March 17th Committee meeting.

On Monday March 17th, Marty, Jack, Rob S., state rep Jessica Farrar, and a few others stood up in front of a panel of 10 committee members and testified about the negative consequences of deferred adjudication. We defined to the panelists what DA is, how many people and their families it is affecting, how it is affecting them, and what can be done to fix the problem, which is to support House Bill 181. God was with us in our presentation. We each gave a very powerfully resonating and convincing speech. Each of our members, in their own way, told their story. Judging from the body language exhibited by the panelists as well as their open-minded receptiveness to this issue, we believe that we carried the day!

A wonderful show of support occurred when Jessica Farrar was giving her closing speech.... one of the panelists stood up and went so far as to say:

"Jessica, I think that this is a wonderful bill! You don't know how many people have written/called our office expressing anger and frustration over this issue. I would like to sign up as a supporter for this bill !!!"

The panelist who made this declaration is a Republican, from the reports we’ve heard! So, by all early indications, this bill is being viewed as a bi-partisan bill, which is exactly what we are going to need in order to get the bill passed by congress and signed into law!

Rob wrote of his experience at the event.
“I must admit, when it come time for me to stand up and give my speech. I was aghast and terrified! "What?"
I asked myself? "Me stand up and give a presentation in front of the these 10 committee panelists?" My knees were shaking....my stomach was in knots. It was now or never. It was one of the most gut-wrenching things I have ever done. My heart shrank from it. But I want you to know that, at that moment in my life....as I leaned into that microphone in front of all those people, my thoughts were only of all of you and all of the horrors and indignations that you have endured because of deferred adjudication. It was because of all the things that you
all have suffered is what gave me strength and inspiration right at the last possible second. The words came
forth and I was able to deliver a powerful, moving speech that resonated well with the panel and witnesses.
I carefully and succinctly articulated all of the problems that we as a people have faced....the job discrimination....the housing discrimination, etc, etc. In the end, it was God who gave me the strength to stand up there and do my best to represent all of you, the people in our organization and the many hundreds of thousands of Texans whom this issue has so deeply affected."