Weekly Legislative Update

Immigration Update
It's the last full week of the special session and we worked on several issues this week. On Monday, TCC Executive Director Jeff Patterson and Fr. Stephen Jasso, TOR, of the Diocese of Fort Worth, testified in opposition to anti-immigrant legislation (HB 9 and SB 9). These bills are currently still in committee. Thank you to everyone who responded to last week's action alert by encouraging the committee members to oppose these bills. You can read Jeff's testimony online here, and Fr. Jasso's testimony online here. 

House Vote on Bill Prohibiting Taxpayer-Funded Abortion
This week was spent preparing for a vote on SB 7, an omnibus health care bill that includes a provision prohibiting county hospital districts from using taxpayer funds for abortions, which will save the lives of thousands of unborn children a year. The conference committee report was set on the House's Items Eligible Calendar and the House Speaker has announced that the vote will take place on Monday, June 27. 

Bill Establishing Smoke-Free Policies
Also this week, SB 28, which would establish smoke-free policies in most public places in Texas, was voted out of committee in the Senate. Second-hand smoke exposure is the third leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., and this bill protects the health and well-being of Texans who must work in environments that allow smoking, or who are otherwise exposed to second-hand smoke.

We have issued action alerts asking for calls to legislators to support both the Conference Committee Report on SB 7 and the smoke-free ban legislation. Thank you to all faithful citizens who have responded to these alerts. If you haven't acted yet, please contact your legislators today -- you can find your legislators' contact information and a sample message below. Please note that the bill number for the smoking bill is different for your Representative and Senator. 

Find out who your Representative is and his or her contact information here. 
June 27, 2011 Update: The House and Senate have adopted  the Conference Committee Report to SB 7, modified action alerts below:

Sample Message to Representative: "Hello, my name is  Name and I am a Catholic in City ,  Texas and as a constituent I ask that you vote to support HB 46, which establishes smoke-free policies in most public places. Secondhand smoke exposure is the third-leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. This bill protects the health and well-being of Texans who must work in environments that allow smoking, or who are otherwise exposed to secondhand smoke.

My Catholic faith teaches that the life and dignity of all human beings must be protected and these bills help to protect vulnerable Texans. Thank you for your time. For more information you can contact the Texas Catholic Conference at 512-339-9882."

 Find out who your Senator is and his or her contact information here.

Sample Message to Senator: "Hello, my name is Name  and I am a Catholic in City , Texas and as a constituent I ask that you vote to support SB 28, which establishes smoke-free policies in most public places. Secondhand smoke exposure is the third-leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. This bill protects the health and well-being of Texans who must work in environments that allow smoking, or who are otherwise exposed to secondhand smoke.

My Catholic faith teaches that the life and dignity of all human beings must be protected and these bills help to protect vulnerable Texans. Thank you for your time. For more information you can contact the Texas Catholic Conference at 512-339-9882."

Please act by the end of the day on June 28, 2011. Please feel free to write to us at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  to let us know about your advocacy experience and about any responses you receive. 

Clemency Appeal for Humberto Leal
Last week, Cardinal DiNardo and Archbishop Garcia-Síller sent a letter to Governor Perry to request a stay of execution for Mr. Humberto Leal Garcia. Humberto, who is scheduled to be executed on July 7, is a Mexican national and was never provided access to assistance from the Mexican consulate during his trial -- access that he was legally entitled to receive. "In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus teaches that a true neighbor is one who shows mercy (Luke 10:37)," wrote the bishops. "Showing mercy does not mean neglecting to administer justice or punish people for their crimes.  Showing mercy does mean exhibiting compassion toward all of our brothers and sisters, and providing them with an opportunity for atonement and rehabilitation." Please keep Humberto, his family, and the victim's family in your prayers. You can advocate for Humberto Leal by writing and calling the Governor, and also by signing an online petition that is available here (you can also access the petition in Spanish here).

Learn More:

• Read the Bishops' letter online here.
• Read Justice, Mercy, and Capitol Punishment, an excellent article by Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Denver, on the Church's teaching on the death penalty that emphasizes our call to forgiveness and provides models for Catholic parishes on how to work to end the use of the death penalty here.
• Learn more about the Catholic Mobilizing Network to End the Use of the Death Penalty, which works for an end to the use of the death penalty on behalf of the U. S. Bishops at the national level, here.