ACTION ALERT: PLEASE ASK LEGISLATORS TO OPPOSE SB741 Which Implements Potentially Harmful and Expensive Covid-19 Response Measures
TEXT OF SB741 – COVID-19 TESTING, CONTACT TRACING, AND VACCINATION ACT OF 2021:
Requiring, on or before April 1, 2021, the Maryland Department of Health, in collaboration with local health departments of the State, to adopt and implement a certain plan to respond to the outbreak of COVID-19; requiring, for calendar year 2021, institutions of higher education in the State to adopt and implement a certain COVID-19 testing plan; requiring certain insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for certain COVID-19 tests and associated costs; etc.
why icm opposes THis bill
- This bill would implement tremendously costly and potentially counterproductive measures to contain Covid-19. More targeted and reasonable countermeasures should be implemented.
- This bill proposes PCR testing as a primary means of screening for Covid-19 infection across the population, even for asymptomatic citizens who have no indication of infection. There is mounting evidence that PCR tests are widely inaccurate and inappropriate to use as a population-wide active screening tool.
- This bill would implement population-wide contact tracing when in fact tracing is a tool most appropriate to contain small outbreaks in the early stages of spread through a population.
- This bill could place potentially undue burden on seniors in assisted living facilities and their loved ones, who could be denied the basic freedom of movement and human contact which constitute a baseline standard of living. There is mounting evidence that the hospitalization and mortality curves remain relatively consistent across states with divergent policies regarding population-wide testing and isolation, even among asymptomatic and very low risk citizens.
- This bill would implement universal testing requirements which place an undue and counterproductive burden on college students, when there is mounting evidence that population-wide testing among asymptomatic people, particularly in low-risk populations, does not significantly reduce the spread of Covid-19.
Who to contact about SB741
There will be a hearing for SB741 before the Senate Finance Committee on 2/24/21 at 1:00 PM.
URGENT: We’re asking all members to call and email the following sponsors of this bill and the members of Senate Finance Committee and let them know, in your own words, why you oppose SB741.
Phone 410-841-3606 | 301-858-3606
Toll-free in MD 1-800-492-7122 ext.3606
e-mail: delores.kelley@senate.state.md.us
If you’re a constituent of hers – in District 10 – let her know!
Phone 410-841-3169 | 301-858-3169
Fax 410-841-3607 | 301-858-3607
e-mail: brian.feldman@senate.state.md.us
If you’re a constituent of his – in District 15 – let him know!
Phone 410-841-3745 | 301-858-3745
Toll-free in MD
1-800-492-7122 ext. 3745
e-mail: malcolm.augustine@senate.state.md.us
If you’re a constituent of his – in District 47 – let him know!
Phone 410-841-3593 | 301-970-3593
Toll-free in MD 1-800-492-7122 ext.3593
e-mail: pamela.beidle@senate.state.md.us
If you’re a constituent of hers – in District 32 – let her know!
Phone 410-841-3148 | 301-858-3148
Toll-free in MD 1-800-492-7122 ext.3148
e-mail: joanne.benson@senate.state.md.us
If you’re a constituent of hers – in District 24 – let her know!
Phone 410-841-3656 | 301-858-3656
Toll-free in MD 1-800-492-7122 ext.3656
e-mail: antonio.hayes@senate.state.md.us
If you’re a constituent of his – in District 40 – let him know!
Senator Stephen S. Hershey, Jr.
Phone 410-841-3639 | 301-858-3639
Fax 410-841-3762 | 301-858-3762
If you’re a constituent of his – in District 36 – let him know!
Phone 410-841-3706 | 301-858-3706
Toll-free in MD 1-800-492-7122 ext.3706
e-mail: jb.jennings@senate.state.md.us
If you’re a constituent of his – in District 7 – let him know!
Phone 410-841-3620 | 301-858-3620
Toll-free in MD 1-800-492-7122 ext.3620
e-mail: katherine.klausmeier@senate.state.md.us
If you’re a constituent of hers – in District 8 – let her know!
Phone 410-841-3151 | 301-858-3151
Fax 410-841-3740 | 301-858-3740
e-mail: Ben.Kramer@senate.state.md.us
If you’re a constituent of his – in District 19 – let him know!
Phone 410-841-3683 | 301-858-3683
Toll-free in MD 1-800-492-7122 ext.3683
e-mail: justin.ready@senate.state.md.us
If you’re a constituent of his – in District 5 – let him know!
Please copy and paste the following email addresses of the Senate Finance Committee members into the BCC section of your email in opposition of SB741:
delores.kelley@senate.state.md.us,brian.feldman@senate.state.md.us,malcolm.augustine@senate.state.md.us,pamela.beidle@senate.state.md.us,joanne.benson@senate.state.md.us,antonio.hayes@senate.state.md.us,steve.hershey@senate.state.md.us,jb.jennings@senate.state.md.us,katherine.klausmeier@senate.state.md.us,Ben.Kramer@senate.state.md.us,justin.ready@senate.state.md.us
Please call the offices of the Senate Committee members in opposition of SB741:
Senator Delores G. Kelley
Phone 410-841-3606 | 301-858-3606
Toll-free in MD 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3606
Phone 410-841-3169 | 301-858-3169
Fax 410-841-3607 | 301-858-3607
Phone 410-841-3745 | 301-858-3745
Toll-free in MD 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3745
Phone 410-841-3593 | 301-970-3593
Toll-free in MD 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3593
Phone 410-841-3148 | 301-858-3148
Toll-free in MD 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3148
Phone 410-841-3656 | 301-858-3656
Toll-free in MD 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3656
Senator Stephen S. Hershey, Jr.
Phone 410-841-3639 | 301-858-3639
Phone 410-841-3706 | 301-858-3706
Toll-free in MD 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3706
Phone 410-841-3620 | 301-858-3620
Toll-free in MD 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3620
Phone 410-841-3151 | 301-858-3151
Phone 410-841-3683 | 301-858-3683
Toll-free in MD 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3683
Please note: Rules for submitting written and oral testimony have changed this year due to Covid-19 restrictions, and can be viewed here. We’re asking members for phone calls, emails, and written testimony only at this time.
Please spread the word! Let’s flood these delegates’ office and the Senate Finance committee members with polite, respectful, forceful emails and phone calls. They need to hear our voices!
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