ClaireOn March 11th the bill is scheduled for a vote in the Senate Commerce at 1:30pm.

If you’re Senator is on that committee, then it is especially critical to call or write to him or her by Monday afternoon.

Senate Commerce Committee

To send an email click a Senator’s name or better yet make a call today! We have included a sample letter below that you can customize to your liking. Be sure to include your name, address and phone number so the Senator will know you live in his or her district.

Steve Southerland (Morristown Area) - Phone: (615) 741-3851

Paul Stanley (Memphis, parts of Shelby County) - Phone (615) 741-3036

Charlotte Burks (Monterey - District 15) - Phone (615) 741-3978

Mae Beavers (Mt. Juliet - District 17) - Phone (615) 741-2421

Dewayne Bunch (Cleveland - District 9) - Phone (615) 741-3730

Tim Burchett (Park of Knox County) - (615) 741-1766 Tim is already a sponsor so let’s thank him!

Jack Johnson (Williamson and part of Davidson County) - Phone (615) 741-2495.

Reginald Tate (Memphis, Part of Shelby County) - Phone (615) 741-2509

John Wilder (Mason, District 26) - Phone (615) 741-2368

One final suggestion: In your calls and letters make it clear that EVERY hospital & birthing center should be required to do the screenings — no exceptions — because in this day and age, every hospital should be prepared to screen newborns for hearing problems!

What if My Senator Is Not on That Committee? We Still Need You!

For those readers who don’t have a senator on the committee, then we recommend calling or writing to your Senator anyway. Just let them know you support Claire’s Law and hope they will be able to do so as well, perhaps even as a co-sponsor. If you don’t know who your Senator is then visit the state website at: http://www.legislature.state.tn.us/ or call our office for assistance (615) 383-9442.

Below is a sample letter that you can customize for your own use or tailor for a phone call. Just be sure to let your senator know that you are a constituent by include or offering your name and address.

Sample Letter

I’m writing to ask your support for Claire’s Law (Senate Bill 3191). This legislation will ensure that every newborn in Tennessee is screened for hearing loss prior to leaving the hospital. This is especially important because hearing loss is the number one birth defect in America and early detection can improve lifetime outcomes for the newborn, its family, and our state.

This law requires nothing groundbreaking on the part of hospitals because roughly 90% of all newborns in Tennessee are already screened for hearing loss, but that still leaves 10% like Claire who fail to get a routine screening and potentially miss out on the earliest treatments.

It really is a wonder that a newborn can somehow slip out the door of a hospital without a doctor or nurse realizing a child is deaf when there is a routine screening that could have been performed prior to discharge.

With Claire’s Law coming up in Senate Commerce soon I hope you will be supportive and perhaps consider becoming a co-sponsor. Please let me know how things go in committee.


What If I Want to Know More Before Calling or Writing?

Claire’s Law (SB3191/HB2753) Requires that all newborns be screened for hearing loss prior to hospital discharge and includes insurance coverage by those plans covered under most Tennessee laws. To read and track.

To Learn More About Claire’s Story.

To Read a Fact Sheet about Newborn Hearing and Screening in Tennessee.

A Final Word of Encouragement for Claire’s Family

We expect that Claire’s mom Michelle will be working feverishly in the next few days to talk to as many legislators as possible — a lot for one person! So if you would like to send her words of encouragement or report to us on your contacts with legislators, then please drop a line to our policy director at todd_h@tndisability.org and he will pass along your message.