<div dir="ltr">IMPORTANT...Legislative Action<br><br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <strong class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">Pare, John via NFBNet-Members-List</strong> <span dir="auto"><<a href="mailto:nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org">nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org</a>></span><br>Date: Fri, May 2, 2025 at 5:11\u202fPM<br>Subject: [Nfbnet-members-list] Urgent Need to Contact Your Representative Regarding the Access Technology Affordability Act<br>To: <a href="mailto:nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org">nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org</a> <<a href="mailto:nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org">nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org</a>><br></div><br><br><div class="msg4457362318987704163">
<div lang="EN-US" link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style="word-wrap:break-word">
<div class="m_4457362318987704163WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Dear Federation Family:<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">The House of Representatives is working on the tax package. They hope to have it completed in the next month or two. This is a golden opportunity to get the Access Technology Affordability Act enacted into
law, but we need to move fast. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">As a quick reminder, the Access Technology Affordability Act would create a $2,000 refundable tax credit for use over a three-year period for the purchase of access technology. This credit would help put more
access technology in the hands of blind people thereby helping us learn, work, and live the lives we want.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Mathematica, a well respected economic forecasting company, has evaluated the bill and estimate it will save the federal government $315 million over a five-year period. This cost savings is achieved by the
increased number of blind people who will be working thereby lowering the number of people collecting benefits and increasing the number of people paying federal and FICA taxes.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">This is a beneficial all around. We get more of the access technology we need, more blind people are able to transition to work, the federal government saves money, and we contribute to the growth of the American
economy.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Rep. Mike Kelly, the chair of the Ways and Means Committee, Subcommittee on Tax, is the sponsor of our bill. Rep. Mike Thompson, who is the ranking member of the same subcommittee is the lead cosponsor. We
currently have nineteen cosponsors including several members of the full Ways and Means committee.
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">But, the competition to get into the tax package is fierce. We are not the only group that realizes what a great opportunity this is. One of the primary ways that bills will be evaluated for inclusion in the
tax package is cosponsor support. That is where all of us come into play. If your Representative has not already cosponsored the Access Technology Affordability Act, H.R. 1529, (list of cosponsors is included below) then I urge you to email or call your Representative
and urge them to cosponsor the bill. If you have already done this, but they have not yet cosponsored, then I urge you to contact them again. We need all hands on deck for this effort, so even if you\u2019ve never called your member of Congress before, this is
the perfect time to make your first call or send your first email. Remember, the best advocacy is polite, persuasive, and persistent.
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">When you email or call your Representative, you might say something like:<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">\u201cMy name is (your name) and I am a constituent of Representative (Representative\u2019s name).Please cosponsor the Access Technology Affordability Act, H.R. 1529. This bill would help put more access technology
in the hands of blind Americans. It does this by creating a $2,000 refundable tax credit for blind people for the purchase of specialized access technology. As a blind person myself, I know how important access technology is. As just one example, it could
enable a blind person to search for a job, apply for a job, and then keep that job. In fact, Mathematica, a well-respected economic firm, has estimated that the bill will help more blind Americans work thereby saving the federal government $315 million over
a five-year period. This bill will help your constituents, help the federal government save money, and help the American economy. I would be extremely appreciative if you would consider cosponsoring this bill.\u201d<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Attached is a list of each legislative director for each Representative sorted by state. The list includes the legislative director\u2019s name and email address. I recommend you email that person, but you could
also call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for the office in question.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">If you email, please copy Jesse Shirek at
</span><a href="mailto:jshirek@nfb.org" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">jshirek@nfb.org</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt">. If you have questions regarding the legislative point of contact, please email Lindsey Walsh at
</span><a href="mailto:lwalsh@nfb.org" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">lwalsh@nfb.org</span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt">.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">If at all possible, please send your email on or before Friday, May 9.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Working together we will be successful!<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Warm regards,<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">John<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21]<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38]
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4]
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22]
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43]
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6]
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25]
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12]
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Rep. LaHood, Darin [R-IL-16]
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3]
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15]
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17]
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33]
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1]<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424">John Paré<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424">Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy</span><span><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424">200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230</span><span><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424">410-659-9314, extension 2218 |
</span><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#0563c1"><a href="mailto:kwalls@nfb.org" target="_blank"><span style="color:#0563c1">jpare@nfb.org</span></a></span></u><span><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424"> </span><span><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="color:black"><a href="https://nfb.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#0563c1;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="210" height="75" style="width:2.1875in;height:.7812in" id="m_4457362318987704163_x0000_i1028" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/nfblogo.png" alt="National Federation of the Blind"></span></a></span><span><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424"> </span><span><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424"> </span><span style="color:black"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#0563c1;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="24" height="24" style="width:.25in;height:.25in" id="m_4457362318987704163_x0000_i1027" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/facebook.png" alt="Facebook"></span></a></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424">
</span><span style="color:black"><a href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#0563c1;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="24" height="24" style="width:.25in;height:.25in" id="m_4457362318987704163_x0000_i1026" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/twitter.png" alt="Twitter"></span></a></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424">
</span><span style="color:black"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#0563c1;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="24" height="24" style="width:.25in;height:.25in" id="m_4457362318987704163_x0000_i1025" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/youtube.png" alt="Youtube"></span></a></span><span><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424"> </span><span><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#242424">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><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
</div>
</div>
_______________________________________________<br>
NFBNet-Members-List mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:NFBNet-Members-List@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">NFBNet-Members-List@nfbnet.org</a><br>
List archives: <<a href="http://www.nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbnet-members-list_nfbnet.org" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbnet-members-list_nfbnet.org</a>><br>
To unsubscribe from NFBNet-Members-List:<br>
goto <a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbnet-members-list_nfbnet.org/marysilverfox%40gmail.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbnet-members-list_nfbnet.org/marysilverfox%40gmail.com</a><br>
</div></div></div>