Lobbying for life: PHC students lobby against Planned Parenthood in D.C.

Last semester, six PHC students climbed into the giant shuttle bus parked in front of the steps. The bus, rented by Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America,  would take them to Washington, D.C. They were going to lobby against Planned Parenthood. These students were from many different pro-life organizations with clubs on campus, including Susan B. Anthony, Students for Life, and Young Women for America.  

Waiting in the bus for the Cannon Office building to open, someone asked, “So, what exactly is lobbying?”  

Junior Jesse Castrinos, the only student who had lobbied before, piped up. He explained that lobbyists go to senators' offices and share their agenda with senators or their staff. 

The enormity of what they were going to do didn’t hit until 15 minutes later, when they walked through security within the Cannon Office Building’s gold-gilded, towering marble entryway. In a conference room, various pro-life leaders trained them in lobbying and gave them turquoise T-shirts with giant black letters splashed across that read, “Defund Big Abortion.”  

Those speaking shared their goal to defund Planned Parenthood through a reconciliation bill. A reconciliation bill is generally passed only once a year and overrides many rules that could slow the process of other types of bills. It can pass the Senate by a simple majority of 51 votes. If this specific bill is passed, it would keep around 700 million taxpayer dollars from going to Planned Parenthood every year.  After the meeting, everyone began bustling to their posts, checking and double-checking the white folders that detailed what to say and where to go.   

Freshman Chloe navigated her way to the basement, with its tunnels that connect many of the Senate office buildings.  

She waited in trepidation outside her assigned senator’s door. Gradually, other students with the same assignment joined her. They went in.  

The staff was pleasant and showed them into the room where Virginia Senator John McGuire greeted them. Chloe was excited, realizing, “I voted for him!” She listened while the most extroverted person of the group talked to McGuire about defunding big abortion. McGuire was all for it and very encouraging. Chloe left thinking, That was easier than I expected.  

Jesse spoke with Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. “He was very supportive of defunding Planned Parenthood. He said he's going to do what he can,” Jesse said.  

While Jesse was talking with the senator, PHC freshman Hannah was in a press conference. Many other pro-life lobbyists were there, with their “Defund Big Abortion” t-shirts and pro-life banners on full display. Some held up signs, each with thousands of pink crosses on them. A cross represents one innocent life lost each day through Planned Parenthood’s abortions. Those at the conference were also petitioning for defunding abortion through reconciliation.

Standing there listening to the speakers and hearing foul words yelled at her and other pro-lifers, Hannah thought, By doing this, I have locked myself into this cause. It’s the right thing to do. It’s also scary.   

“I was very impressed,” Jesse said. “I thought that because there were so many different organizations, everyone would be doing their own thing. But when I got there, I saw that this is all one big group effort. Everyone was organized, they all had their assignments, and we came together as the pro-life movement.”  

 Patrick Henry College exists to glorify God by challenging the status quo in higher education, lifting high both faith and reason within a rigorous academic environment; thereby preserving for posterity the ideals behind the "noble experiment in ordered liberty" that is the foundation of America.