Pennsylvania legislators want to impose mandatory counseling before you can use a religious exemption. Tell them: We will not be coerced!
Days ago Representative Frankel circulated a co-sponsorship memo for a bill which would create a requirement to “receive annual counseling from a health care provider” regarding vaccines. Several of these representatives have, in other years, introduced or helped to push similar BAD bills that would hinder informed choice. This upcoming bill would impose new state‑mandated conditions on religious exemptions. It undermines informed consent by restricting the freedom to decline medical interventions and would require people with sincerely held religious beliefs to undergo annual hurdles. We need to send a united message to those that represent us that Pennsylvania families will not accept restrictions on our existing rights and need you to act before the bill is introduced.
⚠️ Important for Homeschool Families: The proposal does not currently contain language excluding homeschool students. If enacted, families who educate at home could also be affected. Every family that values vaccine choice should contact these legislators now.
1. Call the following Representatives who have already agreed to sponsor/co-sponsor this bill. The message can be as simple as:
Hi, I’m a Pennsylvania resident. I’m calling to oppose the proposed bill requiring mandatory counseling before families can exercise a religious exemption. Religious beliefs and informed consent should not be subject to government-imposed conditions. Please oppose this bill. Thank you.
- Representative Dan Frankel (717) 705-1875 Harrisburg or (412) 422-1774 Pittsburgh
- Representative Tarik Khan (717) 783-4945 Harrisburg or (215) 482-8726 Philadelphia
- Representative Bridget Kosierowski (717) 783-4874 Harrisburg or (570) 562-2350 Scranton
- Representative Michael Schlossberg (717) 705-1869 Harrisburg or (610) 821-5577 Allentown
- Representative Arvind Venkat (717) 772-2363 Harrisburg or (412) 348-8028 or Pittsburgh
It is okay to leave a message. Let’s make every call respectful, concise, and purposeful.
If you are a homeschool family, your voice is especially important. Legislators need to hear that vaccine choice matters for all Pennsylvania families, not just those with children in traditional schools. Many homeschooling families chose home education in part to preserve their ability to direct their children’s education and healthcare decisions. Any proposal that places new government conditions on vaccine exemptions raises concerns for families who have intentionally exercised those rights.
Here are a few suggested talking points to help with your messaging:
- Placing Conditions on a Constitutional Right
- Pennsylvania recognizes religious exemptions because families have the right to act according to sincerely held religious beliefs.
- This bill places additional conditions on exercising that right.
- Constitutional rights should not depend on completing government-mandated counseling.
- Legislators should ask whether any other protected right requires annual counseling before it can be exercised.
- A lawful exemption should not become a permission-based process.
- Pennsylvania families should not lose existing exemption rights through administrative hurdles, mandatory counseling requirements, or annual compliance processes.
- Informed Consent Must Be Voluntary, Not Coerced
- Medical decisions should be made voluntarily, free from coercion or undue pressure.
- Requiring counseling before exercising a lawful exemption undermines the principle of voluntary choice.
- Parents should not be compelled to receive government-mandated counseling in order to decline a medical intervention.
- It’s, “Just a Form”, but why create a law that imposes unique legal burdens on people whose sincerely held religious beliefs lead them to decline a medical intervention?
- Religious Beliefs Do Not Expire Every Year
- Sincerely held religious beliefs do not typically change from year to year.
- Families should not have to justify convictions that have already been lawfully asserted.
- Requiring individuals seeking a religious exemption to complete annual counseling before exercising that exemption treats religious exemptions as temporary privileges rather than protected rights.
2. Want to do more?
Share our social media posts and ask your friends to contact these five Representatives.
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/share/p/19LTRZoA3h/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DZ0Lsz5kfZr/?img_index=1
- Telegram: https://t.me/InformedConsentPA/3115
- X: https://x.com/p_c_i_c/status/2068432505095536785?s=20
3. Still want to do more?
Contact YOUR Representative and ask that they oppose this and these types of bill. Schedule a meeting with your Representative to discuss or simply call their office. To identify your Legislator, enter your address here and click “Search” then select your PA House Representative’s name to find brief biography, committee assignments and contact information. Select a “Stay Connected” option to sign up for newsletters via their individual websites and to follow your state representative on social medias.