URGENT: Contact your Representative on the House Human Services Committee and ask them NOT to hear HB 1134 !
You are receiving this email because you serve a county represented by a legislator on the House Human Services Committee. We have previously reached out to you to talk with your legislators about MOW programs’ concerns with this bill.
Today, we are asking you to please reach out to your House Representatives THIS WEEK with the following message:
Please ask your Representative to ask the Chairman of the Human Services Committee, Representative James Frank to NOT hear HB1134 because this is a bad bill for Texas’ homebound older adults!
The contact information and counties for the Reps on the House Human Services Committee is below:
- Representative James Frank, Chair, (512) 463-0534, James.Frank@house.state.tx.us (Archer, Baylor, Clay, Knox, Wichita)
- Representative Gina Hinojosa, (512) 463-0668, Gina.Hinojosa@house.state.tx.us (Travis)
- Representative Matt Shaheen, (512) 463-0594, Matt.Shaheen@house.state.tx.us (Collin)
- Representative Stephanie Klick, (512) 463-0599, Stephanie.Klick@house.state.tx.us (Tarrant)
- Representative Candy Noble, (512) 463-0186, candy.noble@house.state.tx.us (Collin)
- Representative Thresa Meza, (512) 463-0641, thresa.meza@house.state.tx.us, (Dallas)
- Representative Victoria Neave, (512) 463-0244, Victoria.Neave@house.state.tx.us (Dallas)
- Representative Toni Rose, (512) 463-0664, Toni.Rose@house.state.tx.us (Dallas)
- Representative Lacey Hull, (512) 463-0727, lacey.hull@house.state.tx.us (Harris)
Not hearing the bill is your main message. If your Representative would like additional detail concerning the problems with the bill, you can share the following:
- These bills allow for-profit companies to participate in the Texans Feeding Texans grant program for home-delivered meals (within the TX Department of Agriculture);
- The for-profits ship frozen or shelf-stable meals, delivered by someone like UPS. Moving the box inside, opening it, storing the food safely, and then preparing the meals may not be safe or possible for many of those we serve.
- For many homebound seniors, the only person they see during the day is the volunteer or staff member who delivers their meal and checks on them. Using the for-profits would remove the personal daily contact and well-check from them.
- The daily well-check is what allows many homebound seniors to stay at their own homes. A significant percentage of those we serve have responded that, without the well-check, they would have to move to a long-term care facility. This would be difficult for them and, in many circumstances, result in much higher costs to the State.
Thank you so much for reaching out! Please send me an email and let me know the response of your state representative, or if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Debbie King,
Chair, Meals on Wheels Association of Texas
Debbie@MOWWaco.org
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