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Legislative Action

The following legislative actions relate to the mission of Share and the issues that bereaved parents face.

 

Victory in Congress for Prenatally and Postnatally Diagnosis Conditions Awareness Act

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Sweet Victory in Congress! S 1810 Bill Ready to Become Law
Congress Passes the Kennedy–Brownback Prenatally and Postnatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act

Dale City, VA (September 26, 2008). After three years of advocacy, the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives passed S. 1810, the Prenatally and Postnatally Diagnosis Conditions Awareness Act, during this last week before Congress adjourns.

The Trisomy 18 Foundation applauds the final passage of the Pre-natally and Post-natally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act (S. 1810). The Act, now heading to the President’s desk for signature into law, ensures that families who receive prenatal diagnoses of Trisomy 18, Trisomy 13, Down Syndrome or other genetic conditions will have access to up-to-date information  about the nature of the condition and connection with support services and networks that could offer assistance.

To Read Press Release from the Foundation:
http://www.trisomy18.org/site/DocServer/Microsoft_Word_-_Press_Release_for_S1810_Passage_Sept_25.pdf?docID=1021

Also see Press Release from National Down Syndrome Society and National Down Syndrome Congress at:
http://www.ndss.org/images/stories/NDSSresources/pdfs/kb_press_release.doc

To learn more about the Bill language and it's provisions, see www.trisomy18.org/celebrateS1810passage

 

 

Support New York's Stillbirth Legislation

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New York Legislators Kill Bill for Grieving Mothers

Albany, NY (June 26, 2008) --- SB8960 would have helped to provide much-needed comfort, dignity, and accurate documentation to women and their families experiencing the death of a baby just prior to or during birth. Yet, despite overwhelming support from individual legislators, including 53 Democrat and Republican sponsors, a powerful minority of reproductive rights activist legislators have “killed the bill” as of 11:00 p.m. on the last day of session.

All states, including New York, wherein nearly 2000 babies are stillborn each year, require the family to pay for funeral expenses, and a death certificate/report is issued after a stillbirth. Yet, New York, unlike 23 other states, will not offer women the choice of a Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth. During a presidential election year, when women’s choices are a top priority for candidates, this topic is highly provocative.

“There is an enormity to this public health issue,” says Dr. Joanne Cacciatore, an expert in traumatic child death. “More than ten times the number of babies die of stillbirth than those who die of SIDS, yet it’s virtually invisible.” Part of the problem, according to grieving parents, Jeff and Lori Tieger of Staten Island, is that families experiencing stillbirth have been silenced due to abortion politics. On June 15th, the Tieger’s held an important Father’s Day Press Conference on the steps of the New York legislature, where they also had a brief conversation with Speaker Sheldon Silver who assured grieving parents personally that, “We’re moving your bill." 

However, by the end of session that day, the bill was being held for consideration due to vociferous opposition from Helene Weinstein (D-Brooklyn). Yet, Weinstein's own county is in the top three in all of New York for stillbirth rates where one in 92 births results in stillbirth. “Assemblywoman Weinstein did not act on behalf of her constituents. She attended to the demands of large lobbying organizations supporting her position in the Assembly, and together they fought against grieving mothers,” said activist Paige Ricci of Malta.  “I mean, how can you say you’re pro-woman, pro-children, and pro-choice and yet oppose a bill that advocates for women, children, and choices?”

Dr. Cacciatore asserts that, “grieving mothers are being thrust into the middle of an acrimonious, long standing battle, as pawns in a political debate that has absolutely nothing to do with them.” Advocates for the legislation will continue their ongoing battle in New York for the third legislative session. Lori Tieger is committed to this fight in memory of her son, Daniel, who died just prior to birth at full term for unknown causes. “I’ll keep coming back and fighting this year after year until we are successful. It is time for New York to do what is right for all women."

For more information, please visit the legislative page at: 

http://www. missingangelsbill. org 

 

Support Missouri's Stillborn Tax Exemption Legislation

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The Missouri House has passed 143-4 House Bill No. 1773 on April 3, 2008!  The companion bill (Senate Bill No. 1064) has been voted out of committee and awaits a vote by the full Senate.  All 34 names and contact information for the Senators can be found by logging onto www.senate.mo.gov and we need your help to contact all of them and ask for their vote.  Senator Tom Dempsey is the sponsor of SB 1064.  Representative Doug Funderburk sponsored HB 1773 with many co-sponsors like Representative Jo Smith.  They have been trying for several years to get it passed and are grateful for their hard work and dedication with these bills.  We owe them a lot for working so hard on these bills.

UPDATE:  Unfortunately, Missouri House Bill NO. 1773 was not voted on prior to the end of the legislative session.  We ask for your continued efforts in contacting your senators letting them know you want them to support this legislation.

View HB 816 (Passed on February 22, 2007)

You can also call or send your support to:

Alderman Barclay

City of St. Peters                      

P.O. Box 9

St. Peters, MO  63376

636-795-8255                    

MO House of Representatives 

Representative Doug Funderburk

201 West Capitol Avenue

Room 236B

Jefferson City, MO  65101

 573-751-2176

Senator Scott Rupp

State Capitol Building

Room 426

Jefferson City, MO  65101

(573) 751-1282
FAX: (573) 526-4766

Visit St. Charles Journal to read an article about this legislation.  Please give your positive response to the writer, Latreecia Wade.

 

New Mexico MISSing Angels Bill Update

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     New Mexico has been stunned by the Governor’s Veto of the MISSing Angels Bill.  The MISSing Angels Bill was created to help provide much-needed comfort, dignity, and legal documentation, also known as a Certificate of Birth Resulting in Stillbirth, to women and their families experiencing the death of a baby just prior to or during birth.
      Just last month, the New Mexico MISSing Angels Bill (SB17), passed the New Mexico legislature with unanimous, bipartisan support. Yet, April 7, 2007, presidential hopeful and Governor, Bill Richardson, vetoed this important piece of legislation, making New Mexico the first of nearly 30 states to reject the will of its citizens and legislators regarding the way in which the birth of a stillborn baby is recognized and recorded.
      While this event is unfortunate, there is hope in our collective response that the MISSing Angels Bill will be a part of New Mexico’s legislation in the future. Please share your views with Governor Richardson by visiting his websites listed below.

     Governor Bill Richardson                 Richardson for President

 

Find Out More Information About the Missing Angels Bill in Your State

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The Missing Angels Bill is a piece of legislation that allows for the issuance of a "Certificate of Birth resulting in Stillbirth (CBRS)" by a state's vital records office for any stillborn infant.  Find out more about the Missing Angels Bill at The Legislative Reference Site.    For more information about legislation in your state visit the Missing Angels Legislation State Chart.

Click here to view a

Public Service Announcement for the Missing Angels Bill

 

October 15th Campaign

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H.CON.RES.222 Passed in the House of Representatives!

At 4:05 p.m. on Thursday, September 28, 2006, U.S. Congress Passed H.Con.Res.222 declaring

October 15th as Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day!  Thank you to all who have supported this goal!!

Click here to view the resolution

Click here to view the House of Representatives video