Yesterday we had our first real victory, the House committee passed our bill on with a do pass recommendation! The final vote was 9 for and 2 against. One representative, Roger Bush, tried to introduce an amendment that would keep the disclosure veto in and make it retroactive. It was voted down.
Your letters are working! Yesterday we talked with aides, Representatives and Senators who commented on the amount of email they were getting in support of these bills. One aide told us he got over 30 just overnight. They are highly impressed with the national coverage of these emails, commenting they are getting them from all over the country. However, it is very important that you include your snail mail address and telephone number with area code. We noticed that the ones that did not include this were getting trashed.
In the next couple of days, our bill will be heard in the Senate Human Services committee. We need to bombard these people with emails, faxes, and phone calls, asking them to support this bill. Adoptees, birthparents, and adoptive parents all. Write your letters telling them that an adult adoptee is entitled to their original birth certificate. Talk about birthparent confidentiality and what was promised or imposed upon you. They need to hear why you want the state to treat you the same as any other person, why you believe you have a right to your birth documents, etc. We are pursuing these bills as a civil rights issue, and so far, it appears to be working. Please, everyone from all perspectives, keep those letters coming.
Below is an updated list for the Human Services committee and Children and Family Services committee. Please take note of Sen. Hargrove and Rep. Tokuda. These 2 in particular need tons of letters, but dont limit your letter to just them.
If anyone is unsure of their letter, you can email me and I'd be happy to help you with it.
Senator Jeanine Long, Chair--44th Legislative District
106 Institutions Building;
P.O. Box 40482;
Olympia, WA 98504-0482;
Telephone: (360) 786-7686;
Fax: (360) 786-1999;
e-mail: long_je@leg.wa.gov
Senator Joseph Zarelli, Vice Chair--18th Legislative District
203 Institutions Building
P.O. Box 40482
Olympia, WA 98504-0482;
Telephone: (360) 786-7634;
Fax: (360) 786-7173;
zarelli_jo@leg.wa.gov
(** thank him for sponsoring our legislation!)
Senator Rosa Franklin--29th Legislative District
410 Legislative Building;
P.O. Box 40482;
Olympia, WA 98504-0482;
Telephone: (360) 786-7656;
Fax: (360) 786-1999;
e-mail: franklin_ro@leg.wa.gov
(** thank her for sponsoring our legislation!)
Senator Jim Hargrove-24th Legislative District
412A Legislative Building;
P.O. Box 40482;
Olympia, WA 98504-0482;
Telephone: (360) 786-7646;
Fax: (360) 786-1999;
(**Sen. Hargrove does not list an email, but has expressed his
opposition to open records, and he needs to hear from all of us!
Please snail mail and fax him, as well as call his office, especially
if you are a constiuent of his.)
Senator Jeanne Kohl--36th Legislative District
424 John A. Cherberg Building;
P.O. Box 40482;
Olympia, WA 98504-0482;
Telephone: (360) 786-7670;
Fax: (306) 786-1999;
e-mail: kohl_je@leg.wa.gov
(** thank her for being the primary sponsor of our legislation!)
Senator Ray Schow - 30th Legislative District
204 Institutions Building;
P.O. Box 40482; Olympia, WA 98504-0482
Telephone: (360) 786-7658;
Fax: (306) 786-1999
(** Sen. Schow does not have an email, but he has not yet agreed to
support our bill, so he needs to hear from many people as well.
Please snail mail, fax, and call him, especially if you are a
constituent in his district) UPDATE: Schow has agreed to support our bill
Senator Val Stevens--39th Legislative District
105 Institutions Building;
P.O. Box 40482;
Olympia, WA 98504-0482;
Telephone: (360) 786-7676;
Fax: (360) 786-1999;
e-mail: stevens_va@leg.wa.gov
(** thank her for sponsoring our bill!)
Suzette Cooke - Chair 47th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
429 John L. O'Brien Bldg.
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
Phone: (360) 786-7918
cooke_su@leg.wa.gov
(**thank her for being the primary sponsor of our legislation!)
(thank her for her yes vote in the Executive Session on 2/3/98)
Marc Boldt - Vice Chair 17th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
403 John L. O'Brien Building
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7994
boldt_ma@leg.wa.gov
(**thank him for sponsoring our legislation!)
(thank him for his yes vote in the Executive Session on 2/3/98)
Roger Bush - Vice Chair 2nd LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
415 John L. O'Brien Bldg.
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360)786-7824
bush_ro@leg.wa.gov
(strongly opposed, introduced a disclosure veto amendment which was voted
down, needs lots of strong letters, especially from birthmothers)
Kip Tokuda - Ranking Minority Member 37th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
323 John L. O'Brien Bldg.
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7838
tokuda_ki@leg.wa.gov
(Rep Tokuda came out as opposed to this bill on 2/3/98, he needs letters,
especially from birthmothers who were promised their kids would receive
their records upon age 18, and how those promises were broken, and to ask
him to please support this bill)
Jim Kastama - Asst. Ranking Minority Member 25th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
315 John L. O'Brien Bldg.
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7968
kastama_ja@leg.wa.gov
(**thank him for sponsoring our legislation!)
(thank him for his yes vote in the Executive Session on 2/3/98)
Ida Ballasiotes 41st LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
431 John L. O'Brien Bldg.
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7926
ballasio_id@leg.wa.gov
(**thank her for sponsoring our legislation!)
(thank her for her yes vote in the Executive Session on 2/3/98)
Mike Carrell 28th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
422 John L. O'Brien Bldg.
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360)786-7958
carrell_mi@leg.wa.gov
(thank him for his yes vote in the Executive Session on 2/3/98)
Mary Lou Dickerson 36th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
305 John L. O'Brien Bldg.
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7860
dickerso_ma@leg.wa.gov
(thank her for her yes vote in the Executive Session on 2/3/98)
Jeff Gombosky 3rd LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
319 John L. O'Brien Bldg.
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7946
gombosky_je@leg.wa.gov
(thank him for his yes vote in the Executive Session on 2/3/98)
Joyce McDonald 25th LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
417 John L. O'Brien Bldg.
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7948
mcdonald_jo@leg.wa.gov
(thank her for her yes vote in the Executive Session on 2/3/98)
Cathy Wolfe 22nd LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
320 John L. O'Brien Building
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7992
wolfe_ca@leg.wa.gov
(**thank her for sponsoring our legislation!)
(thank her for her yes vote in the Executive Session on 2/3/98)
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