URGENT ACTION NEEDED! Contact Hawaiʻi Legislators Today on Safe Staffing
Posted 6 days ago
Aloha Hawai’i-ANA Members,
As we move into the next phase of our advocacy for safe patient staffing ratios, we need a coordinated and personal outreach effort to ensure our voices are heard at the State Capitol. Our primary goal right now is to thank the legislators who have stepped up as champions for Hawaii’s nurses and to request critical hearings for the current session for House Bill 1865 and Senate Bill 2763.
Please follow the instructions below to begin your outreach immediately.
1. Engagement Instructions & Tone
When communicating with legislators, our effectiveness relies on being personable, respectful, and honest. These are public servants who need to hear the real-world impact of staffing levels on patient care and your professional well-being.
- Be Personable: Start by identifying yourself as a constituent and a professional. Use the "Personalization Formula" below.
- Be Respectful: Always address them by their formal titles (Senator [Last Name] or Representative [Last Name]).
- Be Honest: Share briefly why this bill matters to you specifically.
- The Personalization Formula: > "My name is [Name], a [Number] year nurse at [Facility] in [Location]. I am a lifelong Hawaii resident and voter in your district, and I am reaching out to ask you for your support of HB1865/SB2763."
2. Outreach Targets & Contact Information
A. Thanking Our Senate Lead
Please send a personalized email and, if possible, place a brief phone call to Senator Keohokalole to thank him for his leadership in introducing SB2763.
- Senator Jarrett Keohokalole (District 24)
- Email: senkeohokalole@capitol.hawaii.gov
- Phone: 808-586-7210
B. Thanking our House Sponsors (Individual Emails)
Each of the following House members has co-sponsored HB1865. Members should send individual emails to each, thanking them for their support.
|
Representative |
|
Phone |
|
Sean Quinlan (Lead) |
808-586-6380 |
|
|
Teresita Amato |
808-586-9470 |
|
|
Della Au Belatti |
808-586-9425 |
|
|
Sonny Ganaden |
808-586-6010 |
|
|
Cedric Asuega Gates |
808-586-8460 |
|
|
Natalia Hussey-Burdick |
808-586-6410 |
|
|
Greggor Ilagan |
808-586-6530 |
|
|
Kirstin Kahaloa |
808-586-6120 |
|
|
Jeanne Kapela |
808-586-9750 |
|
|
Darius Kila |
808-586-9490 |
|
|
Nicole Lowen |
808-586-8400 |
|
|
Lisa Marten |
808-586-9450 |
|
|
Amy Perruso |
808-586-6700 |
|
|
Mahina Poepoe |
808-586-6330 |
|
|
David Tarnas |
808-586-8510 |
|
|
Chris Todd |
808-586-8480 |
|
|
Justin Woodson |
808-586-6210 |
C. Joint Request to House Chairs
We need to send a joint email to the House Labor and House Health Chairs. The message should thank them for the hearing last year and explicitly ask them to schedule a hearing for HB1865 this year.
- Representative Jackson Sayama (Labor & Government Operations)
- Email: repsayama@capitol.hawaii.gov | Phone: 808-586-6900
- Representative Gregg Takayama (Higher Education & Technology / Health)
- Email: reptakayama@capitol.hawaii.gov | Phone: 808-586-6340
3. Recommended Email Format *
Subject: Support for HB1865 / SB2763 - Safe Patient Staffing Standards
Salutation: Aloha Representative [Last Name] / Senator [Last Name],
Body:
[Insert info about you here "My name is _________, a XX year nurse and a lifelong Hawaii resident".]
I am writing to you today to express my deep gratitude for your sponsorship of the RELATING TO STAFFING STANDARDS AT HEALTH CARE FACILITIES legislation. As a nurse on the front lines, I see firsthand how staffing levels directly impact the safety and recovery of our patients.
(Optional: Insert 1-2 sentences on a personal experience regarding staffing).
We truly appreciate the attention this issue received last year, and I am respectfully asking for your continued support to ensure HB1865/SB2763 receives a hearing this session. This bill is a vital step toward protecting both Hawaii’s patients and the nursing profession.
Thank you for your time and for your service to our community.
Mahalo,
[Your Name]
[Your Title/Union Affiliation]
[Your Address/District]