Senate Committee Votes for Paid Surrogacy

By Rebecca Faust

The Senate Committee on Government Operations, Tribal Relations and Elections voted to recommend passage of House Bill 1267 on Tuesday, March 22nd. If enacted, HB 1267 would make numerous changes to Washington's Uniform Parentage Act, including the legalization of paid surrogacy.

HB 1267 is rife with opportunities for abuse. It not only allows a surrogate mother to be paid for giving her child, but it eliminates criminal penalties for violating surrogacy laws and requires that if a surrogacy contract doesn't meet statutory requirements, custody of the child will be awarded on the basis of the parties' intent and not the best interests of the child. So whatever safeguards it does provide, which for the most part seem to be more about protecting the surrogate and intended parents than the child, have limited enforceability.

Truth Project Training in Vancouver, WA!

is coming to Vancouver/Portland on April 2, 2011


In a recent study, the Barna Research Group revealed a stunning statistic that continues to reverberate throughout the evangelical world. Only 9 percent of professing Christians have a biblical worldview (See sources below).

Because of this, today's believers live very similarly to non-believers. A personal sense of significance is rarely experienced, we spend our money and time on things that fail to satisfy, and the rates of addictions, family breakdown, and other problems are no different within the church as without. We are, in short, losing our bearings as the body of Christ because we tend to view the world the same way as those who do not have Christ. In essence, the body of Christ is conforming to the world when we need to be transformed by renewing our minds with a biblical worldview (Romans 12:2). Jesus commanded us to make "disciples," not just church members, and to teach them all things He taught us (Matthew 28:18-20). This is discipleship, or worldview, training.

FPIW Testimony in Opposition to Paid Surrogacy Bill

Yesterday, the Family Policy Institute of Washington testified before the Senate Government Operations, Tribal Relations & Elections Committee in opposition to HB 1267. Below is a copy of the testimony we will be providing to the committee.

Thank you for this opportunity to testify on behalf of the Family Policy Institute of Washington in opposition to HB 1267.

There are a number of issues that we are concerned about. The first is more symbolic. This bill would replace the words mother and father in state law with the word “parent”. We are concerned with this provision because state government would be changing an expectation that we believe serves the public well.

Pastors and Politics: A Conference with Wayne Grudem

Have you found it challenging to engage your church on cultural issues? Is your church reluctant to acknowledge “political issues” even when they are biblical?

If you answered yes, we would like to enlist your support in helping to change this situation.

The Family Policy Institute of Washington is hosting a pastor’s conference in Leavenworth Washington May 16-18. We are privileged to have Dr. Wayne Grudem from Phoenix Theological Seminary and Rick Green from Wallbuilders to Leavenworth May 16-18 to lead a conversation about what the Bible says about how the church should engage on issues related to civil government.

A Request from Sen. Swecker

Senator Dan Swecker asked us to pass this along to you.

Will Washington Allow the Sale of People?

A troubling bill that would allow the sale of children before they are conceived has passed the State House and awaiting a hearing in the Senate next week.

HB 1267 is an omnibus bill that makes significant changes to Washington’s parenting laws. It replaces the words “mother” and “father” with the word “parent”. It also grants non-biological parents, in some situations, parental rights without going through adoption processes if they are in domestic partnerships.

Pregnancy Center Bill Dies in Olympia

In a major victory for pregnancy resource centers in Washington, and a major defeat for the abortion industry, HB 1366 failed to make it out of the House of Representatives before the 5:00 deadline yesterday.

The bill, which would have created numerous regulations for pro-life pregnancy resource centers based solely on their unwillingness to perform or refer for abortions, has been one of the most hotly contested bills so far this session.

Pregnancy Center Bill Moves to House Floor

Earlier today, HB 1366, which would create significant, unconstitutional regulations for pro-life pregnancy resource centers, moved out of the House Rules Committee, clearing a significant hurdle in advance of the March 7 deadline. Several reports from Olympia are that the bill, which is the top legislative priority for Planned Parenthood and the National Abortion Rights Action League, could be voted on as early as this evening.

Paid Surrogacy Bill Passes House

By Rebecca Faust

The Washington State House of Representatives passed HB 1267, which would overhaul Washington's parentage laws, on Monday, February 28th. HB 1267 has now been referred to the Senate Government Operations, Tribal Relations, and Elections Committee.

HB 1267 would permit paid surrogacy arrangements, where an infertile or same-sex couple can hire a woman to have a baby and give it to them. HB 1267 would also change who the law presumes to be the parents of a child. If passed, the state would presume that children can be born with two parents of the same sex. This is even without assisted reproduction: there are also provisions in the bill to specifically address who the parents are when a child is conceived with assisted reproduction.