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Hello all,
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Shortly before our national convention in Orlando, the Blind Americans Return to Work Act was introduced in the House of Representatives. The bill number is H. r. 8878. This bill addresses the SSDI earnings cliff. Currently, if a blind or low vision person who receives SSDI benefits chooses to go back to work, benefits are terminated if that person earns a certain amount of money. In 2024, that amount is $2,590 per month. This bill would eliminate the earnings cliff, and institute a system where, after reaching a certain amount of money from employment, SSDI benefits would be reduced by one dollar for each dollar earned working. This would be an incentive for blind Americans to return to work.
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Currently none of Connecticut's representatives have co-sponsored this bill. We are advocating to get as many representatives as possible to co-sponsor, so we're asking that our members contact their representatives and ask them to sign on to this bill.
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The easiest way to contact them by phone is through the Capitol Switchboard, which is 202-224-3121. Simply ask to be transferred to the appropriate office.
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Below is a list of contacts and their e-mail addresses for our five representatives. If you choose to e-mail, please copy Jesse Shirek, <a href="mailto:jshirek@nfb.org,">jshirek@nfb.org,</a> onto the e-mail.
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Joe Courtney:
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Meghan O'Sullivan Ruvinsky, meghan.o'sullivan@mail.house.gov
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Rosa DeLauro:
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Jack Rayburn, <a href="mailto:jack.rayburn@mail.house.gov">jack.rayburn@mail.house.gov</a>
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Jahana Hayes:
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Miranda Ganter, <a href="mailto:miranda.ganter@mail.house.gov">miranda.ganter@mail.house.gov</a>
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Jim Himes:
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Hannah Aiken, <a href="mailto:hannah.aiken@mail.house.gov">hannah.aiken@mail.house.gov</a>
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John Larson:
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Mike Dunn, <a href="mailto:mike.dunn@mail.house.gov">mike.dunn@mail.house.gov</a>
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Feel free to reach out to me if I can be of further assistance.
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Jim McCollum
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860-581-0430
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<a href="mailto:j.mccollum64@comcast.net">j.mccollum64@comcast.net</a>
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