True Equality Means Protecting Life for Every Human Being | Opinion

JENA POWELL AND LILA ROSE

Every March our nation celebrates Women’s History Month to honor those who fought for our equal rights. It’s inspiring to think about the brave women who came before us, who struggled to show their worth and inalienable rights as equal to men. Thanks to their example, we are empowered to keep fighting for equal rights today. One of us founded and leads a nationwide nonprofit organization, and the other is the youngest woman currently serving in the Ohio legislature. Together, we celebrate our femininity this month by leaning into our most natural instinct—protecting our children.

An alarming 2,363 children are killed every day in America via abortion, making it our nation’s leading cause of death. We must put an end to this atrocity. These are our children, and we must continue to fight for their lives by protecting their equal rights under the law. This is why we are working together on the 2363 Act—to offer total and complete protection for the most vulnerable in our communities.

Some argue that no one dies in an abortion. They say the fetus or embryo is merely a “potential life.” Yet the science is clear: at the moment of fertilization, a wholly new and genetically distinct human being is created. Since Roe v. Wade was decided almost 50 years ago by seven men, our society’s technological prowess and scientific knowledge have progressed dramatically. These scientific advances illustrate what many have always known to be true: every abortion ends the life of an innocent human being.Dr. Keith Moore wrote in the 2015 edition of his medical textbook The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology that “Human development begins at fertilization when a sperm fuses with an oocyte to form a single cell, the zygote. This highly specialized, totipotent cell (capable of giving rise to any cell type) marks the beginning of each of us as a unique individual.” Dozens of anatomy and embryology textbooks used by medical students every day echo that fact.

We could quote at length scholarly and scientific sources on the biological reality that human life begins at fertilization, but the argument regarding life in our country is not really about science. It’s about the equal rights we owe to the youngest and most vulnerable members of our human family. The fact that each day 2,363 children—the equivalent of 139 preschool classes—are senselessly and intentionally killed must make us pause and then act. It is a death toll we simply cannot tolerate.

As women with a maternal instinct to protect, we feel a sense of urgency to aggressively push for laws that protect human life. And we know what works—restrictions on abortion save lives. In the past few months, abortions in Texas fell by half after the Texas Heartbeat Act—which protects preborn children once their heartbeats are detected—was enacted. Complete legislative protection will be a vital step towards an America that realizes her promise of protecting life, liberty and justice for all citizens.

Making abortion unlawful is a necessary step, but it doesn’t end there. We must offer holistic care and assistance for every mother, father and child by supporting the American family through law and material aid. Today, there are more than 2,500 pregnancy resource centers providing millions of dollars’ worth of physical and emotional care to families across the country. Women supporting each other, especially through the challenges and triumphs of motherhood, is the true realization of the women’s rights movement.

As we anticipate the verdict this summer in the Supreme Court case Dobbs v. Jackson, which legal analysts on both the Left and Right believe will overturn Roe v. Wade, we have no time to lose. Thousands of lives are lost every day, so we must act now, regardless of the Court’s decision. History has shown us the dark consequences of laws that deny the human rights of the vulnerable, but it also shows us the powerful change that can happen when loud voices demand to be heard. This Women’s History Month, we call on all American women to speak up and fight against this injustice. We must courageously protect the life of every preborn child, which means abolishing abortion and making the destruction of children in the womb unthinkable. It’s time to reclaim a holistic vision of equality in our nation.

Jena Powell represents the 80th district in the Ohio House of Representatives. Lila Rose is the founder and president of Live Action, a leading nonprofit human rights organization reaching millions of people each day with education on abortion and human dignity.

The views expressed in this article are the writers’ own.

Full Article Here

Ohio House passes bill honoring OSHP inspector killed in 2019 crash on I-75 in Miami County

COLUMBUS — A new bill honoring the Ohio State Highway Patrol inspector killed in a crash in Troy almost three years ago has passed in the Ohio House.

House Bill 395 honors Kimra J. Skelton, a motor carrier enforcement inspector for the Piqua District of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Skelton was parked in a crossover on I-75 just north of State Route 41 around 6:45 a.m. Nov. 27, 2019, when a Ford F-250 driven by a Kettering man struck her vehicle. Skelton, 49, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

The crash report stated that Christopher Coorough, 44, of Kettering, tested positive for having amphetamine drugs in his system during the time of the crash on I-75 in Troy, but it was not clear if the drugs were prescribed medication or illegal.

The bill proposed designating a part of I-75, from State Route 41 to U.S. 36 in Miami County, as the “Ohio State Highway Patrol MCEI Kimra Skelton Memorial Highway.”

On Monday, State Rep. Jena Powell (R-Arcanum) announced that the bill passed. It was passed as an amendment to House Bill 578, a bill to create and amend various license plates and designate memorial highways. HB 578 now heads to the Senate for consideration.

 

Full article Here

Powell’s Save Women’s Sports Act passed

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Jena Powell’s (R-Arcanum) Save Women’s Sports Act was approved by the Ohio House on Wednesday. The legislation would prohibit biological males from competing in female-only sports within the state. Powell spoke to the legislation’s passage on the House Floor.

“The Save Women’s Sports Act is a fairness issue for women. Across our country, female athletes are currently losing championships, scholarship opportunities, medals, education and training opportunities, and more to discriminatory policies that allow biological males to compete in girls’ sports,” said Powell.

Powell’s Save Women’s Sports Act, which passed as an amendment to House Bill 151, would ensure that no school, interscholastic conference, or organization that regulates interscholastic athletics can allow biological males to compete in women’s sports.

“All these girls ask for is a fair shot, and to be given the chance to play and win by the rules in the sports that they love. The opportunity is being ripped from them by biological males,” Powell added.

Powell introduced her Save Women’s Sports Act legislation during the current and previous General Assemblies. The legislation first passed the House last summer.

After being approved by the House today, the legislation will head to the Senate for its consideration.

State Rep. Jena Powell is currently serving her second term as a state representative. She represents the 80th Ohio House District, which encompasses Miami County and a portion of Darke County.

For more information, contact Rep. Powell’s office at 614-466-8114 or Rep80@ohiohouse.gov.

Press Release: State Representative Jena Powell Runs for Reelection

For Immediate Release

01-11-2022

State Representative Jena Powell Runs for Reelection

TROY – State Representative Jena Powell (R-Arcanum) announced she is filing petitions to run for reelection as Ohio State Representative for the 80th District.

The 80th District encompasses all of Miami County and southern Darke County. Representative Powell is currently in her second term after winning the seat in 2018 with over 75 percent of the vote.

“I am honored to serve the people of Southwest Ohio in the Statehouse, and look forward to making great strides for our region. I want to thank the people for trusting me as their representative and I look forward to continuing to serve,” Powell said.

While in the legislature, Representative Powell has been a conservative champion and has worked tirelessly to reduce government overreach.

Co-sponsoring the Heartbeat Bill in her first term, Rep. Powell is now the founder of Ohio’s Pro-Life Caucus and sponsoring the 2363 Act to end abortion in Ohio. She has co-sponsored Constitutional Carry, and worked to cut taxes and reduce burdensome regulations.

Representative Powell currently serves on the House committees for:

  • Agriculture and Conservation Committee

  • Economic and Workforce Development Committee, Vice Chair

  • Financial Institutions Committee

  • Ways and Means Committee

Representative Powell is a proud small business owner. In her first term in the legislature, she was named to Forbes’ prestigious 30 Under 30 list for Law & Policy. She resides in Arcanum.

Powell to Host Town Hall in Greenville

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Jena Powell today announced she will be hosting a town hall on Monday, October 4, 2021, in Greenville.
The event will be held at EUM Church (1451 Sater Street) from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
“’I’m excited for the opportunity to share an update on the state with my constituents,” said Powell. “I encourage everybody to bring your questions, feedback and ideas so that I can best represent you in Columbus.”
The town hall is free to attend and open to all citizens of the 80th House District.
Please email Rep80@ohiohouse.gov with any questions about the event.

Church Leaders Letter

Dear Church leaders,
I hope this letter finds you well. The last year has been
quite eventful. Many of you changed the way you serve,
preach, and worship. But the beauty remains that we still
worship our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in good times
and bad.

In a world where lies are being spoken as truth, and evil
abounds – it’s all the more important to remain steadfast
in our faith.

For many people, this last year has been trial after trial.
Shutdowns and closures, loss of job, depression, suicide
and drug overdoses skyrocketing. It can feel dark and
hopeless for so many.

But the beauty of the Church is that we have a steadfast
Hope in our Savior.

I urge you to keep the faith (Isaiah 41:10), be the light to
a watching world (Matthew 5:14-16), and do not become
weary in doing good (Galatians 6:9).

Thank you for your hard work. It doesn’t go unnoticed,
although many times it may feel that way. God is working
through you to change the heart of our community.

In Columbus I’ve been working on conservative policy and
fighting to reopen Ohio. Some of the bills I’ve
sponsored or co-sponsored are:

HB 202: Removing the statewide mask mandate
HB 249: Authorizing a tax credit for donations to charitable organizations
HB 253: Prohibiting mandatory vaccine passports

If I can serve you in anyway, please feel free to reach out
at any time.

Sincerely,
State Rep. Jena Powell, District 80

Rep. Powell In The News!

The Daily Advocate: Powell, Schmidt introduce Prosecuting Trafficking Proceeds Act

Columbus Dispatch: Two Ohio bills would ban transgender girls from female sports

WKBN: Proposed law would not allow transgender girls to compete in women’s sports in Ohio

ABC 6/Fox 28: Ohio lawmakers push bill that bans transgender athletes from female sports teams

WLWT 5: 2 Ohio bills would ban transgender athletes from female sports

FOX 19: Bills would prevent transgender females in Ohio from competing in girls-only sports

NBC4: Bill in Ohio House and Senate to prevent transgender women from playing women’s high school sports

Breitbart: Two Ohio Bills Would Ban Trans Athletes from Girls’ Sports

The Daily Advocate: Darke County Park welcomes Bear’s Mill

PRESS RELEASE: Powell, Schmidt Introduce Prosecuting Trafficking Proceeds Act

COLUMBUS – State Reps. Jena Powell (R-Arcanum) and Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland) last week introduced House Bill 276, legislation that aims to better target pimps and traffickers and aid in the fight against human sex trafficking in Ohio.

The bill prohibits an individual from knowingly receiving money or anything of value from a prostitute that was exchanged for sexual activity, making it a third degree felony or a second degree felony if the prostitute is a minor.

“Ohio has the fourth highest rate of suspected human trafficking in the United States,” said Powell. “Victims, often underage girls, are coerced and abused while their victimizer walks away with a profit.”

The bill sponsors noted that current law makes it difficult to charge pimps and trafficking because they are not physically present at the scene where prostitution is occurring.

“In order to push against the indignity and horror of sex trafficking we must bring these people out of the shadows,” said Schmidt. “The goal of this legislation is to serve as a new tool that will make it easier for law enforcement and prosecutors to tie traffickers and pimps to illegal activity and return convictions for these heinous crimes.”

The measure has the support of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.

H.B. 276 now awaits referral to a committee.

 

State Representative Jena Powell is currently serving her second term as a state representative. She represents the 80th Ohio House District, which encompasses Miami County and a portion of Darke County.

State Representative Jean Schmidt is serving her first term in the Ohio House of Representatives. She represents the 65th house district, which includes northwestern Clermont County.

For more information, contact Rep. Powell’s office at 614-466-8114 or Rep80@ohiohouse.gov or contact Rep. Schmidt’s office at (614) 466-8134 or rep65@ohiohouse.gov.

Powell Cosponsors Legislation Prohibiting Vaccine Passports

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Jena Powell (R-Arcanum) recently cosponsored legislation that prohibits vaccine passports.

“We’ve witnessed unprecedented government overreach during the course of the pandemic, and vaccine passports are another extreme method of stripping Ohioans of their freedom,” said Powell. “Showing proof of COVID-19 vaccination is an invasion of privacy and prohibits individuals from exercising their everyday rights.”

Powell noted New York is the first state to announce a vaccine passport program titled “Excelsior Pass,” which plans to use QR code technology to allow vaccinated individuals into venues.

“In Ohio, we value personal liberty and I will continue fighting to stop radical government overreach on my constituents,” added Powell.

The measure is sponsored by State Rep. Al Cutrona (R-Canfield) and currently awaits a bill number.

State Representative Jena Powell is currently serving her second term as a state representative. She represents the 80th Ohio House District, which encompasses Miami County and a portion of Darke County.
For more information, contact Rep. Powell’s office at 614-466-8114 or Rep80@ohiohouse.gov.

Powell Gives Testimony on IVF Fraud Act

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Jena Powell (R-Arcanum) yesterday gave sponsor testimony on House Bill 64, legislation that combats fertility fraud in Ohio.

The bill creates the crime of fraudulent assisted reproduction, making it a third degree felony for a licensed health care professional to purposely or knowingly use human reproductive material from a donor without the patient’s consent.

Current Ohio law does not prohibit a doctor from using his own sperm to impregnate a patient without her consent and provides no legal recourse for women and their children who find out years later.

“Fertility fraud is a very real issue to Ohio families today,” said Powell. “There has been an alarming number of cases in which through DNA testing, fertility doctors were found to have used their own sperm for in vitro fertilization, rather than the sperm from an approved donor.”

H.B. 64 also allows the patient, her spouse, or their child born as a result of the procedure to take civil action against the fertility doctor.

The legislation awaits additional hearings in the House Criminal Justice Committee.

 

State Representative Jena Powell is currently serving her second term as a state representative. She represents the 80th Ohio House District, which encompasses Miami County and a portion of Darke County.