Friends of “CLEAN” adoption reform, Stellar news! Today, against all the odds, we have a new “CLEAN” New York Bill of Adoptee Rights in the New York Senate! Now you can help us to advance the bill—S5169! Soon, we will confirm an Assembly side bill sponsor too! PHASE 1: RESTORATION—HERE’S WHAT JUST HAPPENED! Today (3/10/17), petition recipient, and Children and Families Committee Chair, Senator Tony Avella, introduced a proposal that addresses phase one of our petition and appeal—restoring a “clean” NY Bill of Adoptee Rights! • Bill number: S5169 https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2017/S5169 • Status: Referred to Senate Health Committee • Unrestricted access to long form original birth certificates (OBC) for adult adoptees, just like all citizens and adults who “age-out” of foster care! • OBC access for family, or legal representatives, if the adoptee is deceased • OBC access for legal representatives / social services PHASE 2: ADVANCEMENT BEGINS—TELL YOUR SENATOR TO COSPONSOR S5169! • WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP! 1. FIND your NY Senator: https://www.nysenate.gov/find-my-senator 2. CLICK the name of your Senator 3. GO to your Senator’s website to get contact information 4. Call or write your Senator! Encourage others too! 5. SAMPLE NOTE OR PHONE SCRIPT: “Hello. My name is ________ and I am contacting you from ________. I am a constituent in your district and I am one of over two thousand supporters of the “Citizens Petition to Restore, and Advance, a 'Clean' New York Bill of Adoptee Rights.” Now, we urge Senator ___________ to immediately cosponsor Senator Tony Avella’s new Bill of Adoptee Rights, S5169. Bill S5169 will honor human and civil rights for adult adoptees by allowing unrestricted access to original birth certificates (“clean” reform), a right every other citizen, and any adult who leaves foster care, enjoys. This kind of policy is working in nine other states and will (1) protect health by making access to medical history far quicker and more possible, (2) save taxpayer funds compared to other proposals, (3) demonstrate that New York is serious about bipartisan efforts for human and civil rights and (4) save time to avoid other incremental proposals that would require additional legislative action. Please cosponsor S5169. Thank you! 6. IF YOU CALL A SENATOR, YOU CAN GIVE US FEEDBACK: Write to Tim at tmw713@gmail.com • WHAT WE WILL DO RIGHT NOW! 1. Support S5169 and assist Senator Avella! 2. Confirm and assist an Assembly sponsor soon! 3. Call on Albany to:  Advance the new “clean” bill!  Eliminate bills that do not honor human and civil rights 4. Update you again soon! Your voices for adoptee human and civil rights are, in fact, shaking Albany! Together, we scored a major victory today! Now, we are on offense! Onward for adoptee liberty in the Empire State! Tim, Doris and Jennifer