Nebraska: OPPOSE LB 1077 Prohibit education about race and sex introduced by Senator B. Hansen

Committee: Government, Military and Veterans Affairs

OPPOSE LB 1077 Prohibit education about race and sex introduced by Senator B. Hansen

Greetings, Senator X, 

My name is X from X, District X.

I write in opposition to LB 1077, prohibiting teaching “certain concepts” about race and sex, introduced by Senator B. Hansen.

When looking at the summary of intent and then the bill itself, I’m just struck by how absurd, vague, needless, and reactionary this bill is, as well as how difficult it would be to enforce, especially because it censors free speech. 

Limiting our education system to avoid talking about “race and sex” is dooming our education system. Our nation is built upon injustices and if we cannot fully discuss history with the aim of addressing it and improving the present and future, we are doomed to repeat the bad parts of history. 

This bill is created by people who are unwilling to view history as it really is, and how it affects the world today. We will never advance as a nation if we are not willing to have difficult discussions, to LISTEN to the people who have been systematically disenfranchised in this country and around the world. This bill essentially tells people to “shut up” because it makes others “uncomfortable” to hear about what other people experience. That “discomfort” pales in comparison to the uncomfortable realities that are being silenced with a bill like LB 1077.

One thing that especially struck me was Section 4, 4a-b. A student couldn’t get extra credit for doing what I am doing right now… reaching out to legislators, being civic-minded and engaged in the democratic process, expecting my concerns to be of interest to elected officials who are supposed to represent me and uphold my best interests. Being engaged in the legislation of our nation SHOULD be encouraged. Trying to make the laws better SHOULD be encouraged. 

LB 1077 does NOT make sense, not as it is written, nor as a concept in general. It restricts education and free speech. It is counteractive to the growth and compassion and empathy that should be happening in classrooms and in places of discussion. 

Some of the most important conversations and discussions I’ve been privy to HAVE been uncomfortable truths about race and gender and I am GLAD. Learning about history in all its ugliness, listening to others who have backgrounds and experiences different from my own, being encouraged to change the world to be a better place, to be civic-minded and engaged in creating better places for EVERYONE, this has molded me to be a person who cares about others and who wants to improve life for others. 

This bill is horrendously antithetical to education and is a disservice to students, educators, and the general public. Places of learning should be for learning, discussion, and improvement, NOT censorship and ignorance. 

I am strongly opposed to LB 1077 and I urge the Committee and Senators to vote NO. 

Thank you for your time

X

Nebraska: Proponent of LB 1129 & LB 716 - free contraception, qualified abortion practitioners

Background: emailed my Senator and Health and Human Services Committee prior to the Committee Hearing.  

Greetings, Senator X,

My name is X in X, District X. 

I write as a proponent of LB 1129, free contraceptives, introduced by Senator Morfeld.

I write as a proponent of LB 716, allowing qualified practitioners to perform abortions, introduced by Senator Hunt. 

I am a film believer that women’s choice and reproductive freedoms should be protected, as it is a pinnacle part of our human rights. This includes access to contraception and abortions. 

In relation to LB 1129, contraception can be expensive for some people and it is an important element to women being able to exercise some control over their daily life. Some women are not ready for children, do not want children, or need to use their resources to care for children they already have. All of these are important to our freedoms, self-determination, and reproductive rights. 

Our health insurance system in our country fails to provide people the ability to meet their health care needs. There was a time in which health care covered contraception and that was a life saver to so many women, who oftentimes use contraception to address other issues outside of its common use of birth control. Unfortunately, there is a gap once again. 

When the cost of contraception can be covered, women are supported. It also will help down the line to prevent unwanted/unintended pregnancies and perhaps some children cycling through poverty, dangerous situations, or CPS. Anything that can be done to help women with their health and family planning is a benefit to the community at large.

In regards to LB 716, abortion access has been under attack and there have been detrimental efforts to make this important option less accessible to women. We need to understand that abortion IS health care. Therefore, allowing a higher number of qualified practitioners to perform abortions is a benefit to expanding this health care that protects our reproductive rights. Women need MORE options, not less.

I am a proponent of both LB1129 & LB 716 and hope you will do your part to get these bills passed. Please vote yes to support women.

Thank you for your time

X

Nebraska: OPPOSITION to LB 781, LB 933, & LB 1086 - Antiabortion bills

I emailed the Judicial Committee ahead of the hearing on three anti-abortion bills in the 2022 Unicameral Legislature.

OPPOSITION to LB 781, LB 933, LB 1086 Greetings, Senator X My name is X in X, District X. I write in opposition to LB 781, the “Heartbeat Act” introduced by Senator Slama. I write in opposition to LB 933 the “Human Life Protection Act” introduced by Senator Albrecht. I write in opposition to LB 1086, Chemical Abortion Safety Protocol Act, introduced by Senator Geist. Outlawing abortion endangers women and is an affront to civil rights, human rights, reproductive rights, bodily autonomy, self-determination, and our basic freedoms. It treats women as second class citizens forbidden from making decisions that affect their health, bodies, and lives. Outlawing abortion means that the state has decided that all women must be subjected to the risk of death should there be complications in the pregnancy. Therefore it does not protect women’s lives. Pregnancy and childbirth is an undertaking that has short-term and long-term risks. When women are not allowed to assess what is best for them and are forced into pregnancies, we are living in a dystopian society that views women as vessels and not autonomous human beings. In Nebraska, rapists have parental rights, so when you take away a woman’s right to an abortion, you are subjecting her to the trauma of possibly co-parenting with her rapist, or relinquishing her child to her rapist. This is cruel and avoidable by allowing women to make the decision they find to be in their best interest (and by preventing rapists to have parental rights). We do not live in a society conducive to pregnancy and child-rearing. We do not have a living wage. We do not have mandatory paid maternity leave. We do not have universal health care. We do not have universal child care. You cannot force women to undergo pregnancies in a society that does not protect them financially. Even if all of these social and governmental ills were addressed, (and they should be) it’s still unethical and wrong to force a woman into a pregnancy. Even if Person A is in need of an organ and Person B is a perfect match, Person B cannot be coerced into providing said organ. Similarly, if Person C has not opted into Organ & Tissue Donation before death, their organs may NOT be harvested once they die. In the same vein, you cannot force a woman to use her body in a way that is against her wishes, even if a embryo/fetus/child will be prevented from developing. The idea of a ‘heartbeat’ has often been misconstrued to promote an agenda. A fetus's heart is not formed until closer to 10 weeks, even if a palpitation is audible closer to 6 weeks when it is still considered an embryo. At any rate, it cannot survive outside the womb until several months have passed, so it is absurd to restrict women from a hugely important decision at such an early stage. Women may not know they are pregnant prior to detection of a ‘heartbeat.’ Scheduling any procedure can take time and appointments may not be available in a timely manner. It requires a woman to be able to change a work schedule (i.e. lose money), find transportation, and rearrange child care. The cruelty of this restriction is intentional and shows no compassion, empathy, or understanding for the real burdens women face. Women choose abortion for a plethora of options, none of which are up for debate. Abortion may even be the best option for protecting women who originally wanted to continue the pregnancy. It is inappropriate and dangerous for uninformed, uninvolved people to make generalized laws that prohibit doctors and health care providers from performing procedures that are in the best interest of their patient. Those who would tell women they cannot terminate a pregnancy are overreaching into realms that do not include them. There is no need to pry into women’s private lives and complicate things that have nothing to do with the unsolicited opinion of a stranger. Laws preventing women from terminating pregnancies are very often shame-based and meant to punish women for having sex. Men escape this scrutiny despite being at least 50% responsible. I am uninterested in the moral beliefs of these people and they are infringing upon my civil liberties with their belief systems. This needs to end. As far as LB 1086, this is yet another method meant to make it harder for women to access abortions. We should be expanding systems of complete sex education, and access to methods of contraception and abortion so that people can safely choose what is best for them. I trust women to make choices for themselves with their chosen medical provider. I know women who have had abortions, women who have given birth, women who have never given birth, women who have struggled with fertility, women who have fostered, or adopted. Some of these women have experienced a variety of those situations. My wish is for all women to have the resources and support they need to make the best choice for themselves without the moral judgments or unnecessary legal restrictions from uninvolved parties. Again, I am in opposition to LB 781, LB 933, and LB 1086. They are needless, cruel, and should be dismissed for their affront to human rights. Vote no to each. Thank you for your time,

X

Nebraska: Support LB 793 & LB 125 Ranked Choice Voting

I emailed my own senator, as well as those on the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee. LB 793 will have a hearing in the next day or so and I wanted to lend my support 
Support LB 793 & LB 125 Ranked Choice Voting

Greetings, Senator X,

My name is X in X, District X and I write in support of LB 793 for Ranked Choice Voting for local elections and in support of LB 125 for Ranked Choice Voting for Presidential/Gubernatorial etc elections, both introduced by Senator X.

There are wide-reaching benefits to introducing a ballot that allows voters to rank their choices in candidates. 

It is more cost-efficient and it would allow us to eliminate costly primaries and run-offs. 

It would also allow for a more true democracy and more positive engagement, instead of a choice between two major parties only. Many people feel disenfranchised knowing their vote doesn’t truly count, but with Ranked Choice Voting it does.

Ranked Choice Voting is used in 26 states for local, municipal, primary, or special elections, and 21 states have introduced legislation recently.

I support the change in our voting system to better represent the will of the people and allow for the adoption of a more efficient system and hope you will vote in support to make LB 125 & 793 a reality for Nebraska. 

Thank you for your time. 

X 

Nebraska Senator - Oppose 6 week abortion ban - LB 781

Greetings, Senator X, 

I urge you to support legislation that seeks to expand and protect reproductive rights and access to abortion in Nebraska and to vote against those laws meant to restrict women's reproductive rights and bodily autonomy. 

Please Support:

LB 715: Ensure abortion care covered under health insurance

LB 716: Allow qualified practitioners to perform abortions

OPPOSE:
LB 781: Ban on abortion at 6 weeks

Bans against abortion belong in the Dark Ages. It is not the 'protection of innocent lives' that it claims to be but a mix of enforcing religious beliefs, punishing women for intercourse, and the overreach of trying to control others.

The idea of a fetal heartbeat at 6 weeks isn't medically accurate either. And women don't often know they are pregnant at that time, nor would it be easy to get an appointment when needed, because, hi, life has complications of work, travel, childcare etc to arrange. 

A fetus/baby cannot live outside the womb at 6 weeks, so this ban is more of a "gotcha! You're pregnant and now you're trapped and have to give birth, whether you want to or not, because some stranger thinks you should!"

Bans against abortions do not prevent abortions. They endanger women's lives and needlessly create barriers to their lives and health when women should be empowered to make their own choices. Having children isn't something to take lightly and everyone should take all factors into consideration. It shouldn't be forced upon a person against their will. That's a violation of human rights and ludicrous. 

I have no interest in what my rural neighbors (or anyone else) think about my decision to have or not have children. 

I am concerned about the billboards I see around me that promote both religion and lies. 

One says "Serve God - Ban All Abortions" which is a clear defiance of separation of Church and State and shows the anti-choice issue is tied to religion. We have freedom of religion in this country. If someone doesn't want an abortion, no one can force them to. But they can't force women to give birth because of their own religion. It's an absurd overreach.

Another billboard says something like "Birth Control Causes Breast Cancer" or some such fallacy. It's medically incorrect and inappropriate to advertise a lie meant to shame people who use birth control, which is used for much more than preventing pregnancy.

It's frightening and annoying to live where people spread lies and push their religion onto others' bodies. Nebraska shouldn't be stuck in the Dark Ages. People shouldn't be proud to flout their ignorance and subjugation of women.

Banning abortion endangers women. Banning abortion is forcing pregnancies upon women and can be a death sentence. Some women choose abortions for children they wanted so they can have chemotherapy for cancer and possibly stay alive for their other children. A ban on abortion means that the woman is less important in the eyes of others than the fetus she carries. But it isn't up to "others". It's each woman's choice. Period.

I'm so sick of having to defend bodily autonomy against people who don't care for children that exist once they are born. We don't have guaranteed maternity leave, like all other developed nations. We don't have universal health care, like all other developed nations and the cost of childbirth is astronomical, even with health insurance. We don't have universal child care, and child care is often more expensive than the income a woman makes because the minimum wage is abysmal. Even if we had all those things.... a woman still has the final say. 

Banning abortions is a violation of human rights. Being forced to endure a pregnancy against one's wishes is criminal.

If a person doesn't want to donate organs after death, their organs cannot be harvested. So why should a woman be forced to give of her body against her will? Pregnancies carry their own short-term and long-term dangers and complications, including death. I honestly don't understand the entitlement people have when they try to force their beliefs upon others. Let others live their own lives and make their own choices. 

This is supposed to be a 'free country,' so let women maintain the very basic right as to whether or not they continue a pregnancy. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this. You can sense my frustration; protecting women's bodily autonomy should be a very easy concept and is all too often in danger from those who have no right to an opinion in the matter, due to their own misconceptions and it not being their body. 

Sincerely, 

X

Email to School Superintendent in August - Nebraska - re Covid, sex ed, critical race theory

This email was sent to the local rural county school superintendent Thurs Aug 5th and received no response. As of 9/2 the school website says 6 staff and 6 students have covid and that masking is a personal choice. (small rural area). 

Greetings, X, 

    I don't currently have any family in the X County School system, but received a newsletter in my mailbox. As a member of the community, I wanted to mention some concerns/thoughts related to your letter. I'll try to be brief, or at least concise, as I know you are busy getting ready for the new school year! :) 

"Post-Covid" phrase/Masks & Vaccinations

    In your letter, you used the phrase "post-Covid" but, at the very least, that is inappropriate wording. I'm sure you know cases are rising in the state, the country, and the world. We're not out of it yet and it's unwise to indicate it's over.

    I'm very disappointed that masks are not required in the schools. I know masks can be a hassle, but it's a simple method of prevention. Especially when any child under age 12 is at a larger risk without a vaccine. 

    I'm very concerned that you didn't encourage people to get vaccines. I realize unfortunately covid and vaccines have morphed into a political issue, instead of basic science. I presume that science is still taught in schools and would hope that you and your staff encourage its use. :) As was mentioned elsewhere in the newsletter, the state requires certain vaccines for children, so this shouldn't be something unusual to encourage, especially in light of the statistics that show unvaccinated people bear the brunt of covid cases now.

    As I'm sure you're aware, the CDC is highly recommending every eligible person to get vaccinated AND for everyone to wear masks indoors, vaccinated or not. It should follow suit that schools, institutions of learning, would follow these recommendations from experts. 

     You mention safety as the school's top priority. Masks and vaccinations against this global virus is prevention that will keep the children, staff, families, and communities safe. I highly encourage you to reconsider the school's stance and focus on prevention, instead of being reactionary. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

Department of Education Health and Safety Standards

    I also noticed mention of the Department of Education's revisions on Health and Physical Education Standards as an issue that came up in the past few months. I appreciate your simple update that the standards haven't been finalized, so nothing has been changed yet for X. 

    

    You mention that you will reach out to the community for input. Here is mine: After reading the proposed lessons, I reached out to the Department of Education and highly encouraged them to keep what they had, so I was very disappointed that the Governor encouraged fear-mongering in the general public and, as a result, crucial information about gender identity was removed. 

    I want to tell you how important it is that all people, children and adults, feel safe and respected, and I believe this is touted as a value in your schools. I have family and friends that are transgender, non-binary, LGBTQ+ and a fair number of them live in Nebraska or grew up in Nebraska, including small towns where they didn't feel safe or welcome. That can't continue.

    As an institution funded by taxpayer money, the schools cannot discriminate on the facts that are taught. I don't want to feel that fear-based religious teachings and misinformation seep into public schools and prevent students from learning about the real world. I'm sure there will be pressure from some families, but it's a matter of reality and more complete education. Pretending LGBTQ+ people don't exist is NOT a viable option. There are plenty of resources to help enlighten staff, students, and families, and I hope to hear about how they are being implemented.

    I sincerely hope that current teaching and future teaching provides students and families with fair, respectful, balanced information that includes and provides a safe/welcoming space for LGBTQ+ people. Whether or not you know it, there are people that are LGBTQ+ in your student body, on staff, and in families. If our school or county isn't welcoming for them, that is something that needs to be addressed. 

Critical Race Theory/History Classes

    Lastly, you mentioned Critical Race Theory and simply stated it hasn't been added to the curriculum and the district has not been asked to teach it. That's a pretty simple way to address it without delving into it, which seems like the best way to handle it! 

    

    My understanding is that Critical Race Theory 1) is a graduate collegiate level concept, 2) people have gotten upset about it without knowing what it is or trying to investigate/learn, and 3) some people that are upset are masking certain feelings or misconceptions that could be problematic. 

    I don't know what the current curriculum is, but I should hope that the history being taught is honest about the inequalities in the founding of this nation (and that still exist today). It can be VERY touchy territory, as I'm sure you know, but admitting a problem is the first step to fixing problems. And it often is uncomfortable, but that's growing pains, right? :) If and when it's deemed appropriate, I know there are resources and organizations that can help facilitate for these kinds of conversations. 

    Our county and state may lack diversity (98.7% White in X County, 88% in Nebraska), but that shouldn't prevent us from preparing children (and adults!) for meeting people from different backgrounds and having empathy and understanding. As you see every day, schools allow children to learn about the world outside of their home, and their own community. This encompasses both "LGBTQ+" and "race" and much more!

    As I said, I don't have family in the school system in this county at this time, but I do find the newsletters interesting for a variety of reasons. (For one, they helped give information that helped with my vote on construction! I'm excited to know there will be growth in the arts and resources for students!) 

    I hope that my concerns and comments are well-received and provide some insight and encouragement for moving people in this community out of fear of the unknown and into inclusiveness, growth, understanding, and fostering welcoming environments that encourage lifelong learning.

Wishing you and your staff well, 

In Response to Texas SB8 and Neb Gov P.Ricketts anti-abortion fervor

Phone call (3 Congress members) and email (state Senator) 

I'm calling/writing to urge X to support laws affirming pregnant people's right to abortion. Abortion care is healthcare, and pregnant people deserve the right to bodily autonomy. Banning abortions or restricting access, endangers the lives and well-being of women and their families, which is everyone. 

We cannot strip away constitutional rights and health care. We cannot fail our citizens like Texas has done. I fully support access to abortion and I urge X to honor their constituents and protect a woman's right to choose. This right is between a woman and her health care provider, not her elected officials, not her nosy neighbors, not strangers on the street. 

As a servant of the people, X must protect abortion access. 

Email to Governor Ricketts

Greetings, Gov. P. Ricketts,

You cannot take away women's access to abortion, which is health care, and call yourself pro-life. You need to step back from this issue. Following in Texas's footsteps is unconstitutional and unacceptable and the fact you take pride in trying disgusts me. 

Restricting access to abortion is forced birth and that is not freedom in any sense of the word. Abortion care is healthcare, and pregnant people deserve the right to bodily autonomy. Banning abortions or restricting access, endangers the lives and well-being of women and their families, which is everyone.  

We cannot strip away constitutional rights and health care so you can falsely claim you are protecting the unborn. We cannot fail our citizens like Texas has done. I fully support access to abortion and I urge you to honor your constituents and protect a woman's right to choose. This right is between a woman and her health care provider, not her elected officials, not her nosy neighbors, not strangers on the street. 

Cease your ignorant pursuits and resign for the good of Nebraskans.