Homeschooling: NHELD Press Release 11 Dec 03

Homeschooling: NHELD Press Release

Opposing HR2732/SB 1562 (HoNDA)

A reminder of the things you can do now to oppose HoNDA legislation

Please take the time to look at the petition at this website - and sign it if you so desire

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/807813448

The petition has well over 1100 names on it already: This is from the homeschool parent that started this petition:

Online petitions from thepetitionsite are logged by the site. At the end of the petition, the petition owner requests the record of signatures (owners cannot get email addresses), receives them by email, and sends them to the recipients. I will be sending this petition's report to all of the house and senate by both email and fax. I know we would all hate for it to be overlooked. I have already received one report, and I am preparing to email a copy of it to congress so that they may be aware that action is being taken, and that there are voters who are willing to fight this bill.

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HSLDA has a privileged tax exempt status because they nominally SERVE the interests of ALL home schoolers. If you agree that this practice of inserting language into federal law is bad, and whether you are a member of HSLDA or not, you should notify HSLDA that you want them to end the federalization of homeschooling. Please contact HSLDA on December 15, 2003, and tell them to protect YOUR interests. Tell them to withdraw this legislation and not to attempt to carve up this omnibus bill, HR2732/SB1562, by slipping this legislation into other bills as amendments. Remind them that they have been writing articles and telling members for years that federal legislation of education is dangerous and unconstitutional. Ask them why they are looking for homeschoolers to accept federal funding through Byrd scholarships, and government funded financial aid (HR 12) when they have been saying all along that homeschoolers should not accept federal money. Tell them you don't want the IRS to define what an "eligible homeschool" is, or what "eligible homeschool expenses" are, for purposes of getting tax credits or setting up Education Savings Accounts. Let them know we don't want equity or parity in federal law - we want autonomy. Let them know what your concerns are regarding this legislation.

Home School Legal Defense Association
PO Box 3000
Purcellville VA 20134

Phone: (540) 338-5600
Fax: (540) 338-2733

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ACTION PLAN

Become very informed about the issues. Read all available literature from its primary source in its entirety so that you are sure of the details and have formulated your opinion based on accurate information before contacting others.

If you oppose federal legislation, write to all of your state Congressmen and Senators asking them to defeat H.R. 2732/S.B.1562 and any other proposed federal legislation that would affect homeschoolers, even if the legislation appears to be beneficial on its face. Ask them to leave home education legislation of any kind up to the states. Be as specific as you can as to why you believe the legislation should be defeated.

Follow up your correspondence with telephone calls to staff in the offices of the Congressmen and Senators. Ask if the Congressman or Senator has seen your correspondence and if he or she is willing to oppose the legislation.

Watch the newspapers for when your Congressmen and Senators will be back in Connecticut making personal appearances in the district. Attend these functions and try to corner the Congressman or Senator to briefly ask him or her to oppose federal legislation.

Write to your State Representative or State Senator informing them that federal legislation is being proposed that would affect homeschooling, and ask them to contact our Congressmen and Senators on your behalf to seek defeat of any such federal legislation. State Representatives and State Senators have been very supportive in the Connecticut General Assembly in defeating proposals to regulate homeschooling on the state level. Ask them to communicate how well our system works here in the state without the need for federal legislation. It’s a good idea to get to know your state legislator anyway so that he or she is familiar with homeschooling in general and why homeschoolers legislation is unnecessary.

If you wish to assist further in the effort to defeat federal legislation, please write to Congressmen and Senators who represent other states and ask them to defeat H.R. 2732/S.B.1562 and any federal legislation affecting homeschoolers. Follow up with a telephone call to their staff to ask if they have seen your correspondence and if they oppose federal legislation.

Please write, email, or telephone Attorney Deborah Stevenson (dgs31@yahoo.com ) or Judy Aron (aronhome@att.net )to let us know what responses you have received after contacting your state or federal legislators so that we may focus our future efforts on those who are still supportive of federal legislation. Visit www.nheld.com

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