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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>I’m on it!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Michelle<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><a name="_MailEndCompose"><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></a></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> MABM [mailto:mabm-bounces@nfbnet.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>nfbmd via MABM<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, November 29, 2017 6:03 PM<br><b>To:</b> nfbmd@nfbnet.org; 'Greater Baltimore' <greater-baltimore@nfbnet.org>; 'Sligo Creek Chapter list, NFB of Maryland' <md-sligo@nfbnet.org>; nationalharbor@nfbnet.org; 'Central Maryland Chapter List' <central-md-chapter@nfbnet.org>; 'Towson/Lutherville/Cockysville Maryland Chapter List' <nfbmdtlc-chapter@nfbnet.org>; 'NFB of Maryland At Large Chapter List' <md-atlarge@nfbnet.org>; mabm@nfbnet.org; 'Maryland Parents of Blind Children List' <mdpobc@nfbnet.org>; 'Maryland Association of Blind Students Mailing List' <mdabs@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> nfbmd <nfbmd@earthlink.net><br><b>Subject:</b> [MABM] Urgent action needed Thursday and Friday, November 30 and December 1<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Hello all,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please call Senators Van Hollen and Cardin. Tell them to oppose the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Our reason for the opposition follows. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>We must strive to maintain our financial freedom and independence.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Urge your senators to guarantee that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act does not trigger mandatory spending cuts that will eliminate or reduce vocational rehabilitation funding. If they can’t guarantee this, they must oppose it. You can reach your senators by calling (202) 224-3121 and asking for the appropriate office.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>For more information, read below.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The following blog was just posted to nfb.org: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Much attention has been given to Congress’s planned tax reform efforts and the varied effects those changes will have on Americans. However, one aspect of the Senate <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1">Tax Cuts and Jobs Act</a> that no one seems to be talking about is the drastic effect it will have on people with disabilities.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Though not explicitly mentioned in the legislation, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act may inadvertently eliminate federal funding for public vocational rehabilitation (VR) programs. As this <a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/ltr_impact_tax_cuts.pdf">letter from the National Council on State Agencies for the Blind</a> explains, VR programs provide critical training for people with disabilities to secure and maintain employment. Defunding of this program will not only curtail gainful employment opportunities for people with disabilities, but also negatively impact other programs such as the Social Security trust fund and Medicare.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We must strive to maintain our financial freedom and independence. Please call your two senators and urge them to guarantee that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act does not trigger mandatory spending cuts that will eliminate or reduce vocational rehabilitation funding. You can reach your senators by calling (202) 224-3121 and asking for the appropriate office.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://nfb.org/blog/article/3408">https://nfb.org/blog/article/3408</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>Sharon Maneki, </b>President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>410-715-9596<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>