I copied this email and sent it to Ms. Soukup. cj ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lonna Poland" <lonna@granbury.com> To: <BUSBY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2000 1:23 PM Subject: Re: Followup -Closing Public Records Access in Iowa > Friends on all my genealogy lists... please help with this, Iowa > congresswoman's email: bsoukup@legis.state.ia.us > > I think if we all just write and tell our concerns for the future of > genealogy in Iowa, telling her how much we count on finding the records of > our ancestors. Say also that people need "proof" of ancestry if they want > to join DAR and other organizations, and by that we need the birth > certificates. Suggest to her, just as you have said below. > > Let's think this through... a person who is looking for a new identity will > usually be looking for someone who died as a baby, as you have said, find > some way of flagging these with death certificates so that no one can > pretend it is theirs and request a copy. Perhaps they could make a rule for > proof of identity another way before they send out "certified" copies with > the official seal. Genealogists don't need certified copies, as long as we > just get a copy, that would constitute "source" I would think. Am I off > base on this? I'm happy just to get xerox copies of things :)) > > I think we should write on this even if we don't have ancestors from Iowa... > you never know how many more states will start to close birth records to the > public. > > > >Well to my knowledge, I don't have any "roots" in Iowa but in any case, can > >we find out where and who to email about this! If we all write them, maybe > >they will listen. I understand the "stealing" of ID's but I am sure there > >could be some way they could cross reference them with death records or > >maybe use a cut off date? If you can, please let us know what we can do! > >Thanks for checking it out!! > >Carolyn > > > >> It wasn't a hoax... see below: > >> > > >> >> Hi Violet. I received the following response to my email...evidently > >> >it's > >> >> just birth records that may be affected. > >> >> Please note that I gave the wrong email address for Betty Soukup, Iowa > >> >State > >> >> Senator whose response was almost instantaneous. It should not be > Soup > >> >> kup...... connie > >> >> bsoukup@legis.state.ia.us (Soukup, Betty) > >> >> > >> >> Thank you for your interest in the proposed change in the procedure > >> >relating > >> >> to copies of birth records. This initiative will be part of the > >> Department > >> >> of Public Health's legislative package for the 2000 session. > >> >> > >> >> I have spoken with officials in the Department of Public Health to > >> >> hear their rationale for this change. They have indicated that under > >> >> current law anyone can walk into a county courthouse and look at birth > >> >> records. Their concern stems, not from wanting to restrict access to > >such > >> >> records, but from a history of abuse by those seeking to establish > >false > >> >> identities. > >> >> > >> >> I understand your concern, but there is a specific problem the > >> >> Department is trying to address and the Legislature will have to > >evaluate > >> >> the arguments. > >> >> > >> >> I am unsure how to address this issue, but the Department has > >> >> indicated they are willing to discuss alternatives. > >> >> > >> >> Thank you again for sharing your views with me. Please feel free > >to > >> >> contact me with any additional information or comments. > >> >> > >> >> Sincerely, > >> >> Betty Soukup > >> >> State Senator > > > > ==== BUSBY Mailing List ==== > Busby Family Homepage: > http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~busby/index.htm > Listowner: Barbara Peddicord mailto:nashoba@cdsnet.net > >