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<b>From:</b> Sharon Newton <sharon_newton@bellsouth.net><br>
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<div dir="ltr"><b>Date:</b> June 12, 2025 at 12:27:18\u202fPM EDT<br>
<b>To:</b> gerald moreno <g.moreno1950@outlook.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> <b>FW: [Nfbnet-students-list] Urgent: Legislative Alert Regarding Accessibility Features in Public Buildings</b><br>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Gerry, please pupt on list serve ASAP. Thanks. Sharon<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> Nfbnet-students-list <nfbnet-students-list-bounces@nfbnet.org>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Kaleigh Brendle via Nfbnet-students-list<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, June 11, 2025 5:30 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> nfbnet-students-list@nfbnet.org; kaleighbrendle@gmail.com<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Nfbnet-students-list] Urgent: Legislative Alert Regarding Accessibility Features in Public Buildings<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"helveticaneue",serif;color:black">Hi everyone,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"helveticaneue",serif;color:black">Please see the below message from John Pare. The Department of Energy is trying to put a new rule into effect that would take away certain accessibility requirements
for new construction of buildings for programs or activities getting federal assistance. This covers accessible features such as Braille signs and auditory announcements in elevators. It is slated to take effect on July 15th, but we have a few more days to
try and stop it. Please follow John Pare\u2019s instructions to leave a comment on this rule, all comments need to be in by June 16th. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"helveticaneue",serif;color:black">Best,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"helveticaneue",serif;color:black">Kaleigh <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"helveticaneue",serif;color:black">Dear Federation Family:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"helveticaneue",serif;color:black"> On May 16, 2025, the United States Department of Energy released a direct final rule that \u201crescinds certain new construction requirements related to disability nondiscrimination
in federally assisted programs or activities.\u201d A direct final rule is slightly different from the typical rulemaking process, it\u2019s a kind of fast-track effort to put a new rule in place unless there are \u201csignificant adverse comments\u201d which oppose the rule
by June 16, 2025.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"helveticaneue",serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"helveticaneue",serif;color:black">As you may expect, we are adamantly opposed to any attempt to roll back any accessibility requirements in the construction of buildings for
federally assisted programs or activities. Just last week, President Riccobono submitted the official <a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements/letter-united-states-department-energy-regarding"><span style="color:#467886;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">comments
of the National Federation of the Blind to the Department of Energy</span></a> opposing the rescinding of the requirements. These comments are posted on the policy statements page of our website, and we encourage you to read them. But, more important than
that, we urge you to submit your own comments to the Department of Energy to ensure they understand just how important accessibility is to us. Tell them how important Braille signage is in buildings, or how vital nonvisually accessible information is in an
elevator. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"helveticaneue",serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"helveticaneue",serif;color:black">When writing your comments, you might say something like: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"helveticaneue",serif;color:black">\u201cMy name is [NAME], and I live in [CITY, STATE]. I urge you to withdraw the direct final rule. As a blind person myself, I know the importance
of accessible public buildings and architecture. Without accessible features such as Braille signage on doors and Braille and audio announcements in elevators, blind people are unable to independently navigate these facilities. Again, I urge you to withdraw
the direct final rule.\u201d<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"helveticaneue",serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"helveticaneue",serif;color:black">You can submit your comments online through the Federal Register page at: <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/05/16/2025-08535/rescinding-new-construction-requirements-related-to-nondiscrimination-in-federally-assisted-programs#open-comment"><span style="color:#467886;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/05/16/2025-08535/rescinding-new-construction-requirements-related-to-nondiscrimination-in-federally-assisted-programs#open-comment</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"helveticaneue",serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"helveticaneue",serif;color:black">The link will take you directly to the submission page where you will be able to type in your comment, selecting the option to confirm that
you are an individual, and verifying that you understand your comments may be publicly viewed on the website. Remember, time is of the essence because the comment submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Monday, June 16, 2025 We apologize that we did not
get this information to you sooner, but there is still time to leave your comment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"helveticaneue",serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"helveticaneue",serif;color:black">Thank you for all that you do,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"helveticaneue",serif;color:black">John<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"helveticaneue",serif;color:black"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">John Paré</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"helveticaneue",serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"helveticaneue",serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/200+East+Wells+Street,+Baltimore,+MD+21230?entry=gmail&source=g"><span style="color:#4285F4">200
East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230</span></a></span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"helveticaneue",serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">410-659-9314, extension 2218 | </span><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"><a href="mailto:jpare@nfb.org"><span style="color:#4285F4">jpare@nfb.org</span></a></span></u><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"helveticaneue",serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"> </span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"helveticaneue",serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:white"><span style="color:white"><a href="https://nfb.org/"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none"></span></a></span></p>
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<p style="background:white"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"> </span><span style="color:white"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none"></span></a></span></p>
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<p style="background:white"><span style="color:white"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none"></span></a></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in"> </span><span style="color:white"><a href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#0563C1;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;text-decoration:none"></p>
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<p style="background-color:rgba(0,0,0,0)"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes
and dreams of the nation\u2019s blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.</span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"helveticaneue",serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Kaleigh Brendle (she/her)<br>
Board Member: National Association of Blind Students<br>
Chair: National Association of Blind Students Advocacy Committee<br>
Vice President: Pennsylvania Association of Blind Students <br>
<a href="mailto:Kaleighbrendle@gmail.com">Kaleighbrendle@gmail.com</a><br>
732.513.2624 <o:p></o:p></p>
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