We have learned that two members of the Public Health Committee in the House have submitted a committee substitute bill that contains discriminatory amendments.
We do not know the specific amendment language, but the substitute bill will likely come up at the next committee meeting, Monday, April 29, 2019, at 9:00am. We must contact all committee members today to request that they do not consider the substitute bill and to reject discriminatory amendments, such as redaction, parent permission, or involvement of third party intermediaries. Such amendments would be regressive and set Texas adoptee rights backwards for a generation or more.
We do not have a sample message, so make it your own. Please tell members who you are, who you may represent, and your connection to adoption or this issue (adoptee, adoptive parent, birthparent, supporter, genealogist, equality activist, etc.). Request that committee members vote NO on a substitute bill for HB2725 and to reject amendments that redact identities, require parent permission, or involve third parties when an adult adopted person requests a copy of his or her own original birth certificate. Such amendments move Texas backward on this issue.
It is best to address the email to “Committee Chairwoman Thompson and Health Committee Members.” Emails of the committee members are below. We have also included the email of Representative Gina Calanni, the author of HB2725, so that she can also follow and be fully aware of the opposition to a dirty substitute or amendment.
Committee Member Emails
[email protected]
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Comma Separated Emails (for some email programs)
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Phone Contacts
Though you will likely only receive voicemail over the weekend, if you are more of a phone person, call the representatives and leave a message that you do not support discriminatory amendments to HB2725. Ask that each committee member vote NO on the substitute bill.
Rep. Gina Calanni (HB2725 Author): (512) 463-0528
Rep. Steve Allison: (512) 463-0686
Rep. Garnet Coleman: (512) 463-0524
Rep. James Frank: (512) 463-0534
Rep. Bobby Guerra: (512) 463-0578
Rep. Eddie Lucio III: (512) 463-0606
Rep. Lina Ortega: (512) 463-0638
Rep. Four Price: (512) 463-0470
Rep. J.D Sheffield: (512) 463-0628
Rep. Senfronia Thompson: (512) 463-0720
Rep. John Wray: (512) 463-0516
Rep. Bill Zedler: (512) 463-0374
The Texas Adoptee Rights Coalition is a coalition of Texas and national organizations working to secure the right of all Texas adult adoptees to obtain their own original birth certificates, without discriminatory restrictions.