The Virginia Catholic Conference (VCC) released its report April 3 outlining how state senators and delegates voted during the 2023 Virginia General Assembly session.
State legislators cast key votes on critical issues impacting human life, dignity and the common good, said Jeff Caruso, executive director of the VCC.
Virginia’s Catholic bishops founded the VCC in 2004 to represent the dioceses of Arlington and Richmond and advocate for public policy reflecting Catholic beliefs.
This year’s report includes three charts:
- A “Senate” chart showing how your senator voted
- A “House” chart showing how your delegate voted
- A “Senate Education & Health Committee” chart with key votes on abortion
The third chart was included because of the high number of VCC-supported pro-life bills that the Senate Education & Health Committee rejected, thereby blocking those bills from receiving full Senate consideration.
That last chart outlines how each state senator voted on four proposals related to abortion:
- Protecting Life at Conception: Senate committee rejected this measure which would affirm that life begins at conception, prohibiting abortion except in cases of danger to the life of the mother, rape or incest.
- Protecting Pain-Capable Unborn: Currently, Virginia allows abortions at all stages of pregnancy. Senate committee rejected this bill which would have prevented most abortions when unborn children are able to feel pain.
- Protecting Babies Born Alive: This measure to protect babies born alive after an attempted abortion passed the House but was defeated in a Senate committee.
- Strengthening Informed Consent: Legislation which would require physicians to provide pregnant women who are considering abortion information about alternatives and available resources passed the House but was defeated in a Senate committee.
The VCC report also includes information about votes on four other proposals related to abortion, as well as legislation to legalize assisted suicide. The nine measures were categorized under “Life.”
The report includes bills under three other categories: Religious Freedom, Families & Children, and Social & Economic Concerns.
The VCC focused on two measures under Religious Freedom, opposing legislation that would require health plans to cover all drugs the FDA defines as contraceptives, including some that can cause abortions. It also supported a bill that would strengthen Virginia law, improving patient access to clergy at hospitals.
Legislation categorized under Families & Children included an effort to remove a provision from Virginia’s constitution defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. There was also a push to strengthen school choice by improving the Education Improvement Scholarships Tax Credits program.
Two other measures in the category involved opposing commercialization of marijuana and banning edible products with THC – the VCC citing the severe risks to children.
Under the Social & Economic Concerns, the VCC zeroed in on three proposals: restoring voting rights, limiting isolated confinement, and reducing drug costs.
The VCC report includes a description of each piece of legislation, and the outcomes of the votes. The General Assembly was in session from Jan. 11 to Feb. 25.
Editor’s notes: