2017 Catholic Faith in Action Advocacy Day

Agenda

2017 Catholic Faith in Action Advocacy Day

April 4, 2017

Texas State Capitol

Monday, April 3, 2017

5:00 p.m.Mass

St. Mary Cathedral

203 East 10th Street

Mass celebrated by Cardinal DiNardo and concelebrated by all Bishops present. Austin clergy, legislators, and staff also invited.

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Throughout the day, @TXCatholic will use Twitter to announce updates using #TCCBUpdate – Follow our tweets for the latest information on the timing of the day’s activities.

Please try to use #txlege and #TXCatholic in all of the public posts of your activity at the Capitol (pictures with lawmakers, rally snaps, personal posts, etc.).

8:00 a.m.Diocesan Coordinators begin arriving in the Legislative Conference Center (Room E2.002 of the State Capitol Extension) to set up tables for Legislative Meeting Team Leaders and advocacy day logistics volunteers.

8:15 a.m.Legislative Meeting Team Leaders check in with diocesan coordinator and pick up packet materials. At this time some Legislative Meeting Team Leaders may begin doing legislative visits.

8:15 a.m.Those wishing to support bills in the committees, meet in the Legislative Conference Center (Room E2.002 of the State Capitol Extension) to complete a witness form on iPads, depending on committee schedules.

Registering Support/Opposition to House/Senate bills: There are several House and Senate bills in hearings on Tuesday that we would encourage members to register to oppose or support during their down time.

This can be done at any of the kiosks in the hallway between the offices and committee hearing rooms. Please note you will need to register for Senate hearings in the kiosks on the Senate side of the hallway and House hearings on the House side of the hallway.

You can also register for House hearings from a personal iPad anywhere within the capitol on the Public Capitol Wireless Network. The following link provides instructions on how to do so—there is even a short video to watch in advance:

The TCCB will provide a list of these bills in E2.002.

Committee name (PUBLIC HEARING)
time and room location

Support SB XXX by Sen. XXXXXXX: This bill dfjdka;sdk fjiaqp.

9:00 a.m.TCCB Angels (participants who are not doing legislative visits) should proceed to the House Gallery on the third floor to be seated for the opening prayer and recognition. We will not know if the House is starting at 9:00 or 10:00 until the day before. 10:00 is the typical start time for the House.

9:30 a.m.Senate Meetings with arch/dioceses

Legislative Conference Center, E2.002 (Seats 75-100)

All of the larger Senate meetings scheduled by the TCCB will take place in the Legislative Conference Center. Most of the Senators are attending committee hearings at this time and will step out to greet our group when they are able. The room holds about 70-100 people and we really want to fill it with constituents from these districts. If you come by and the room is full, check back within 15 minutes as each presentation/discussion is only expected to last 15 minutes.

- Arch/diocese of ______Session (greeter name)

Legislative Conference Center, E2.002

9:30 – 9:45Sen. (confirm)

9:45-10:00Sen. (confirm)

10:00 – 10:15Sen. (confirm)

9:45 – 10:301st Mock Hearing in Auditorium (E1.004 in Capitol Extension)

Other students may pray the Rosary in the Central Court open-air rotunda (Level 1 of the State Capitol Extension), or take a self-guided Capitol tour (South Lobby of First Floor), or visit the Capitol Visitors Center to view historical exhibits and join a scavenger hunt (the Center is located on the southeast corner of the Capitol grounds -

10:00 a.m.HOUSE BISHOPS/DIOCESES: A Bishop will provide the opening prayer and Bishops will be recognized in the House. (Confirm)

11:00 a.m.Begin Assembling on the South Grounds for the Rally

IN CASE OF RAIN: We will move and hold a small press conference in the Senate Press Room located on the 2nd floor just in front of the Senate Chamber at room 2E.9.

11:00 a.m.Opening Prayer in the Senate

Cardinal DiNardo will provide the opening prayer in the Senate. Members of specific arch/dioceses should be in the Senate Gallery.

11:15 a.m.Bishops will begin to arrive for rally on the South Steps of the Capitol

Bishops arrive to launch rally. Cardinal DiNardo: opening prayer and welcome.

11:30 a.m.***Rally Begins on South Steps of the Capitol***

Please make certain you are present in front of the South Steps of the Capitol for the Rally so we can have significant show of Catholic Faith in Action for our state lawmakers.

12:15 – 2:00 Lunch Service

Following the Rally, lunch service for TCCB participants begins on the grounds of the Capitol. Attendees wearing blue shirts will receive priority in the serving line.

12:15 – 1:30Second Mock Hearing in Auditorium (E1.004 in Capitol Extension)

12:30 p.m.Legislative Meetings Resume

Team Leaders continue with legislative visits to members or attend hearings and sign in for support/opposition.

1:30-2:45Third Mock Hearing in Auditorium (E1.004 in Capitol Extension)

2:00 p.m.Lunch Service Concludes

3:00 p.m.Buses leave to return to dioceses

4:00 p.m.Conclusion of the day

Unscheduled Time:TCCB Angels who are not doing legislative visits, visiting the House, or attending briefings may tour the capitol, observe committee meetings, or visit the gift shop.

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