Legislative Action & Resolutions for TXBC & 20th Anniversary of Breastfeeding Law Tomorrow

In lieu of a spring meeting, Texas Breastfeeding Coalition is hosting two legislative action days - and breastfeeding mothers and babies need you there on Tuesday, March 3rd!

(Can’t make it to Austin, or not on these days?  You can still contact your legislators or even visit them in district.  Explore our website for more information and resources on supporting the bills!  This is also useful for preparing for Tuesday.)

Legislative Action Days

Texas is the size of 11 other states.  We are the second largest state in both geography and population.

Legislators want to hear from their own constituents - the voice that matters is the one that may or may not vote for them.

That's why your involvement is important to passing bills that will improve support for breastfeeding mothers.

• When you attend a legislative action day, you will meet with staffers or legislators, usually paired with another advocate.  You'll be provided with materials to help prepare you for your meetings.  You'll pass along a packet of information and talk about why breastfeeding support is important to you and imperative for maternal and child health.

• You may bring your child(ren).  If you'd like, you could bring them in a doctor's jacket or with a stethoscope, to highlight that breastfeeding is a public health issue.

• You may come when your schedule allows.

• Your dress should be business attire or business casual (though it's better to come in jeans than not come at all!).  Very comfortable shoes are advised.

• You may want to bring a tote bag (and maybe a stroller, if you're bringing children) to carry your packets and the small boxes of chocolate that we will send to offices.

• If you have a smartphone, please take photos on your visits and share on social media with the hashtag #txbfleg.  (Anyone not attending can use the hashtag to find these and repost & retweet them.)

• You are encouraged to invite friends, your ob-gyn/pediatrician/midwife/doula/LLL leader/neighbor/mail carrier, etc.  Please spread the word through email, social media, and phone calls to the people and groups of people in your circles.  You can share the Facebook event page and invite friends that way, too.  The more attendees we have, the more offices we can visit, and the greater impression we can make.

• Please register so that we will know your availability and can determine whom you should visit.

Register for Mar. 3rd

Below is the agenda, times are approximate.  You can come when your schedule allows.  You can attend the Resolutions or spend the morning on office visits instead.  Whenever  you arrive, please contact our Legislative Chair, Krisdee Donmoyer, at 512.655.9647 and she will pass along information and materials for your visits - she can do this as much as possible while we await the Resolutions, to save time.

House Resolution:
We will meet in the House Gallery before 10am.  The Resolution will be presented by Representative Farrar, probably in the first half of the 10:00 hour.  Rep. Farrar will recognize advocates on the House floor and everyone in the gallery.

Senate Resolution:
After the House Resolution we will move to the Senate Gallery.  TXBC will be recognized by Senator Zaffirini, probably around 11:15.

Photos:
After the Senate Resolution we will take a group photo on the stairs outside the House chamber (go to the east wing, outside the House Gallery, and take the stairs on the north side of the building down to the 2nd floor), then Krisdee will disseminate any remaining assignments, packets and gifts.

Lunch & Visits:
At this point, depending on the time and appointment times you may have, you might wish to have lunch (there is a cafeteria, the Capitol Grill) before you begin your visits.  After the Resolutions and photos, Krisdee will be available in the cafeteria until 5pm to coordinate, answer questions, and receive visit notes.

If you have questions or concerns you can reach Krisdee at txbfleg@gmail.com or 512.655.9647.

Parking:

The weather prediction is for a 30% chance of rain (but warming up to 70 degrees).  No matter where you park, you'll have to walk across the Capitol grounds.  You may wish to bring an umbrella.  Krisdee can keep it in the cafeteria for you while you visit.

You may want to park at the Capitol Visitors Parking Garage, east of the Capitol, located at 1201 San Jacinto located between Trinity and San Jacinto Streets at 12th and 13th Streets. Parking is free for the first two hours and $1.00 for each half hour thereafter (maximum daily charge: $8.00).  If you go to the top floor and park near the elevator (there are stairs at each corner with glass doors; the elevator has concrete walls), you can take the elevator down to the 2nd floor, turn right, and it’s just a one-block walk to the Capitol grounds.

Last week this garage was full.  There is metered parking (requiring coins), with time limits.  But there are other garages in walking distance that are likely a better option.

Getting around:
Coming from the Capitol Visitors Parking garage, you can enter the east side of the Capitol (or go to the left and enter the main entrance of the capitol building.)  There are more maps here.  The north entrance is wheelchair and stroller accessible.

To the Galleries - Take the North Wing elevators to 3rd floor.  Head south out of the elevators into the rotunda, and turn right to go into the west wing and enter the House Gallery at the end of it or turn left to go into the east wing and enter the Senate Gallery at the end of it.

To the Cafeteria - Take the North Wing elevators to level E1.  Follow the hallway until it opens up into the Seal Court.  The Capitol Grill is on the left of the court.

First Action Day Update:

The first action day was February 18th and coincided with an exhibit of our breastfeeding art collection, Mother Nature's Masterpiece, including a Dirty Car Art event.  We had 26 advocates with 21 children in attendance, and we visited about 1/3 of the legislature.

Photo Courtesy of The Good Body Project.