Take 5 for patient safety, or those serving more than 15 years, or for eviction reform....

Take 5 for Advocacy!   Greeting Keystone family, As Barb & Stan shared with us on Sunday Feb. 19, here a few very important advocacy items that need to be acted on THIS WEEK! FIRST: find you legislative district! Go to https://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/, OR, you can call the toll free number 1-800-562-6000 and leave a message for ALL of your elected officials (including the Governor). This line is available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday - Friday during the legislative session through April, 2019 this year. NEXT: Please read the attached and respond to your legislators and, in some cases, members of the committees.   1) Tell your legislators to REJECT House Bill 1352, which proposes amendments to RCW 18.64.270. Sample comment you can use:  "I question the danger sterile compounding presents to patients. Why would you want to pass any rules that diminish patient safety when required as a national standard of practice, especially when NO evidence has been submitted to substantiate that position? I recommend that the PROPOSED amendment to RCW 18.64.270 should be REJECTED in its entirety." You can use the wording above, or change it up some after you read this HB 1352 draft that Stan wrote. Please also call or email MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE who are: Annette Cleveland, Chair; Emily Randall, Vice Chair; Steve O'Ban, Barbara Bailey, Randi Becker, Steve Conway, Manka Dhingra, David Frockt, Karen Keiser, Ann Rivers and Kevin Van De Wege. 2) Tell your legislators to SUPPORT Senate Bill 5600, which reforms the eviction process and allows tenants more days to pay late rent. Sample comment you can use: "Please vote YES on SB5600, which give tenants the time they need to catch up on late rental payment, and will keep them from being evicted and having to start all over again to find and obtain housing. This bill will reduce homelessness, while reducing court costs and attorney’s fees. Limiting termination notices will also protect tenants from housing discrimination and displacement. SB5600 will prevent homelessness, protect renters and keep people in their homes! PLEASE PUSH THIS BILL OUT OF COMMITTEE AND READ THIS INTO RECORD ON THE SENATE FLOOR. Thank you." 3) Tell your legislators to SUPPORT Senate Bill 5819, establishing a post-conviction review board and review process for early release of qualifying offenders. Read the FAN Issue Fact Sheet HERE Sample comment you can use: "As a Person of Faith, member of Keystone UCC and of Faith Action Network, I urge you to support the Post-Conviction Review Board Bill (SB5819). This bill would create a post-conviction review process for people who have served more than 15 years in prison.  I believe that no person is beyond redemption and that a prospect of release will bring hope to our prisons and our communities. Please make this important criminal justice bill a high priority!!  I urge your support when it comes to you for a vote!  Thank you for your public service." ** If your senator is Jamie Pedersen or Manka Dhingra, please add: "Please make sure there are no exclusions made and everyone can participate regardless of crime! Please MOVE THIS BILL OUT OF COMMITTEE AND READ THIS INTO RECORD ON THE SENATE FLOOR.  Thank you." THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ UP AND MAKE THESE VITAL CALLS AND/OR EMAILS!!  Remember, these action items are in committee THIS WEEK, so please contact your legislators by Wednesday or Thursday.  Anything that does not move out of committee will be DEAD after this Friday. Again, the toll-free number is 1-800-562-6000. Call any time! You can leave a message for your legislators at this number. You can also send a comment online at www.leg.wa.gov to your legislators, governor and also the committee members. Thank you again for your time and advocating for the most vulnerable! FEELING FIRED UP? Here are a couple more ways you can help. Ask your legislators to support these budget asks: Increase the Aged, Blind and Disabled (ABD) Monthly Cash Grant by adding $61M to the current budget: Sample comment you can use: "We need $61M to increase the ABD monthly cash grant. Presently, the program provides a modest cash assistance of $197.00/month to low income adults with permanent mental health illnesses or physical disabilities. This ABD cash grant remains at an all-time low. Please work to raise the ABD cash grant to more closely reflect Washington’s rising cost of living." Funding Housing for All: Sample comment you can use: "We want funding for more affordable housing - $600M total to build 17,000 more affordable homes in Washington State. $200M of the $600M would support the Housing Trust Fund."   Click here to scope out our new Keystone UCC website LIKE Keystone UCC on Facebook