Contact Your State Representatives to Urge Compromise on HB 1

As HB 1, which is essentially the Louisiana government's budget, moves through the legislative process, the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops has been monitoring it closely and speaking on the issues that will impact our ministries throughout the state. Yesterday (May 7) representatives of our ministries testified in front of the Senate Finance Committee about the catastrophic impact HB 1would have to some of our most vulnerable populations. The budget in its current form could eliminate nursing home services as well as programs that provide mental health services to veterans and substance abuse support and rehabilitation. It would also have a devastating impact on the Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans PACE program and to nonpublic school funding. In light of what passage of HB 1 would mean to those we serve, we are encouraging you to contact your State Senators and strongly urge them to work towards a compromise that would allow these programs to stay in place. Allowing a budget like this to pass is irresponsible and puts undue stress and burden on our senior citizens and others who rely on this funding for care and quality of life.

To find the name and contact information for your legislative representatives, go to https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/findmylegislators.aspx

Thank you for your time and attention. We will update you as information becomes available.

Please continue to hold this issue in prayer and pray for all of those in government as they address this challenging situation.