Writing Powerful Testimony

You don’t need to be a policy expert to make a difference. Lawmakers want to hear from real people—parents, educators, healthcare workers, and community members—who care about protecting kids and preventing disease.

Great testimony is honest, clear, and concise. It doesn’t have to be formal; speak from the heart, be kind, and tell the truth. See below for suggested talking points from Massachusetts Families for Vaccines, and feel free to add your own reasons for supporting these important bills.

Start your testimony with “Dear Honorable Members of the Joint Committee on Public Health.”

Step 1: Introduce Yourself

Start with your name, where you live, and your connection to the issue.

Examples:

• “My name is Julia Rivera and I’m a parent of two young children in Somerville.”

• “I’m a pediatric nurse from Worcester who works with immunocompromised kids.”

• “I’m a public school teacher and vaccine advocate in Springfield.”

Step 2: State Your Position Clearly

Say upfront that you support S.1557 and H.2554.

Example:

“I’m writing today in strong support of S.1557 and H.2554, which would eliminate the religious exemption loophole and help prevent dangerous disease outbreaks in our schools.”

Step 3: Share Your Personal Perspective

This is the heart of your testimony. Use a brief story, personal experience, or observation to explain why this matters to you.

Ideas to include:

• Have you or your child ever been affected by a vaccine-preventable disease?

• Are you worried about declining vaccination rates in your community?

• Do you work with or care about children or adults who are medically vulnerable?

• Are you frustrated by misinformation or the misuse of exemptions?

Example:

“My daughter is too young to be fully vaccinated, and I worry every day about what she’s exposed to at daycare. I shouldn’t have to wonder if other families are using loopholes to skip vaccines and put my child at risk.”

Step 4: Explain Why the Bills Are Important

Make one or two key points. Keep it simple and focused.

You could say:

• Clusters of unvaccinated students put entire communities at risk.

• Medical exemptions will still be allowed—and that’s the right balance.

• Public data helps families make informed choices and encourages accountability.

Step 5: Ask for Action

End with a clear call to support the bills.

Example:

“I urge the committee to support S.1557 and H.2554 and help keep Massachusetts children safe from preventable diseases.”

Other Tips

• Length: Aim for 1–2 pages (500–700 words max) or 2–3 minutes if speaking.

• Tone: Be respectful, sincere, and focused. This can be an emotional issue, so anger and frustration are understandable, but respectful testimony is more persuasive.

• Clarity: Avoid jargon or long explanations. Speak like you would in conversation.

• Proofread: Read your testimony out loud to make sure it flows naturally.

If you’d like help with your statement, please contact us at info@mafamiliesforvaccines.org.