Before I start, I want to thank you to the LEAD-K MA Core Team, Advocates, Community, Families and Friends for your support up to date!
Yes, our bills, H.3550 and S.305 had their public hearing before the Joint Committee on Education took place last week on Tuesday, July 23rd. Even though it was a rainy day, it was a beautiful day to witness in the Gardner Auditorium. I was moved and proud to share this day with you.
We were joined by advocates and supporters from different fields – Educators and administrators, audiologists, interpreters, mental health field, parents, researchers, and many other individuals. We had 21 people speaking in favor of the bill and the opposition had 2 people from Clark, 1 parent, and a family (mom, dad, their child in college with CIs).
Now let me explain what is happening next at the State House and how you can get involved. The critical next step is for the Education Committee to vote the bills out favorably so that they can go on to the full House and Senate for further consideration.
You can help to make that happen. If your State Representative or Senator sits on the Education Committee, please call or email them directly and ask them to vote the bill out favorably. You can ask them to tell you where they stand on the bills! If your State Representative and Senator are not members of the Committee, you can help by asking them to urge Education Committee Senate Chairman Jason Lewis and House Chairwoman Alice Peisch to vote the bills out favorably. Once the bills come out of the Committee, there will be many more opportunities for action. We will keep you posted.
If you haven’t had a chance to sign up to become an advocate, please do as soon as possible, so that we can notify you of needed actions. Not too late! Fill out the form here at https://forms.gle/X5ijdvVwAemSwsch9
Not sure who your State Representative and Senator are? Fill out the form and we can help you. Not sure what to write to them? Ask us!
LEAD-K MA looks forward to collaborating with you! Thank you!