c/o Software Workshop Inc.

55 East Genesee Street
Baldwinsville, NY 13027
3 March 2000

Senator Charles Schumer

Hanley Federal Building, Suite 840
100 S. Clinton Street

Syracuse, NY 13261

Dear Senator Schumer,

I am a coordinator for a group of parents who are seeking Civil Rights legislation to recognize the basic right of both parents and children to be together. We are not a “Mother’s” group or a “Father’s” group. We are parents concerned about what has happened to our children. We have tried to understand that the Judges, Lawyers, and other professionals in the present “system” are doing the best they can -- but often with tragic results.

We believe it is time one of our most basic Civil Rights be recognized and given the protection it deserves: the right of a parents/children to associate with each other. The attached draft of the Family Rights Act of 2000 is an attempt to capture those ideals. We would like your help in getting this introduced as a Bill as soon as possible. We are not experienced “legislators” and look forward to working with your local staff in discussing the wording of the Act and making it better.

Certainly this Act will mean tremendous changes across the country and the presentation of such change will require leadership and understanding. We all look forward to hearing from you. I can be contacted via: phone: 315-635-1968, x-211, fax: 315-635-3243, email: jmurtari@kids-right.org

Your local staff may also be able to find me ‘walking’ the hall on the 8th or 13th floor of the Syracuse Federal Building. I would certainly be happy to introduce myself and speak with them whenever they have time. Please do not see this as a « protest » of you, it is our positive attempt to try to draw attention to an important issue.

Our group spokesperson, Mary Chancellor (Tenessee), can be reached at :
phone : 423-326-0585, email: contact@kids-right.org

Please also visit our web site at: http://www.kids-right.org/

Best regards,

John Murtari