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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>And all,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>No matter which congressional district you\u2019re in here in Connecticut, you need to call becaue not one, yet, of our congressmen are co-sponsors. Please call or e-mail Monday or Tuesday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Best,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Nathanael<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> CT-NFB [mailto:ct-nfb-bounces@nfbnet.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Mary Silverberg via CT-NFB<br><b>Sent:</b> Sunday, May 04, 2025 12:23 PM<br><b>To:</b> NFB mailing list<br><b>Cc:</b> Mary Silverberg<br><b>Subject:</b> [CT-NFB] Fwd: [Nfbnet-members-list] Urgent Need to Contact Your Representative Regarding the Access Technology Affordability Act<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>IMPORTANT...Legislative Action<o:p></o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <strong>Pare, John via NFBNet-Members-List</strong> <<a href="mailto:nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org">nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org</a>><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>><o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Dear Federation Family:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><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. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><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.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><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.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><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.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><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. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><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. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>When you email or call your Representative, you might say something like:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><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</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><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.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><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'>.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>If at all possible, please send your email on or before Friday, May 9.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Working together we will be successful!</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Warm regards,</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>John</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21]</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19] </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38] </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4] </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22] </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43] </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6] </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14] </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17] </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25] </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12] </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Rep. LaHood, Darin [R-IL-16] </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3] </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2] </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15] </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17] </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33] </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1] </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1]</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#242424'>John Paré</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#242424'>Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#242424'>200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;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><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#242424'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;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 id="m_4457362318987704163_x005f_x0000_i1028" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/nfblogo.png" alt="National Federation of the Blind"></span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#242424'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;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 id="m_4457362318987704163_x005f_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 id="m_4457362318987704163_x005f_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 id="m_4457362318987704163_x005f_x0000_i1025" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/youtube.png" alt=Youtube></span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;background:white'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#242424'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><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><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal>_______________________________________________<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" 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" target="_blank">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbnet-members-list_nfbnet.org/marysilverfox%40gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p></div></div></div></div></body></html>