5NP Hearing at the Capitol
how'd it go? amazing!
It’s seriously hard to describe how magical our public hearing was, but fortunately I don’t have to, because the legislature films these things.
Watch it here. Our part of the hearing starts at 1:08:33 and goes to 1:33:04, so just about 24 minutes of 5NP testimony. I bet you’ll be glad you did.
We were scheduled to go first, but the Chair wisely moved our bill to the end of the meeting, which made it easier to fit in the live demonstration — you know, the part where members of the House Committee on Behavioral Health and Health Care got needles in their ears. That was fun.
We’ve received forty-nine fifty-three written testimonies in support of HB 2143 so far, and you can read them here. Many of them are personal and heartfelt. It’s also great to see written support for 5NP from community organizations: the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO), Family Forward Oregon, the Oregon Farmworkers’ Union, PCUN (Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste), the Latino Network, CODA, and of course NAYA Action Fund. (And WCA and POCA Tech and the POCA Cooperative.) As the Oregon Heals Coalition put it:
5NP is accessible to all — people of color who have been disenfranchised or stigmatized by our medical system, people who have experienced high levels of trauma, people who struggle with anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and people with diverse cultural backgrounds.
It’s not too late to submit written testimony if you’re feeling inspired!
We’re feeling inspired.
I think our bill’s sponsor, the Chair of the Committee, is feeling inspired. Also relaxed.
Thank you to everyone who sent us good thoughts and lit candles, both literal and metaphorical. Stay tuned for more news of HB 2143 and 5NP 4 OR!
Thanks for sharing the video! Everyone did so great! So cool to see. Brought me to tears.
Congratulations. Was an amazing presentation.