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We have a new President, a new Congress
and a new Massachusetts
state legislature with 20 new elected officials.
There is hope in the air, even as we face economic
crises nationally and locally.
All the more reason for us to stretch
and flex our grassroots organizing
and mobilization muscles.
We must build and maintain relationships
with those empowered to represent us
and the survivors we work with and for.
So who is a legislative
advocate? What does it take to make
sure the voices of survivors are heard in Massachusetts?
What will it take to make sure we get the funding that is
necessary to support local services and save lives?
THE ANSWER
IS YOU!
Please join hundreds of sexual assault
and domestic violence advocates, allies, families and community
members as we call for
adequate funding for prevention, education and support services
and passage of our priority bills.
We invite you to add your voice.
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Stop
Proposed State Budget Cuts
Calls your Senator today.
The budget is now up for consideration
in the Senate.
The Senate Ways and Means Committee
followed the House Ways and Mean proposed cuts to Domestic Violence
Services by 11% and even deeper cuts to Sexual Assault Services
by 36%.
These cuts will be devastating
to victims who need these life-saving services in general, and threaten
to erode the progress we’ve made in stemming the rate of domestic
violence homicides in Massachusetts, in particular.
Contact your State Senator and urge her/him to go support level
funding by sponsoring and to supporting the following amendments:
1. Senator Eldridge of Acton has filed an amendment
to reinstate language and to maintain current funding for line item
4513-1130 at $6.3 million: Amendment EHS #599
2. Senator Flanagan has filed an amendment to maintain
current funding for line item 4800-1400 at the $23.5 million for
domestic violence services: Amendment EHS #595
3. Senator Creem has filed an amendment to maintain current funding
for line item 4510-0810 Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) and
Pediatric SANE Programs at $3,623,068: Amendment EHS #594
Download fact sheets:
For Sample emails and phone
scripts, click
here.
Use subject heading: Responding to
the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Crisis.
Let them know why you care about these services and that you urge
them to support continued levels of funding.
If you know your state representative,
you can find their contact information here:
http://www.mass.gov/legis/memmenuh.htm
To find out who your State Representative
is and a link for their contact information, go to:
http://www.wheredoivotema.com |
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Thank you for joining us on April 13th
for our annual Legislative Advocacy Day!
We had a great turnout - over 200 advocates
from JDI's member organzations along with dozens of our allies filled
the Great Hall!
Senators Sue Tucker and Jennifer Flanagan,
and Representatives Gloria Fox, Kay Khan, Alice Wolf,
Mary Grant, Deborah Gregoire, Jennifer Benson,
Lori Ehrlich, William Lantigua all stopped by to
cheer on the crowd. |
| Advocacy
Tools
I. To learn more about how a
bill becomes law and the state budget process,
click here.
II. To find your State Representative
and State Senator,
go to:
http://www.wheredoivotema.com
III. It's not too late to make sure
your voice heard.
Download a
sample letter and sample
phone script. |
To find out
more about how you can help our advocacy effort, please contact
us at policy@janedoe.org
or call 617-248-0922
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