Brown Celebrates Passage of Pro-life Bill by the Indiana Senate

Bill Includes a Gender and Disability Abortion Ban and Penalties Against Those Who Sell Aborted Baby Parts

INDIANAPOLIS - Today, the Indiana Senate passed House Bill 1337, pro-life legislation that includes a variety of life-affirming measures. Indiana State Senator and candidate for Indiana's Third Congressional District, Liz Brown, authored a portion of the language amended into the bill and was a bill sponsor of House Bill 1337 in the Indiana Senate.

House Bill 1337 will ban abortions on the basis of gender or an adverse prenatal diagnosis, such as Down syndrome. It prevents a Planned Parenthood-style of harvesting and trafficking scandal. It also increases informed consent for women and requires that aborted babies be cremated or buried instead of thrown out with medical waste.

"I am proud of our efforts to defend the sanctity of human life by passing House Bill 1337," said Brown. "I'm pleased this bill says we will not stand for discrimination against the unborn because the child is a girl or has an extra chromosome. Another important aspect in House Bill 1337 is that we will not tolerate the trafficking or sale of aborted babies like Planned Parenthood was involved in as revealed by the Center for Medical Progress videos. Every unborn child in Indiana deserves our full protection and this bill brings us one step closer to the day when every child receives a birthday."

House Bill 1337 passed the Indiana Senate by a vote of 37-13. It needs to pass the Indiana House before it will be eligible for the governor's signature.

Liz Brown, a Republican, seeks to represent Indiana's Third Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Brown currently serves Indiana Senate District 15 in the state legislature and is a former member of the Fort Wayne City Council. She has a long history of community involvement including roles with Boys and Girls Clubs, Cub Scouts, Parkview Hospital Ethics Committee, Notre Dame Club of Fort Wayne and various school boards. As a registered Civil and Domestic Mediator with her own mediation business, Liz maintains a number of associations in the legal field. Liz and her husband of 33 years, Steve, have seven children.

Cord Blood Donation Bill: The Backstory

Samson and Lydia (Photo by Pitter Patter Photography)

Meet Lydia (2 years old) and Samson (now 6 weeks old).

Their mom, Becky, a staffer of mine, brought the idea of a bill on umbilical cord donation to my attention last fall while she was pregnant with Samson.

Back when she was pregnant with Lydia, she received solicitations from companies to bank her unborn baby's cord blood. If she had chosen this, she and her husband would have paid a cord blood bank thousands of dollars to store their child’s cord blood cells for a set number of years. Then, if a medical emergency arose in the family, such as a leukemia diagnosis, they would have the cells to use.

As a first-time mom, Becky set out to do a little research about banking. She spoke with stem cell research expert Dr. David Prentice, now of the Charlotte Lozier Institute, and author of this article: LifeNews - Save a Baby’s Life, Save Two Lives with Umbilical Cord Blood. Dr. Prentice shared how public cord blood donation offers an abundance of benefits. He explained if everyone donated, there would likely be a match every time cells are needed from the public bank. You see, cord cells don't need to be an exact match in transplants like adult stem cells must be. Additionally, cord cells offer an ethical alternative to embryonic stem cells and they are used in medical research for a whole host of diseases from diabetes to cancer. Learn more in Dr. Prentice's article here.

After hearing the benefits of donation, Becky talked to her doctor and her hospital before Lydia’s due date about her desire to donate her child’s cord blood. Unfortunately, she faced roadblocks because her hospital didn't participate in cord blood donation (even though participation is completely free for hospitals). She even spoke with the local public donation collection organization, Life Line Stem Cell, in New Haven, Ind., but there was no way to get her child's cord blood from the hospital to the bank. When Lydia came, her cord blood was thrown out.

As Becky and her husband approached their second child's due date, things were different. This time they were set to deliver at a different hospital. They were assured that upon hospital admittance they would be offered the option to donate. And Becky tells me, that's exactly what happened. The donation process was simple and completely free and harmless.

Cord blood donation box at hospital.

Now Samson's cord blood has been donated to a public bank where it could be used for a transplant, to save a patient with cancer, or in medical research to find cures.

My cord blood bill, Senate Bill 315, doesn't make cord blood donation mandatory by hospitals or mothers. Rather it raises awareness of this life-saving process by providing expectant mothers with information on cord donation. My bill passed two committees and the Senate and House chambers with all unanimous votes. It now awaits the Governor’s signature.

Cord blood donation recognizes that every life is a gift.

House Unanimously Passes Pro-life Bill Authored by Brown

Bill on Cord Donation Now Heads to Governor's Desk for Signature

INDIANAPOLIS - Senate Bill 315 on umbilical cord donation by Indiana State Senator and Third Congressional District candidate, Liz Brown, passed the Indiana House yesterday and now heads to Governor Mike Pence for his signature.

Senate Bill 315 requires the State Department of Health to provide information on voluntary and free cord blood donation to entities that assist pregnant women. Cord blood stem cells offer an ethical alternative to embryonic stem cells. Cord blood stem cells are used in treatments and research for dozens of diseases.

"Cord donation programs recognize that every child's life is a treasure," said Brown. "I hope that my bill will bring awareness to the life-saving advancements that the medical community is making through cord blood cells and how these cells are an ethical alternative to embryonic stem cells. I believe my bill will increase cord blood donation in Indiana. I extend my thanks to my colleagues for passing my bill unanimously in the House and Senate and special thanks to Rep. Denny Zent for carrying this bill in the House."

Liz Brown, a Republican, seeks to represent Indiana's Third Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Brown currently serves Indiana Senate District 15 in the state legislature and is a former member of the Fort Wayne City Council. She has a long history of community involvement including roles with Boys and Girls Clubs, Cub Scouts, Parkview Hospital Ethics Committee, Notre Dame Club of Fort Wayne and various school boards. As a registered Civil and Domestic Mediator with her own mediation business, Liz maintains a number of associations in the legal field. Liz and her husband of 33 years, Steve, have seven children.

# # #

Brown: Obama Puts Politics Over National Security

WASHINGTON - Indiana State Senator and Third Congressional District candidate, Liz Brown, released the following statement regarding President Obama's desire to close Guantanamo Bay and bring its detainees to American soil:

"President Obama's latest call to close Guantanamo Bay puts politics over national security. Obama recognizes that his days in office are limited. He is trying to make good on a campaign promise to close the prison. Obama has not offered Congress a realistic plan for closure, nor has he convinced the American people that closing Guantanamo would make us safer. Obama should be reminded that Guantanamo's detainees aren't misguided individuals doing petty crimes. They are radical Islamic terrorists seeking to do great harm to our nation and her people. Hoosiers don't want terrorists in their backyard, and Americans across the nation are expressing the same sentiment."

Liz Brown, a Republican, seeks to represent Indiana's Third Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Brown currently serves Indiana Senate District 15 in the state legislature and is a former member of the Fort Wayne City Council. She has a long history of community involvement including roles with Boys and Girls Clubs, Cub Scouts, Parkview Hospital Ethics Committee, Notre Dame Club of Fort Wayne and various school boards. As a registered Civil and Domestic Mediator with her own mediation business, Liz maintains a number of associations in the legal field. Liz and her husband of 33 years, Steve, have seven children.

###

Listen to My Radio Ad, "The Establishment"

Listen to my new radio ad, "The Establishment," and share it with your friends!

Brown: Scalia was a Fierce Defender of the Constitution

FORT WAYNE, IND. - Indiana State Senator and Third Congressional District candidate, Liz Brown, released the following statement upon learning that Justice Antonin Scalia has died:

"The family of Justice Antonin Scalia is in my prayers as we learn of this remarkable man's death. Justice Scalia was a fierce defender of the Constitution and his presence on the highest court of the land will be greatly missed. His death leaves a major void on the Supreme Court."

Liz Brown, a Republican, seeks to represent Indiana's Third Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Brown currently serves Indiana Senate District 15 in the state legislature and is a former member of the Fort Wayne City Council. She has a long history of community involvement including roles with Boys and Girls Clubs, Cub Scouts, Parkview Hospital Ethics Committee, Notre Dame Club of Fort Wayne and various school boards. As a registered Civil and Domestic Mediator with her own mediation business, Liz maintains a number of associations in the legal field. Liz and her husband of 33 years, Steve, have seven children.

###

Brown Statement on Supreme Court Blocking Obama's Carbon Emissions Plan

WASHINGTON - Indiana State Senator and Third Congressional District candidate, Liz Brown, released the following statement regarding the Supreme Court's action to block President Obama's carbon emissions plan: 

"The Supreme Court acted on the side of the Constitution and the American people by blocking President Obama's carbon emissions plan. Throughout his administration, Obama has effectively stifled jobs and American energy production with onerous regulations. If elected to Congress, I will fight tirelessly for common sense energy policies that promote economic growth, jobs and a boost in American energy production."

Liz Brown, a Republican, seeks to represent Indiana's Third Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Brown currently serves Indiana Senate District 15 in the state legislature and is a former member of the Fort Wayne City Council. She has a long history of community involvement including roles with Boys and Girls Clubs, Cub Scouts, Parkview Hospital Ethics Committee, Notre Dame Club of Fort Wayne and various school boards. As a registered Civil and Domestic Mediator with her own mediation business, Liz maintains a number of associations in the legal field. Liz and her husband of 33 years, Steve, have seven children.

# # #

All of Brown's Legislative Proposals Pass the Indiana Senate

Brown testifying in committee.

INDIANAPOLIS - Liz Brown, candidate for Indiana's Third Congressional District and Indiana Senator, introduced five bills in the Indiana Senate based on her pro-life and conservative values. Language from all five bills passed the Indiana Senate this week and will advance to the Indiana House.

"The 2016 session is a short session, but that didn't stop me from getting things done in the first half of session," said Brown. "I fought for my limited government, innovative solutions and pro-life proposals because that is what my constituents expected of me. I'm pleased these proposals have an opportunity to become law if passed by the Indiana House. I was a fighter for conservative principles when I served on the Fort Wayne City Council, I'm continuing to do that at the Statehouse, and if elected to Congress I will take that same fight to Washington."

The measures introduced by Brown and passed by the Indiana Senate:

SB 280, transportation funding through tax increment financing, passed 43-7. This bill allows communities to redirect property tax revenue in a tax increment financing area to be voluntarily redirected to public and school transportation needs, all without increasing taxes.

SB 315, umbilical cord donation information, passed 49-0. This bill requires the State Department of Health to provide information on voluntary and free cord blood donation to entities that assist pregnant women. Cord blood stem cells offer a more ethical alternative to embryonic stem cells. Cord donation programs recognize that every child's life is a treasure.

SB 366, evaluation of solid waste management districts, passed 37-13. This bill would reduce state overnight and increase local control of solid waste management districts.

SB 367, government contracts and political donations, passed 30-18. This bill would disqualify local government contractors from bidding or contracting if they make political donations to local elected officials tasked with awarding contracts.

Language from Brown's SB 314, a bill to prevent a Planned Parenthood-type harvesting and trafficking of baby body parts scandal in Indiana, was amended into SB 313 in committee. SB 313, authored by Sen. Travis Holdman and Brown, passed 35-14. SB 313 bans abortions based on disability, gender, race and other demographic factors and encourages perinatal hospice care.

Additionally, a bill on property tax matters that includes an amendment by Brown passed 50-0. Senate Bill 308 was amended in committee to remove a requirement for mandatory verification of every taxpayer's business personal property tax filing.

Liz Brown, a Republican, seeks to represent Indiana's Third Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Brown currently serves Indiana Senate District 15 in the state legislature and is a former member of the Fort Wayne City Council. She has a long history of community involvement including roles with Boys and Girls Clubs, Cub Scouts, Parkview Hospital Ethics Committee, Notre Dame Club of Fort Wayne and various school boards. As a registered Civil and Domestic Mediator with her own mediation business, Liz maintains a number of associations in the legal field. Liz and her husband of 33 years, Steve, have seven children.

###