Email Officials
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM JOYCE BAHR, NYSAR PRESIDENT

Contact your legislators in their District Offices. To learn who your state assembly member and
senator are call the Albany switchboard at: 518 455-4218. The phone number in New York City for the League of Women Voters is (212) 725-3541. There are 150 assembly members and the link to the assembly website is http://assembly.state.ny.us

There are 62 state senators. One way to find out who your senator is is by logging
on to the senate site, www.senate.state.ny.us

We now have 70 assembly sponsors. Although we have only 11 in the senate, we are very hopeful for the future. With more interest and more of us committed to lobby in Albany next session, we are determined to win.

A written letter (snail mail) is of more importance with many legislators. However, some value emails. If your email does not get through, go to SEARCH and type in the name of the legislator for access to their website, as many have their own sites. Then send an email from the site. Be sure to include your address and phone number in your mail.

Send Our Sponsors a Letter of Support for Bill S5269

Senator Velmanette Montgomery
LOB 711
Albany, NY 12247
fax: 518 426-6854

For Bill A8410
Assemblymember David Koon
LOB 643
Albany, NY 12248
Fax: 518 -455-4639

Write the Governor to Pass Bills A8410 and S5269

New York State Governor-David Paterson
State Capitol
Albany, New York 12224

Ask the Senate Majority leader to Pass Bill S5269

Senator Malcolm A. Smith
LOB 909
Albany, NY 12247
fax: 518 455-2816

Important! Write to the Speaker asking him for a vote on A8410 by the Full Assembly.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver
Democrat
LOB 932
Albany, NY 12248
Albany phone (518) 455-3791
Manhattan phone (212) 312-1420


Ask these Senators to co-sponsor and move S5269 to the floor for a vote

Senator Antoine Thompson
LOB 920
Albany, NY 12247
fax: 518 426-6969

Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins
LOB 805
Albany, NY 12247
Fax: 518 426-6811

Senator David Valesky
Room 416 Capitol
Albany, NY 12247
Fax: 518 426-6885

Senator Jeffrey Klein
Room 427 Capitol
Albany, NY 12247
Fax: 518 426-6847

Senator Jose Serrano
LOB 848
Albany, NY 12247
Fax: 518 426-6886

Senator TobyAnn Stavisky
LOB 509
Albany, NY 12247
Fax: 518 426-6857


Other Adoption Related Bills we Support

http://www.tomduane.com/legislation.html

Bill S1523 Permits two unmarried persons living together to adopt a child. Send letters of support to:
Senator Tom Duane (sponsor)
Room 430 Capitol
Albany, NY 12247
fax: 518 426-6846
And letters of support to the Chair of the Children & Families Committee Committee:
Senator Velmanette Montgomery
LOB 711
Albany, NY 12247
fax: 518 426--6854


How to compose an email message in mere seconds!

1) “Click and drag” to highlight the Sample Letter text below (please note there are two Sample Letters below - one for Assembly members and one for Senators). Select “Edit, Copy” on your browser menu (this will place the Sample Letter text temporarily onto the Clipboard).

2) Click on the “email address link” for a legislator from the list below. Doing so should automatically launch your email package, and insert the legislator’s email address into the “To” field.

3) Click in the “Body” area of your email message, and then select “Edit, Paste” from the menu.

4) Lastly, just make the necessary customizations that are in blue text below (i.e. the legislator name, your telephone number, and your name and address).

5) Click on “Send”!


********* Sample Assembly Letter *********

Dear Assemblyperson Bacalles (fill in the appropriate name),

Pass bill A8410 the Bill of Adoptee Rights. Give tax paying citizens the right to their original birth certificates. Data coming from states that have opened records in recent years indicates that very few birth parents want confidentiality. Many birth mothers will tell you that they were not promised confidentiality. Others will tell you they were told they would have confidentiality even though they never wanted it. Why should mothers and fathers who never raised a child prevent that child who is now an adult from access to an original birth certificate? Why should any parent prevent an adult from their birth right? The sealed record law is unfair, outdated and discriminatory.

Although thousands of adoptees have searched and have reunions that work and most citizens believe adoptees should have this right, there are some non-adopted persons who want to deny adoptees this right. Do these non-adopted persons take for granted access to their birth certificates? It is disrespectful to the dignity of an adopted person to have their birth certificates sealed and hidden from them. Bill A8410 gives birth parents the option of stating they want “No Contact”. This bill is fair to all. Now is the time to change the unfair, outdated and discriminatory law that seals records. Pass this bill and bring the law up to date with norms accepted in today’s world.

Please contact me at (XXX) XXX-XXXX (please fill in your phone number) if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

(Please provide your name and address so they will know which District you live in)

********* End of Sample Assembly Letter *********


New York Senate Bill S5269 is sponsored by Senator Velmanette Montgomery. The Bill is in the Health Committee and it mirrors the Assembly Bill.


********* Sample Senator Letter *********

Honorable Senator Hannon (fill in the appropriate name),

Pass bill A8410 the Bill of Adoptee Rights. Give tax paying citizens the right to their original birth certificates. Data coming from states that have opened records in recent years indicates that very few birth parents want confidentiality. Many birth mothers will tell you that they were not promised confidentiality. Others will tell you they were told they would have confidentiality even though they never wanted it. Why should mothers and fathers who never raised a child prevent that child who is now an adult from access to an original birth certificate? Why should any parent prevent an adult from their birth right? The sealed record law is unfair, outdated and discriminatory.

Although thousands of adoptees have searched and have reunions that work and most citizens believe adoptees should have this right, there are some non-adopted persons who want to deny adoptees this right. Do these non-adopted persons take for granted access to their birth certificates? It is disrespectful to the dignity of an adopted person to have their birth certificates sealed and hidden from them. Bill S235 gives birth parents the option of stating they want “No Contact”. This bill is fair to all. Now is the time to change the unfair, outdated and discriminatory law that seals records. Pass this bill and bring the law up to date with norms accepted in today's world.

Please contact me at (XXX) XXX-XXXX (please fill in your phone number) if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

(Please provide your name and address so they will know which District you live in)

********* End of Sample Senator Letter *********



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