Friends of “CLEAN” adoption reform, Happy Memorial Day Weekend! It’s been a very big week for our petition, which continues in order to advocate for the immediate restoration of the “CLEAN” version of the NY Bill of Adoptee Rights. The goal: unrestricted access to original birth certificates—to get reform right the first time! This week, I had the privilege of conducting a second petition delivery to: 1. Carl E. Heastie (Assembly Speaker) 2. David I. Weprin (Assembly sponsor) 3. Andrew J. Lanza (Senate sponsor) PLEASE KEEP SHARING OUR PETITION! • More supporters will grow our message! • Social media reposts and discussion = more supporters! Keep going! PROGRESS! ONE AMENDMENT MADE! The “CLEAN” bill is not yet restored and our petition must continue. But a single agreeable amendment was added to the disagreeable bill this week! Specifically, adoptees who successfully navigate the process we oppose (court petition / Dept. of Health search) would at least receive, if still on file, a “certified” (official) rather than a “non-certified” copy of their “original long form birth certificate.” If not on file, the identifying information of the birthparents would still be furnished. UPDATE! ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CARL E. HEASTIE On 4/28, Assembly sponsor Weprin suggested that I alert Speaker Heastie to our petition. Since then, we gained opportunities to speak with concerned senior advisors (1) Paul Upton—Deputy Chief of Staff, on 5/11 and (2) Joseph Garba—Secretary to the Speaker for Intergovernmental Affairs, on 5/27, at the Speaker’s Manhattan office. Both discussions were very productive and included important highlights we can share. • The Speaker’s advisors let us know: 1. Speaker Hesatie hears our voices! 2. While the Speaker supports long overdue adoption reform, it remains unclear if he will support immediate restoration of the “CLEAN” reform bill 3. But, Speaker Heastie will “take another look” at “CLEAN” reform for this session 4. The Speaker’s review is being assisted by our: i. Petition—your voices! ii. New evidence (verified source documents) iii. Feedback and research iv. Suggestion to quantify likely taxpayer savings of “CLEAN” reform 5. We should “stay close” to Assembly sponsor Weprin as our appeal continues • We let the Speaker’s advisors know: 1. We laude the Speaker’s ongoing review, and we offer to assist 2. Human and civil rights should not be compromised 3. It’s time to dismiss the “debunked” opposition, so all can embrace “CLEAN” reform 4. We hope our ongoing petition, evidence, feedback and research can help change the “calculus” for “CLEAN” reform now (session ends in June) 5. We appreciate the added specificity of Mr. Weprin’s timeline to reintroduce “CLEAN” reform in the next legislative session (January 2017), if the current bill (which falls short of full rights) becomes law now. But, we still do NOT share his apparent optimism that the Assembly will act quickly to empower the correct reform if we settle for the current bill as a first action. Others have specifically advised us that a second action could take many years to succeed! 6. Our petition continues because, as it states, “adoptees in New York deserve to get adoption reform right the first time!” 7. Consistent with this week’s amendment, restoration of the “CLEAN” bill should, likewise, adjust from a “non-certified” to a “certified” copy of the original birth certificate (access) for all adult adoptees We are gaining consideration, ground and momentum, thanks to you! Let’s find more supporters! Adoptee rights—remain—on the right side of history! Onward! Tim and Doris