<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto">Hi all,<div>Paul and I had an opportunity to run into Representative Larson in the airport when we were coming home from National\u2019s Conference. We took a few minutes to say hello to him and identified ourselves as NFB CT Members. He let us know, if there was anything he could do for us, to just reach out to him. </div><div>We will be doing so upon our return from vacation. We will specifically ask him to cosponsor, this bill and hopefully he will. </div><div>Cheri and Paul. <br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature"><div dir="ltr">Sent from my iPhone</div><div dir="ltr"><br><blockquote type="cite">On Aug 13, 2025, at 9:07\u202fPM, Nathanael T. Wales via CT-NFB <ct-nfb@nfbnet.org> wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">\ufeff<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"><!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">Fellow Listers and Friends,<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">I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer!<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">One bit of refreshing news this summer is that our efforts to end subminimum wages for workers with disabilities has gained traction\u2014and bi-partisan, Democrat and Republican traction at that! Our work is cut out for us here in Connecticut because none of our congressional representatives or senators have signed on as co-sponsors. Forwarded is information to ask them to do so, including a short script or e-mail language.<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">If you e-mail, please e-mail Senator Blumenthal\u2019s and Senator Murphy\u2019s offices and also your House representative. Here are the best contacts for our senators:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">--Blumenthal: Brian Steele, </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="mailto:brian_steele@blumenthal.senate.gov">brian_steele@blumenthal.senate.gov</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">--Murphy: Emily Smith, </span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="mailto:emily_smith@murphy.senate.gov">emily_smith@murphy.senate.gov</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;mso-ligatures:none">And then from the following, find your congressional representative:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;mso-ligatures:none">--Courtney: Beata Fogarasi, beata.fogarasi@mail.house.gov<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;mso-ligatures:none">--DeLauro: Jack Rayburn, jack.rayburn@mail.house.gov<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;mso-ligatures:none">--Hayes: Miranda Ganter, <a href="mailto:miranda.ganter@mail.house.gov">miranda.ganter@mail.house.gov</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;mso-ligatures:none">--Himes: Hannah Aiken, hannah.aiken@mail.house.gov<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;mso-ligatures:none">--Larson: Mike Dunn, mike.dunn@mail.house.gov<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;mso-ligatures:none">It may be important to emphasize that this bill has bi-partisan support. Again, refreshing this summer!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;mso-ligatures:none">If you have any questions or problems raising this important issue, don\u2019t hesitate to let me and the listserve know.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Best,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Nathanael<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><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><div><div style="border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in"><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-ligatures:none">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-ligatures:none"> NFBNet-Members-List [mailto:nfbnet-members-list-bounces@nfbnet.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Young, Justin via NFBNet-Members-List<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, August 01, 2025 4:59 PM<br><b>To:</b> Nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org<br><b>Subject:</b> [Nfbnet-members-list] Legislative Alert - TCIEA Reintroduced in the Senate and House<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Dear Federation Family:</span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Last week the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act was reintroduced in both the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. The Senate bill, S. 2438, was introduced on Thursday, July 24, and is sponsored by Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), with three original cosponsors: Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). Then, on Friday, July 25, Representatives Bobby Scott (D-VA-3) and Pete Sessions (R-TX-17) introduced a companion bill, H.R. 4771. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">This bill phases out subminimum wages for workers with disabilities over a five-year period. The National Federation of the Blind has supported the elimination of subminimum wages since 1942. Each Congress we come closer and closer to getting this legislation passed. I believe this is the year we will get this done!</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Let\u2019s get off to a fast start by building cosponsor support right away. Please call or email your two Senators and Representative and urge them to cosponsor this legislation. When you call or email you might say something like:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">\u201cDear [SENATOR/REPRESENTATIVE NAME]:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">My name is [YOUR NAME] and I live in [CITY, STATE]. I urge you to cosponsor the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act, [S. 2438/H.R. 4771]. This bill phases out subminimum wages for workers with disabilities over a five-year period. This will in turn help maximize the earning potential and promote dignity of work for all Americans with disabilities.\u201d</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Attached is a list of the appropriate contact person in each Congressional office sorted by state. The list includes the staff member\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"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">If you email, please copy me at <a href="mailto:jyoung@nfb.org">jyoung@nfb.org</a>. If you have questions regarding the legislative point of contact, please email Lindsey Walsh at <a href="mailto:lwalsh@nfb.org">lwalsh@nfb.org</a>. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Working together we will be successful!</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Warm regards,</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Justin T. Young, Ed.D</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">Government Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the Blind</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230 </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">410-659-9314, extension 2210 | <a href="mailto:jyoung@nfb.org"><span style="color:blue">jyoung@nfb.org</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://nfb.org/"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:blue;mso-ligatures:none;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="210" height="76" id="_x0000_i1025" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/nfblogo.png" alt="National Federation of the Blind" data-unique-identifier=""></span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""> </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:blue;mso-ligatures:none;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="24" height="24" id="_x0000_i1026" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/facebook.png" alt="Facebook" data-unique-identifier=""></span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:blue;mso-ligatures:none;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="24" height="24" id="_x0000_i1027" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/twitter.png" alt="Twitter" data-unique-identifier=""></span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""> </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:blue;mso-ligatures:none;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="24" height="24" id="_x0000_i1028" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/youtube.png" alt="Youtube" data-unique-identifier=""></span></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">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. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><TCIEA Legislative Alert Spreadsheet - House & Senate.xlsx></div><div><Untitled attachment 00966.txt></div><span>_______________________________________________</span><br><span>CT-NFB mailing list</span><br><span>CT-NFB@nfbnet.org</span><br><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/ct-nfb_nfbnet.org</span><br><span>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for CT-NFB:</span><br><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/ct-nfb_nfbnet.org/cbduquette%40comcast.net</span><br></div></blockquote></div></body></html>