Just a reminder. Hawai’i Governor Linda Lingle has until June 23 to announce if she is considering vetoing HB 1830, the latest incarnation of baby dump legislation in that state.
Gov. Lingle needs to know that the adoptee rights/adoption reform community on the Mainland does not support so-called “safe haven” laws which commodify newborns and their parents, promote anonymous baby abandonment as “just another choice,” and undermine hanai. Gov. Lingle vetoed similar legislation in 2003 and has been the target of a pro-dump gang since. Read this “open letter” to the governor from one baby abandonment advocate.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Read the bill
Read Bastard Nation’s letter to Gov Lingle published here on May 22.
Read Bastard Nation’s full action alert published here on June 9.
Read Gov. Lingle’s 2003 veto statement posted by the American Adoption Congress here
Contact Gov. Lingle and key legislators.
TALKING POINTS:
• HB 1830 is not needed; newborn abandonment/neonaticide in the state is nearly unheard of. Since 1996 there has only been one prosecutable case…
• HB 1830 rejects and undermines the traditional Hawai’ian practice of “hanai”– extended family and community care which insures that children, unable to be reared by their biological parents are lovingly kept within the family or close community where their identity and heritage remain in tact.
• HB 1830 eliminates”hanai” and the right of identity by denying the “safe havened” access to their original birth documents and heritage information.
• HB 1830 abrogates certain government benefits available to all Native Hawai’ians because the “safe havened” will be unable to prove Native ancestry.
• HB 1830 rejects informed consent and best practice standards of child welfare and adoption placement such as the collection of a full record of identifying information and social and medical histories.
• HB 1830 denies parents–particularly non-surrendering parents (usually the father)- due process by eliminating the ability to locate the dependency proceeding to which they are a party
Oppose HB 1830 and encourage Gov. Lingle to hold firm. We have been told that faxing is the best way to get legislators’ attention.
CONTACT
The Honorable Linda Lingle
Governor, State of Hawai’i
Executive Chambers
State Capitol
Honolulu, Hawai’i 96813
Phone:
Fax:
e-mail: [email protected]
To forestall an override attempt contact the following key legislators who will decide whether to initiate an override. Explain why you oppose HB 1830 and include your letter to Gov. Lingle.
Colleen Hanabusa, Senate President
Hawai’i State Capitol, Room 409
415 Beretania Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone ;
Fax
email [email protected]
Calvin K.Y. Say, Speaker of the House
Hawai’i State Capitol, Room 431
415 South Beretania Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone ;
Fax
e-mail [email protected]
Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland, Majority Whip (Democrat)
Hawai’i State Capitol, Room 226
415 South Beretania Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
Fax:
Sponsor:
Representative John Mizuno
Hawa’ii State Capitol, Room 436
415 South Beretania Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone ;
Fax
e-mail [email protected]