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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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Budget Conference Committee Formed:
Calls your Senator and Representative today.
The state budget proposals have
gone through the House and the Senate. The next step is for the
differences to be worked out through the Conference Committee before
voted on and sent to the Governor.
The final amounts in the House
and Senate include deep cuts to sexual assault and domestic violence
services. This loss of funding 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 State Representative to urge her/him
to go support level funding by sponsoring and to supporting the
following:
• DPH 4513-1130 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL
ASSAULT PREVENTION: final House budget figure of $5,108,264 and
the final Senate budget language.
• DCF 4800-1400 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CRISIS SERVICES: final House
and Senate budget figures of $21, 925,460.
• DPH 4510-0810 SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINER
AND PEDIATRIC SEXUAL ASSAULT NURSE EXAMINER PROGRAM: final Senate
budget figure of $3,507,700.
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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