WE MUST ACT IMMEDIATELY!
FAMILY FIRST ACT RESURRECTED
House Rules Committee will discuss Family First Act Tuesday, November 29 at 5:00 p.m.
UPDATE: Thank you for letting your voice be heard! We are receiving feedback that Virginia Foxx's representatives are listening and taking note of your concerns. They are keeping count of how many calls they are receiving.
In fact, you are making so many calls that her Washington office's voice mail is full. Please...don't give up if you cannot get through or cannot leave a voice mail. Try back later. Try back tomorrow. Keep those calls coming! We must reach her offices before the House Rules Committee meets on Tuesday, November 29 at 5 p.m.
SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Thank you to those of you who are sharing Baptist Children's Homes' post on social media. If you have not done so, please visit our page at www.facebook.com/bchfamily and share the Family First post to your timeline.
For our Twitter friends, you can copy and paste the following tweet:
@virginiafoxx Please drop language in Family Prevention Services Act HR 5456 restricting children from being placed in congregate care -TY!
ORIGINAL POST:
In a renewed effort to see the Family First Act passed, lawmakers have taken the original bill and attached it to another piece of legislation known as the 21st Century Cures Act - a massive piece of unrelated legislation.
The Family Prevention Services Act H.R. 5456 (also known as the Family First Act) would essentially eliminate long-term placement of children in residential care organizations such as Baptist Children's Homes. The bill would limit options that would allow a child to receive the best care depending on his or her needs.
Because friends like you emphatically reached out to North Carolina Senators Thom Tillis and Richard Burr, the Family Prevention Services Act H.R. 5456 legislation was put on hold and looked as if it would be defeated. Realizing this, proponents of Family First moved swiftly to find this new means for seeing the embattled bill succeed.
The Family First Act, which is now attached to the Cures Act, will be discussed by The House Rules Committee on Tuesday, November 29 at 5:00 p.m. to determine how the bill will move forward.
After tomorrow's meeting, there is NO OPPORTUNITY for making further amendments to Family First.
PLEASE CALL!
We need your help right now! Because time is so short, it is urgent that everyone reading this email call Virginia Foxx, Vice Chair of The House Rules Committee at 202-225-2071 at her Washington office. If you have time, please also call her offices in Boone at 828-265-0240 and in Clemmons at 336-778-0211.
WHAT TO SAY...
Tell her offices that it is imperative that the Family First Act legislation attached to the 21st Century Cures Act be amended before they move the bill forward. Please implore them to drop the restrictions for placing children in residential care (also known as congregate care). Let them know we must not introduce legislation that prevents a child from receiving the type of care that best suits his or her needs. Encourage them to make sure our children are provided with a full range of caring services and every opportunity to achieve success.
Thank you for once again letting your voice be heard!