[CT-NFB] FW: [Nfbnet-members-list] Urgent: Legislative Alert - 11.1.21

Tue Nov 2 15:18:17 UTC 2021

Dear Federation Family,

Please take action on this today! After all our hard work we are in danger of losing ATAA. Please call or email right now to the information listed below by John Paré. It is urgent that all is done to try and get the Access Technology Affordability Act back into the Build Back Better Act.

Thank you,

Maryanne Melley

President

National Federation of the Blind of Connecticut

860-212-5549

maryanne.melley at gmail.com

“Live the Life You Want; Blindness is Not What Holds You Back”

On September 27, the Access Technology Affordability Act (ATAA) was incorporated into the House version of the Build Back Better Act. For a month we advocated for Congress to maintain the provisions of the ATAA in the larger bill. On October 20, President Riccobono wrote letters to both Speaker Pelosi <https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements/letter-speaker-pelosi-regarding-ataa-build-back-better>  and Majority Leader Schumer <https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements/letter-majority-leader-schumer-regarding-ataa-build>  urging them to keep this legislation, so critical to the blind of America, in the bill. Unfortunately, we learned late last week, on October 28, that the section of the Build Back Better Act containing the ATAA had been removed. 

The Build Back Better Act has not been finalized, so we still have a chance to get the ATAA back into the bill before it goes for a floor vote, but we must act quickly. We need everyone to contact Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Schumer and urge them to restore this provision. When you call or email you might say:

“My name is [YOUR NAME] and I want to urge [Speaker Pelosi OR Majority Leader Schumer] to restore the Access Technology Affordability Act (H.R. 431/S. 212) into the Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376). This bill will have a tremendous impact on the lives of blind Americans by improving education, increasing employment opportunities, and increasing overall self-sufficiency. Thank you.”

We suggest a subject like: “Please Maintain the ATAA Provision in the Build Back Better Act”

To contact Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Schumer please use the following email addresses, or call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.

Speaker Pelosi:

Terri McCullough, Chief of Staff

terri.mccullough at mail.house.gov <mailto:terri.mccullough at mail.house.gov> 

Majority Leader Schumer:

Mike Lynch, Chief of Staff

mike_lynch at schumer.senate.gov <mailto:mike_lynch at schumer.senate.gov> 

If you email, please copy Jeff Kaloc at jkaloc at nfb.org <mailto:jkaloc at nfb.org> . 

Thank you for all that you do, 

John

John G. Paré Jr. 

Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy

200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230

(410) 659-9314, extension 2218 | Jpare at nfb.org <mailto:Jpare at nfb.org> 

 <https://nfb.org/> 

                          <http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind>      <https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice>      <https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind> 

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. 

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