Oppose

• LB1082 - Require coverage for in vitro fertilization for state employees under the Nebraska State Insurance Program

What is LB1082 all about?

The Stated Purpose:

"The coverage would be available to all state employees participating in insurance coverage but each employee shall retain the option to choose or not choose such coverage. The coverage would be limited to a lifetime maximum of four completed egg retrievals and would be limited to those individuals who have been unable to conceive or produce conception or sustain a healthy pregnancy through less expensive and medically viable infertility treatment or procedures covered under the program.

LB 1082 further requires that covered treatment or procedures be performed at facilities that conform to the standards and guidelines established by the American Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility"

Should tax payers (Nebraskans) pay for in vitro?

Like all things in life, this comes down to a moral question. The answer, however, is not explicitly given in scripture and thus needs to be looked at on many levels. For instance, one of God's first commandments is in Genesis 1:28 "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it". This is possible because He created male and female as professed in Genesis 1:27. We know God commanded Adam and Eve to procreate as male and female. He gave a similar command to Noah and his family.

Psalm 139:13 and 15 tells us it's through God we are created. "For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb". "My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth." Only God know the "secret place". Science has unveiled many wonderous thing about God's creation, however, there is so much we know nothing about.

Jeremiah 1:5 and Psalm 139:16 show us life begins at conception. "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations". "Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

Genesis 2:24 and Matthew 19 highlight the importance of marriage and family. "That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh". Jesus reiterated this point and much more in Matthew 19.

What does this all mean?

Procreating and raising a family should happen between a male and female. Is LB1082 a step toward helping same-sex partners have children? The Cleveland Clinic already lists in vitro as an option for same-sex couples.

Questions also arise about what happens to fertilized embryos if they are not used. Are they thrown away? If that's the case, then LB1082 supports abortion. If the embryos aren't thrown away, then what happens to them? Are they used for scientific experimentation?

One also needs to consider the picking of one embryo over the other. What "characteristic" are chosen? Do we go beyond God's will and insert our own when we pick and choose?

Let YOUR senators know:

• Taxpayer funds should not go toward same-sex couples use of in vitro.

• Taxpayer funds should not be used for abortion.

• Taxpayer funds should not finance experimentation on fertilized embryos. There is concern this will lead to more advanced techniques like test-tube gestation.

Take action!

Your voice is powerful make it heard. LB1082 committee hearing is scheduled for Friday, February 2, 2024. NFFV recommends you "Oppose" this bill.

How to be heard? Here are three ways:

• Most Effective: Testify in person. Going to the Committee hearing and sharing YOUR story with committee member Senators is very impactful. For first time in person testifier here are some helpful hints. 
• Very Effective: Submit written testimony. If you can't be there in person then submit written testimony. Not sure how to do that, click here. Note: The deadline to submit and verify a comment for the hearing record for LB1082 is Friday, February 2, 2024 at 8:00 AM Central Time.
• Effective: Email your position letter to the Committee Senators and CC your own Senator. For a listing of the Government, Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee Senators click here. Note: emails should be sent by noon the business day before the committee hearing. It's not likely these emails will be included in official hearing minutes, however, there is a better chance Committee Senators will see your comments. You can request they be added to meeting minutes in your email to Committee Senators.

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