TAKE ACTION: OPPOSE MA Bills that violate parental rights and religious and medical freedom
Health Rights MA opposes the following bills. Below you will find opposition letter templates to get you started and a link to find your lawmakers. A phone call is worth at least 100 emails so please do both! A meeting is worth 1000 emails so please get one of those if you can. A Health Rights MA member would be happy to attend with you.
S1557/H2554: An Act relative to vaccines and preventing future disease outbreaks/An Act relative to routine childhood immunizations
Sponsored by Senator Edward Kennedy and Rep Andy Vargas
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1557
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2554
These bills would remove the religious exemption to vaccination in order to attend Massachusetts schools.
S1618: An Act promoting community immunity
Sponsored by Senator Rebecca Rausch
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1618
This bill would:
- Allow minors to consent to preventative care, including vaccination, without parental consent or knowledge.
- Allow private daycares, schools, and colleges to refuse religious exemptions and impose additional vaccines not required by DPH, such as COVID-19.
- Subject both the religious and medical exemptions to state approval.
- Grant DPH expansive authority to change immunization and exemption requirements.
- Require doctors to sign religious exemptions.
- Allow the Department of Public Health to publicly label programs with immunization rates below a state-defined threshold as “Elevated Risk” and exclude healthy, unvaccinated children, even in the absence of an outbreak or emergency.
S1244/H1815: An Act enhancing access to abortion care
Sponsored by Senator Rebecca Rausch and Rep Sally Kerans
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1244
These bills would allow minors to consent to “preventative care” including, but not limited to, vaccines and sterilization without parental knowledge or consent.
Opposition Letters
Find your Legislators here: https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator
You can use these templates as a starting point. At a minimum, personalize the first few sentences. It’s also a good idea to write your own subject line. Multiple emails with the same subject line are more likely to be dismissed as “spam” by legislators.
Oppose: H2554/S1557 Protect the Religious Exemption
Dear [Rep or Senator XYZ],
As your constituent, I am writing to express my strong opposition to bills H2554/S1557 An Act Relative to Vaccines and Preventing Future Disease Outbreaks/An Act relative to routine childhood immunization which propose removing the religious exemption for vaccinations required for K-12 school attendance in Massachusetts.
Our nation was founded on principles of religious freedom, and eliminating this exemption would infringe upon our fundamental rights to practice our faith and make decisions in alignment with our beliefs. Such a move could lead to significant legal challenges against the state, resulting in costly lawsuits and a potential erosion of trust between the government and its citizens.
I urge you to reject bills H2554 and S1557.
Name
Town
OPPOSE Bill S1618, “An Act Promoting Community Immunity.”
Dear [Rep or Senator XYZ],
As your constituent, I am writing to strongly oppose Bill S1618, “An Act Promoting Community Immunity.” I believe this bill poses significant threats to parental rights, medical autonomy, and the freedoms that are fundamental to a free and just society.
One of the most troubling aspects of this bill is the provision that allows minors to consent to preventative care, including vaccinations, without parental knowledge or approval. This undermines the role of parents in making decisions for their children’s health and well-being, a right that should not be stripped away by the state. Children, especially minors, do not have the maturity, experience, or understanding to make informed medical decisions. Allowing minors to make such significant health decisions independently of their parents not only disregards parental authority but also risks the health of children who may not fully comprehend the potential consequences of these decisions.
Furthermore, the bill grants private institutions like daycares, schools, and colleges the ability to refuse religious exemptions and impose additional vaccines not mandated by the Department of Public Health such as the COVID-19 Vaccine. This creates an environment where personal and deeply held beliefs are disregarded, and children could be excluded from important educational opportunities for reasons that have nothing to do with their health or well-being.
Another concerning provision is the limitation on medical exemptions for vaccination. Children with legitimate medical conditions could find it harder to obtain the necessary exemptions that protect them from vaccines that may be harmful to their health. This goes against the principle that medical decisions should be made between a patient and their doctor, based on the unique needs of the individual.
The bill gives the Department of Public Health broad power to change immunization and exemption requirements at will. This centralized control would erode the rights of families and communities, limiting their ability to make informed decisions about their health.
I firmly believe in parents’ rights to make informed health decisions for their children and grandchildren. I want to ensure our children grow up in an environment where their health and well-being are respected and protected, without interference from sweeping government mandates. This bill represents an alarming infringement on the rights of families and individuals.
Please OPPOSE Bill S1618, “An Act Promoting Community Immunity.”
Name
Town
OPPOSE S1244/H1815: Say No to Minor Consent, Protect Parental Rights
Dear [Rep or Senator XYZ],
I am writing to express my strong opposition to S1244/H1815: An Act enhancing access to abortion care, sponsored by Senator Rebecca Rausch and Representative Sally Kerans. These bills propose allowing minors to consent to “preventative care,” including vaccines and sterilization, without parental knowledge or consent. I believe this is a deeply concerning and harmful proposal that undermines parental rights and the well-being of children.
First, sterilization is a permanent and irreversible procedure that carries profound physical, psychological, and emotional consequences. Minors, who are still in the process of emotional and cognitive development, are not equipped to fully understand the long-term ramifications of such a decision. Parents are the primary caregivers and advocates for their children, and they should be involved in any decision of this magnitude. The emotional maturity required to make a decision as significant as sterilization should not be expected from minors, and it is unreasonable to remove parents from the decision-making process.
Second, the proposal to allow minors to consent to vaccinations without parental knowledge or consent is equally troubling. Vaccinations like all medical interventions, carry potential risks and side effects. Parents are in the best position to understand their child’s unique health needs and make informed decisions about vaccinations. Allowing minors to make such decisions without involving parents not only disregards their role but also removes a critical layer of protection and informed consent.
This legislation sets a dangerous precedent by removing parents from the decision-making process regarding their children’s health care. Parental rights are a fundamental part of protecting children, and by bypassing them, we risk putting minors at risk of making medical decisions they may not fully comprehend, without the necessary support of trusted adults.
I urge you to vote against S1244/H1815 to protect parental rights and ensure that decisions regarding minors’ health care are made with parental involvement. Parents are the best advocates for their children, and their involvement in these decisions is crucial to protecting the well-being and future of minors.
Thank you for your time and attention to this critical issue. I trust that you will act in the best interest of families and children across our state.
Name
Town