Earlier this week we reported about three key immigration bills that will be discussed at hearings this Tuesday, November 25th. This article outlines how to attend these hearings and how to submit testimony in support of important bills. If you can't attend these hearings live, you can still submit written testimony in support of these bills (see below).
Tuesday's Schedule
The Protecting Massachusetts Communities Coalition encourages you to come to the Beacon Hill in person on Tuesday to show legislators that there is groundswell of support for these bills.
Let the coalition know you are coming by filling out this form:
Here is the schedule for events at the State House that day.
- 9:15 AM in Room 428 — Pre-hearing rally with PMC Coalition members and supporters.
- 10 AM in Room A-2 — Joint Committee on the Judiciary Hearing for:
- 11:30 AM in the Gardner Auditorium — Joint Committee Public Safety and Homeland Security Hearing for:
If you can't make it to Boston, you can still watch these hearings live on the State House website.
Testifying to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary Hearing
In Person Or Virtual Testimony
In order to testify on the day of the hearing either in person or virtually, you must complete this online form by no later than 5 PM on Sunday, November 23.
- This online form permits you to select multiple bills to testify on behalf of. However, keep in mind that speakers must limit their remarks to 2-minutes in length, even if they are testifying for multiple bills. Plan accordingly.
- You can sign up to testify on the day of the hearing, but you are strongly encouraged to register in advance. You are not permitted to sign up to testify virtually on the day of the hearing.
Written Testimony
There are two ways to submit written testimony:
- Email your testimony to: Talia.Quinn@mahouse.gov (for House bills) and Grace.Giordina@masenate.gov (for Senate bills).
- Send a physical letter to: Joint Committee on the Judiciary, 24 Beacon Street, Room 136, Boston, MA 02133.
There is no firm deadline for submitting written testimony but you are encouraged to do so as soon as possible.
Testifying to the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security
Unfortunately the deadline to register in advance to testify in person or virtually has passed. You may be able to sign up to testify in person on the day of the hearing, but the hearing webpage does not make note of this (unlike other hearings).
You can though submit written testimony in one of two ways:
- Email your testimony to: JointCmte-PublicSafety@malegislature.gov.
- Send a physical letter to: Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, ATTN: Schuyler Hogan, 24 Beacon Street, Room 527A, Boston, MA 02133.
Resources
To help you prepare your testimony, MIRA has produced this Resource Kit with templates and talking points relating to all three immigration bills:
In addition, here are additional resources to help you prepare testimonies for specific bills:
- Immigrant Legal Defense Act (H.1954 / S.1127)
- Testimony submitted by the League of Women Voters MA
- Dignity Not Deportations Act (H.1588 / S.1122)
- Testimony submitted by the League of Women Voters of MA
- Advocacy Guide created by the Protecting Massachusetts Communities Coalition with links to sample testimony.
- Safe Communities Act (H.2580 / S.1681)
- Testimony submitted by the League of Women Voters of MA
General Guidance
Although these articles are unrelated to immigration, they provide tips and advice for testifying at the State House.
Davis Jackson
Kelsey Rode
