. To many, that sounds like a good idea. However, the ICC is concerned about the bill for several reasons. The legislation seems unnecessary because federal policies already require much collaboration among law enforcement agencies. Whether someone is here illegally or not, nothing in current law prevents any individual from being prosecuted and convicted for crimes.

Essentially the bill is pushing about two dozen Iowa counties to comply with all federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement requests to hold undocumented people longer than their offense would normally allow.

• House File 2284, the Education Savings Account (ESA) bill was introduced. It would establish a pilot program to allow parents who choose not to enroll their children in a public school to receive a deposit of public funds into a savings account set up by the state. Sponsored by Rep. Jake Highfill (R-Johnston), the bill would create about 200 ESA slots in the Waterloo and Sioux Center school districts. To qualify, the family’s income would have to be less than 185 percent of the federal poverty level, or about $45,000, for a family of four.

Families would receive $5,854 per student in order to cover the cost of attending a nonpublic school. This bill was assigned to the House Appropriations Committee so it is eligible for consideration during the rest of the session. While this ESA pilot would be available for relatively few families to start, it’s a foot in the door towards expanding the program statewide. Already legislators have set up ways to help parents pay for the school of their choice, such as the School Tuition Organization (STO) scholarships. HF 2284 would open up access to educational opportunities for additional families.

• The doctor-prescribed suicide” bills died in committee. Both bills would have allowed assisted suicide by permitting people with “terminal” diagnoses of six months or less to receive drugs to kill themselves. The ICC obviously has religious reasons for opposing the bills, but points out many practical reasons for opposition as well. Among them: creating pressure on other vulnerable people to consider suicide.

• House Study Bill 628 died in the House Commerce Committee. The bill was introduced just a week ago and passed through a subcommittee. It would have authorized payday loan companies to set up another type of high-interest loan, “flexible credit loans,” with an annual interest rate of 288 percent. For example, the first month’s interest on a $1,000 loan would be $120. The ICC registered in opposition to the bill because of its impact on low-income customers by trapping them in long-term high-interest debt.

• Senate Study Bill 3033 died in committee. The ICC opposed the bill because it eliminated the state’s waiting period before a divorce. The state has a legitimate interest in a waiting period for a divorce, including providing both parties with the opportunity to thoroughly contemplate the impact of divorce. A waiting period helps ensure that all issues are addressed and no advantage is taken of either party, particularly when children might be involved.

• House File 2061 passed the House Education Committee. The bill gives private schools additional options for high-quality accreditation.

• Senate File 2070 and House Study Bill 604 passed out of the Senate and House Judiciary Committees. The bills would provide for more confidentiality of juvenile court records. The ICC supports the bills as they would help people not carry along the effects of a relatively minor mistake made while a juvenile. The NAACP and the governor’s office are working together on this.
Educational event to highlight resettlement of refugees

Representatives of Lutheran Services in Iowa, Catholic Charities, Embarc and other groups were scheduled to be at the State Capitol on Feb. 24 to educate legislators about the resettlement of refugees. The ICC is encouraging lawmakers to approve the expansion of an existing Americorps program helping refugees integrate in the state. Refugees are present in the U.S. legally after an extensive vetting process.
Bishops’ Legislative Breakfast
The four diocesan bishops of Iowa were at the State Capitol Feb. 16 for the Iowa Catholic Conference’s annual Legislative Breakfast.
The bishops and members of the ICC board and committees had an opportunity to speak with many legislators as they stopped by on their way to the chambers.
The bishops also met with the governor and legislative leaders to discuss several issues, including immigration, education, assisted suicide and trafficking in fetal tissue.


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