Pro-Family Victories
In The 108th Congress

1. Pro-Family Tax Credits Extended
   On October 4, 2004 President Bush extended tax relief for the so-called "Marriage Penalty" for an additional four years. Without the extension two "Single" taxpayers living together would pay a lower rate than a married couple earning the same income. In addition, the bill extended the per-child tax credit of $1,000 for an additional five years. VOICES HEARD strongly supports permanently eliminating the "Marriage Penalty" and doubling the per child tax credit. 

2. Unborn Victims of Violence Act
   "Laci and Connor's Law." This law recognized unborn children as victims when they are killed or injured during the commission of federal and military crimes. A majority of the states already have similar laws on the books and 80% of the American people believe there are two victims in such violent crimes.

3. Ban on Partial Birth Abortion
   The radical pro-abortion activists didn't even wait for the ink to dry on the President's signature before they found a sympathetic Federal Judge in Nebraska to issue a temporary restraining order. Three activist judges are now attempting to have this act ruled unconstitutional. Join our petition campaign to have these judges removed from the bench by CLICKING HERE.

4. School Vouchers
   On January 22, 2004, Pro-Family forces finally scored a victory over the National Educational Association when the Senate voted to allow school vouchers in Washington, D.C. The plan allows for public school students to receive funds that they can use to help pay for a private school education, including Christian schools.

5. Antispam law with anti-pornography provisions
   The law empowers the Federal Trade Commission to create a national "Do-Not-Email" registry and requires marketers to allow recipients to opt out of future solicitations. A significant portion of spam is pornography based.

6. Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2004
   The Act imposes fines of up to $500,000 per offensive word/utterance, and defines that stations may lose licenses after 3 offense

7. Amendment banning patents on human life
   In November 2003, an amendment that prevents bio-tech companies and researchers from creating human embryos, patenting them, and selling them for profit was added to and later passed in the FY04 Omnibus spending bill.

8. Charitable giving bill passes U.S. House
   The "Charitable Giving Act of 2003" passed by a margin of 408-13 on September 17, 2003. Majority Leader Roy Blunt stated that he believes the law will encourage $45 billion to $50 billion in additional charitable donations over the next decade. The bill gives incentives to taxpayers who can't deduct charitable donations from their taxes because they don't itemize their deductions and allows taxpayers using the standard deduction to deduct up to $250 in charitable contributions.

9. Two major House victories that protect the Ten Commandments and the Pledge
   In July 2003, the US House of Representatives passed two amendments offered by Indiana Congressman John Hostettler. The first prohibits funds for enforcement of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that western states’ school children cannot recite the Pledge because of the words "Under God”. The second amendment, blocks enforcement of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that the Ten Commandments cannot be posted in the Alabama Supreme Court building. Both passed by a large majority.