[Colorado-Talk] Call to Action for SB24-153, News Access for Coloradans who are Blind or Print-Disabled

Mon May 6 21:40:18 UTC 2024

Done. Easy peasy, mac and cheesy. ☺

Regards,
Jo Elizabeth Pinto

Please visit my author Website:
https://www.brightsideauthor.com

From: Colorado-Talk <colorado-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Dan Burke via Colorado-Talk
Sent: Monday, May 6, 2024 3:09 PM
To: tmontano9 at msn.com
Cc: Dan Burke <burke.dall at gmail.com>; NFB of Colorado Discussion List <colorado-talk at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [Colorado-Talk] Call to Action for SB24-153, News Access for Coloradans who are Blind or Print-Disabled

Good afternoon all –

SB24-153, News Access for Print Disabled is still waiting to be considered  by the House Appropriations Committee. Many of us have already sent emails about this. But the fact is that they have met twice since if passed out of the State, Civic, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee on Saturday. And the session ends on Wednesday. That means it absolutely must be considered no later than tomorrow morning, but we aren’t sure when they will meet again.

So, now is the time to focus on the Committee Chair, Rep. Emily Sirota. Do not delay. Writer or call her and ask her to bring this bill to Appropriations before it’s too late. Here’s a sample letter:

Dear Chair Sirota –

I’m a member of the National Federation of the Blind. I’m writing to urge you to bring a bill that is very important to us to the Appropriations Committee. SB24-153 will help us bring critical access to news and information to many more blind, low vision, and print disabled Coloradans. Please bring this up for the Appropriations Committee to vote on.

Thank you for all of your hard work at the end of this session!

Representative Emily Sirota, Chair
emily.sirota.house at coleg.gov<mailto:emily.sirota.house at coleg.gov>
303-866-2910

On Sun, May 5, 2024 at 3:32 PM <tmontano9 at msn.com<mailto:tmontano9 at msn.com>> wrote:
Wow! That was a long day for you all!  Thank you for testifying.
I appreciate you all for hanging in there all day.
T

From: Colorado-Talk <colorado-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org<mailto:colorado-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org>> On Behalf Of Dan Burke via Colorado-Talk
Sent: Sunday, May 5, 2024 1:13 PM
To: NFB of Colorado Discussion List <colorado-talk at nfbnet.org<mailto:colorado-talk at nfbnet.org>>
Cc: Dan Burke <burke.dall at gmail.com<mailto:burke.dall at gmail.com>>
Subject: Re: [Colorado-Talk] Call to Action for SB24-153, News Access for Coloradans who are Blind or Print-Disabled

Greetings all -

Thanks to the work we did last week and the work of our priary sponsor Sen. jessie Danielson, SB24-153 made it out of the Senate and on to the Colorado House. Yesterday, Kevan, Curtis and i testified before th House State, Civic Military, and Veterans Affairs Committee with our House sponsors, Rep. David Ortiz and Rep. Stephanie Vigil We had a long wait to testify, but it was worth the time. SB24-153, News Access for the Print disabled, passed out of committee unanimously! We were the only witnesses on this bill, co the strength and commitment of our organization was apparent.

With only days left, the legislature is working hard and fast to get their work done. SB24-153 goes next to the House Appropriations Committee, It has to pass there to go to the floor of the House. The committee met this morning, but our bill wasn't on the agenda yet. So, that gives us a chance to send emails or call to ask the committee members for their support. Here's all you need to say:

Dear Representative:

I'm a member of the National Federation of the Blind. I'm writing to respectfully ask for your "Yes" vote in Appropriations for SB24-153, which will increase news access for blind and print disabled Coloradans.

Thank you!

# # #

Here's the list for the House Appropriations Committee:

Representative Emily Sirota
Chair
emily.sirota.house at coleg.gov<mailto:emily.sirota.house at coleg.gov>
303-866-2910

Representative Shannon Bird, Vice Chair
shannon.bird.house at coleg.gov<mailto:shannon.bird.house at coleg.gov>
303-866-2843

Representative Judy Amabile
judy.amabile.house at coleg.gov<mailto:judy.amabile.house at coleg.gov>
303-866-2578

Representative  Andrew Boesenecker
andrew.boesenecker.house at coleg.gov<mailto:andrew.boesenecker.house at coleg.gov>
303-866-2917

Representative  Scott Bottoms
scott.bottoms.house at coleg.gov<mailto:scott.bottoms.house at coleg.gov>
303-866-5525

Representative Lisa Frizell
lisa.frizell.house at coleg.gov<mailto:lisa.frizell.house at coleg.gov>
303-866-2948

Representative Leslie Herod
leslie.herod.house at coleg.gov<mailto:leslie.herod.house at coleg.gov>
303-866-2959

Representative Iman Jodeh
Iman.Jodeh.house at coleg.gov<mailto:Iman.Jodeh.house at coleg.gov>
303-866-2919

Representative Stephanie Luck
stephanie.luck.house at coleg.gov<mailto:stephanie.luck.house at coleg.gov>
303-866-2905

Representative Rick Taggart
rick.taggart.house at coleg.gov<mailto:rick.taggart.house at coleg.gov>
303-866-3068

Representative Elizabeth Velasco
elizabeth.velasco.house at coleg.gov<mailto:elizabeth.velasco.house at coleg.gov>
303-866-2949

On Thu, May 2, 2024 at 9:18 AM kevan nfbco.org<http://nfbco.org/> via Colorado-Talk <colorado-talk at nfbnet.org<mailto:colorado-talk at nfbnet.org>> wrote:
Great news Curtis. Don’t know if we will get everything passed but we are going to get close thanks to you, Dan, and Jess.

From: Curtis Chong <chong.curtis at gmail.com<mailto:chong.curtis at gmail.com>>
Sent: Wednesday, May 1, 2024 12:32 PM
To: NFB of Colorado Discussion List <colorado-talk at nfbnet.org<mailto:colorado-talk at nfbnet.org>>
Cc: kevan nfbco.org<http://nfbco.org/> <kevan at nfbco.org<mailto:kevan at nfbco.org>>
Subject: Re: [Colorado-Talk] Call to Action for SB24-153, News Access for Coloradans who are Blind or Print-Disabled

Passed out of Appropriations. Now on to the full Senate.

On May 1, 2024, at 12:10 PM, kevan nfbco.org<http://nfbco.org/> via Colorado-Talk <colorado-talk at nfbnet.org<mailto:colorado-talk at nfbnet.org>> wrote:

Done! Called them all. Talked briefly to Gardner late yesterday afternoon. How do we stand?

At your service,
Kevan Worley
303-929-2369
Manager Project Literacy, National Federation of the Blind of Colorado
The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.
Colorado Center for the Blind believes when you believe in yourself and experience a thriving community of positive blind people, nothing can hold you back from pursuing your dreams.

From: Colorado-Talk <colorado-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org<mailto:colorado-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org>> On Behalf Of Jessica Beecham via Colorado-Talk
Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2024 10:37 AM
To: NFB of Colorado Discussion List <colorado-talk at nfbnet.org<mailto:colorado-talk at nfbnet.org>>
Cc: Jessica Beecham <jbbeecham at gmail.com<mailto:jbbeecham at gmail.com>>
Subject: Re: [Colorado-Talk] Call to Action for SB24-153, News Access for Coloradans who are Blind or Print-Disabled

Hello Everyone!

This is fantastic! In addition, I wanted to provide some phone numbers that we can all ring today as well. You can share the same message thata SB24-153 needs their urgent attention. Feel free to share the positive impact that NFB-NEWSLINE has on your life.

If we are going to successfully pull down these funds, our efforts are CRITICAL!!!!!!!!!

Senators
Jeff Bridges - 303-866-4846
Rachel Zinzinger - 303-866-4340
James Coleman - 303-866-4864
Jessie Danielson - 303-866-4856
Bob Gardner - 303-866-4880
Julie Gonzales - 303-866-4862
Chris Hansen - 303-866-4861
Barbara Kirkmeyer - 303-866-4876
Larry Liston - 303-866-2737
Kevin Priola - 303-866-4855

Let's get to calling and emailing! We can do this!

Best Wishes

Jess

On Tue, Apr 30, 2024 at 10:13 AM Peggy Chong via Colorado-Talk <colorado-talk at nfbnet.org<mailto:colorado-talk at nfbnet.org>> wrote:
Done.  I sent to all.

Peggy Chong

From: Colorado-Talk <colorado-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org<mailto:colorado-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org>> On Behalf Of Curtis Chong via Colorado-Talk
Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2024 9:58 AM
To: 'NFB of Colorado Discussion List' <colorado-talk at nfbnet.org<mailto:colorado-talk at nfbnet.org>>
Cc: Curtis Chong <chong.curtis at gmail.com<mailto:chong.curtis at gmail.com>>
Subject: [Colorado-Talk] Call to Action for SB24-153, News Access for Coloradans who are Blind or Print-Disabled
Importance: High

Greetings everyone:

We learned just today that SB24-153, a bill that would provide $125,000 for the critical expansion of NFB-NEWSLINE® in Colorado was laid over by the Colorado Senate Appropriations Committee. There is a little more than one week left in the Colorado 2024 legislative session. It is vital for this bill to be considered and passed out of Senate Appropriations if it has any hope of succeeding this year.

What Can You Do?

At the very least, you can send emails to the Chair and Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee telling them that you believe expansion of NFB-NEWSLINE® in Colorado is vital for blind or print-disabled Coloradans who do not know about this important program of information dissemination.

The Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee is Senator Jeff Bridges. Senator Bridges' email is jeff.bridges.senate at coleg.gov<mailto:jeff.bridges.senate at coleg.gov>.

The vice chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee is Senator Rachel Zenzinger, and her email is senatorrachelz at gmail.com<mailto:senatorrachelz at gmail.com>.

For your convenience, I am including below my signature a copy of the email we just sent to all members of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Also, for your convenience, I am providing a list of the members along with their email addresses should you find that you can send emails to the committee as a whole. Here is the list.

'Senator Jeff Bridges, Chair' jeff.bridges.senate at coleg.gov<mailto:jeff.bridges.senate at coleg.gov>
'Senator Rachel Zenzinger, Vice Chair' senatorrachelz at gmail.com<mailto:senatorrachelz at gmail.com>
Senator James Coleman james.coleman.senate at coleg.gov<mailto:james.coleman.senate at coleg.gov>
Senator Bob Gardner bob.gardner.senate at coleg.gov<mailto:bob.gardner.senate at coleg.gov>
Senator Julie Gonzales julie.gonzales.senate at coleg.gov<mailto:julie.gonzales.senate at coleg.gov>
Senator Chris Hansen chris.hansen.senate at coleg.gov<mailto:chris.hansen.senate at coleg.gov>
Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer barbara.kirkmeyer.senate at coleg.gov<mailto:barbara.kirkmeyer.senate at coleg.gov>
Senator Larry Liston larry.liston.senate at coleg.gov<mailto:larry.liston.senate at coleg.gov>
Senator Kevin Priola kevin.priola.senate at coleg.gov<mailto:kevin.priola.senate at coleg.gov>

Please do what you can as soon as you can. The General Assembly adjourns on Wednesday, May 8.

See below for a copy of the email we sent to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Cordially,

Curtis Chong

____________________________________________________

Date:               April 30, 2024

TO:                  Members of the Colorado Senate Appropriations Committee

FROM:            Dan Burke and Curtis Chong
Legislative Co-Chairs
National Federation of the Blind of Colorado

Subject:           SB24-153, News Access for Coloradans who are Blind or Print-Disabled

We learned just today that SB24-153, which was schedule to be heard by the Senate Appropriations Committee, was laid over. The National Federation of the Blind of Colorado is very concerned about this disappointing delay in making funds available to expand an information dissemination program for blind Coloradans which is vital to their participation in society as informed members of the public. Time is short. We would ask the Senate Appropriations Committee to move expeditiously on SB24-153.

Thank you for your kind attention.

_______________________________________________
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--
Dan Burke

National Federation of the Blind of Colorado Legislative Co-chair

"Blindness is not what holds you back.  You can live the life you want!"

My Cell:  406.546.8546

--
Dan Burke

National Federation of the Blind of Colorado Legislative Co-chair

"Blindness is not what holds you back.  You can live the life you want!"

My Cell:  406.546.8546
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