<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><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>We need everyone to either call or email the following Maryland Legislators and ask them to cosponsor the Transformation to Competitive Employment Act. Please call Congressmen Sarbanes, Cummings, Brown, Hoyer, Ruppersberger, and Harris, and ask them to cosponsor HR 873. Please call Senator Cardin and ask him to cosponsor S 260. Please do it this week. It is great that Maryland has Congressmen Raskin and Trone and Senator Van Holland on these bills. However, we need to get as close to 100% as we can. Please read John Pare’s message below and take action. Thanks!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Transformation to Competitive Employment Act <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>House – H.R. 873 – Sponsored by Bobby Scott (D-VA-3) – 52 cosponsors<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Senate – S. 260 – Sponsored by Bob Casey (D-PA) – 7 cosponsors<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>These bills would phase out Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act over a six-year period, at which point the provision would officially be sunset. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please call or email your representative and two senators and urge them to cosponsor the Transformation to Competitive Employment Act if they have not already done so.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>When you call or email, you might say something like the following:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>"Hello, my name is [your name] and I am a constituent of [your senator/representative]. I live in [city, state]. I am calling to urge [your senator/representative] to cosponsor [S. 260 for Senate calls/H.R. 873 for House calls], the Transformation to Competitive Employment Act. This legislation phases out Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act over a six-year period, at which point the provision would officially be sunset.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thanks."<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>You can contact your member of Congress by calling the Capitol Switchboard and asking for the office in question. The number is 202-224-3121. If you email your representative or senators, please copy John Pare at <a href="mailto:jpare@nfb.org">jpare@nfb.org</a>. Your calls and emails do make a difference.<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><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Sharon Maneki, Director of Legislation and Advocacy</span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></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><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland 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</span>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>