February 7, 2012
Dear Ethical Adoption Advocate:
SB27 got a “Do Pass” out of House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee today thanks to all your efforts! We’re on to our last committee, House Judiciary!
We believe that SB27 will be heard before House Judiciary Committee either Friday Feb 10th or Saturday the 11th Remember that members of a committee represent the whole state so it is alright for you to contact each of them. Give your name and address, or county of residence.
1) Call or email the committee members below. Ask them to VOTE YES on SB27 sponsored by Senator John Ryan. Thank them for their big YES VOTE only ten months ago as (HB125 & 158 sponsored by Rep. Al Park) that nearly made it through both Chambers. They’re now combined into one Bill (unchanged except for an emergency clause).
2) Ask if they will help SB27 get on House Judiciary Committee’s consent calendar at the soonest possible time. Remind them that House Judiciary has given this legislation a “Do Pass” the last three times it has been before them (2011, 2009, 2007).
RECAP OF THE PROBLEM Over the last ten years, adoption in New Mexico has fallen prey to profit-driven, out of state adoption businesses not licensed here. NM licensed professionals and vulnerable residents involved in an adoption process often face a serious crisis. These Predatory adoption businesses attract unsuspecting birth parents and adoptive parents to them through large-scale advertising. Everyone is fooled by their advertising, even unsuspecting crisis pregnancy centers, churches and medical clinics. NM is losing our licensed agencies that simply cannot compete with these million dollar advertising budgets. They provide informal but costly adoption services for months. They wait until the last moment to contact NM licensed professionals to furnish the minimum legally required adoption service. They promise mothers money for surrendering their baby for adoption. That is child trafficking! With much hanging in the balance, we discover at the last most vulnerable moments that those involved in these predatory adoption processes have been misinformed of the facts involved in their adoption process, and their rights and requirements in adoption.
Please let the Members of House Judiciary Committee know how you’re connected to the adoption community and why ethical adoption practice is important to you. Paste pictures of your children into your emails or speak passionately of how important it is to you that birth parents, adoptees and adoptive parents are supported in an ethical, fully legal adoption process in our State.
It’s preferable to send a separate letter or email addressed to each committee member but if you are short on time send an email to all committee members at the same time by
1) highlighting all the email addresses in the last column (sometimes you have to hit reply to sender first in order for this to work)
2) click on “copy”
3) “paste” the email addresses into “Bcc” (preferable) or “To” on your email page. (Send a copy to yourself) so your letter will be ready when SB27 reaches the the House Floor (last stop before the Governor)! You can also cut and paste our flyer into your letter if you want.
If you send a group email, address it to: Mr. Chair, Members of House Judiciary Committee:
House Judiciary Committee 2012 * voted against it in 2011
| Name, Title | Email | Phone | District |
| Rep. Al Park, Chair House Judiciary Committee (Thank him for being the sponsor of this legislation last year. He will sponsor it on the House Floor this year!)
| | | 26 Bernalillo |
| Rep. Joseph Cervantes, Vice Chair House Judiciary Committee
|
| | 52 Dona Ana |
| Rep. Eliseo Alcon, Member House Judiciary Committee
| | | 6 Cibola & McKinley |
| Rep. Paul Bandy, Member House Judiciary Committee | | | 3 San Juan |
| Rep. Cathrynn Brown Member House Judiciary Committee | | | 55 Eddy |
| Rep. David Chavez, Member House Judiciary Committee | | | 7 Valencia |
| Rep. Zachary Cook, Member House Judiciary Committee | | | 56 Lincoln & Otero |
| Rep. Brian Egolf, Member House Judiciary Committee | | | 47 Santa Fe |
| Rep. Nate Gentry, Member of House Judiciary | | | 30 Bernalillo |
| Rep. Bill Rehm, Member of House Judiciary Committee | | | 31 Bernalillo |
| Rep. Mimi Stewart, Member House Judiciary Committee | | | 21 Bernalillo |
The three members of House Judiciary (below) are also members of House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee and voted YES in that committee this year and last year. Please just write a short note thanking them for their consistent support for restricting predatory adoptions in NM.
| Rep. Gail Chasey, Member House Judiciary Committee | | | 18 Bernalillo |
| Rep. Bill O’Neill, Member of House Judiciary Committee | | | 15 Bernalillo |
| Rep. Moe Maestes, Member of House Judiciary Committee | | | 16 Bernalillo |
