Tennessee Health Care Campaign (THCC)
Health Care is a Human Right
Disability Alert for People with Disabilities - Take Action Today

April 9, 2007

Oppose House Bill 457

Scheduled for a Vote on early Tuesday morning, April 10th

This bill would cut – by 66% – a significant source of funding to existing programs that serve families and children impacted by a disability.  It would not only hurt the Tennessee Disability Coalition, but also the 38 other disability organizations across the state who belong to the Disability Coalition.

How Grave Is the Threat?

• Long-standing cross-disability programs:   There would be cuts to programs such as Family Voices, Project Brain, and the ADA Network which have helped thousands of people with disabilities across the state and had a great impact on many families.
• Disability Policy:  It would devastate efforts to advocate for programs and policies beneficial to people with disabilities such as the Autism Equity Act, the Family Support Program, Mental Health Equity, accessibility laws, and more.
• Ripple Effect:  Not only would these bills lead to cuts in funding to Coalition programs, but they would also reduce support for smaller disability nonprofits across the state who work with the Coalition.  This includes groups who deal with autism, mental health issues, special education, physical impairments, and more.

Funding for Families and Children with Disabilities:

The funding at risk was originally intended to increase supports for families and children in distress. Families with a member with disabilities have a great deal of distress. For this reason funding was set aside to build capacity among traditional charitable organizations and activities to lift up families and children with disabilities.  The Coalition, as the state's leading cross-disability organization, was the natural choice to receive funding to assist families challenged by a disability.

Please Call or E-mail Today!

This legislation is scheduled to be heard by the Domestic Relations Subcommittee at 8:30am on Tuesday, April 10th.  It is essential for constituents to call or write their legislators on this committee immediately.  If you have friends, family or colleagues who would be willing to call, then please ask them to call as soon as possible if their Representative is on this Committee.

Domestic Relations Subcommittee of the House:

Representative - Counties - Phone Number - Click on their name to email the state legislator.

Representative Sherry Jones - Davidson county - 1-800-449-8366, ext. 12035

Representative Kevin Brooks - Bradley county - 1-800-449-8366, ext. 11350

Representative Tommie Brown - Hamilton county - 1-800-449-8366, ext. 14374

Representative JoAnne Favors - Hamilton county - 1-800-449-8366, ext. 12702

Representative Matthew Hill - Washington county - 1-800-449-8366, ext. 12251

Representative Brian Kelsey - Shelby county - 1-800-449-8366, ext. 14415

Representative Gary Rowe - Shelby county - 1-800-449-8366, ext. 11898

Representative Mike Turner - Davidson county - 1-800-449-8366, ext.13229

Representative Nathan Vaughn - Sullivan county - 1-800-449-8366, ext. 16867

Things to Remember When Calling or Sending an E-mail

v    Be courteous

v    Let the legislator's staff know you are a constituent

v    Ask your legislator to stop this legislation

v    Express support for Coalition's work

v    Thank them for their time