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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'>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'>In case you didn’t see this, we need all of our Connecticut members of the U.S. House of Representatives to support and co-sponsor an important bill to make Medicare telehealth benefits permanent. Currently, the benefit to use telehealth for Medicare expires at the end of the month.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>You may call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for your representative. When you call or email you might say: "My name is [YOUR NAME] and I want to urge [REPRESENTATIVE NAME] to support the CONNECT for Health Act, H.R. 4206. This bill will make permanent Medicare telehealth benefits that have been temporarily extended numerous times since 2020. Making these telehealth benefits permanent will significantly reduce the travel burden on blind Americans who live in rural areas and may have difficulty securing reliable transportation for regular physician visits. Please cosponsor H.R. 4206. Thank you."</span><o:p></o:p></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'>Many of us know that access to transportation is an issue in many parts of our state in every congressional district.<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 have any questions or problems, don’t hesitate to reach out to me and I’d be happy to help.<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'>Thank you,<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"'> National Federation of the Blind [<a href="mailto:webmaster@nfb.org">mailto:webmaster@nfb.org</a>] <br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, September 04, 2025 6:05 PM<br><b>To:</b> Nathanael Wales<br><b>Subject:</b> Legislative Alert: Medicare Telehealth Benefits<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr style='height:15.0pt'><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:15.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td valign=top style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=600 style='width:6.25in'><tr><td style='background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=left width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr style='height:7.5pt'><td width="100%" valign=top style='width:100.0%;background:#0075C9;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:7.5pt'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td style='background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=left width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr style='height:7.5pt'><td width="100%" valign=top style='width:100.0%;background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:7.5pt'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td style='padding:15.0pt 15.0pt 15.0pt 15.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40149&qid=11623818"></a><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td style='background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;border-color:initial'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=left width=600 style='width:6.25in'><tr style='height:15.0pt'><td width="100%" valign=top style='width:100.0%;background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:15.0pt'><h1><span style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Blind Americans Urge the House of Representatives to Pass the CONNECT for Health Act, H.R. 4206</span><o:p></o:p></h1><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>The National Federation of the Blind, the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans, urges the members of the House of Representatives to support and pass the CONNECT for Health Act, H.R. 4206. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>This bill will make permanent the expanded Medicare telehealth coverages that were first introduced in 2020 and have been temporarily extended over the past couple of years, with the most recent extension set to expire on September 30. Just a couple of months ago at our national convention, we passed </span><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40150&qid=11623818"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Resolution 2025-07</span></a><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'> on this very topic.</span><o:p></o:p></p><h2><span style='font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>How Members Can Help</span><o:p></o:p></h2><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Earlier this year, on March 5, President Riccobono wrote a letter to all members of Congress urging them to pass legislation that would make the expanded Medicare telehealth benefits permanent. Then in April, Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii introduced the CONNECT for Health Act in the Senate with nearly sixty originating cosponsors. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Just a couple of months later in June, Representative Mike Thompson of California introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives, which at the time of this writing has only nineteen cosponsors.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Those nineteen cosponsors are: David Schweikert [AZ-1], Nanette Diaz Barragan [CA-44], Young Kim [CA-40], Doris O. Matsui [CA-7], Sarah McBride [DE-At Large], Eleanor Holmes Norton [DC-At Large], Ed Case [HI-1], Jill N. Tokuda [HI-2], Nikki Budzinski [IL-13], Raja Krishnamoorthi [IL-8], Don Bacon [NE-2], Josh Gottheimer [NJ-5], Yvette D. Clarke [NY-9], Ritchie Torres [NY-15], Troy Balderson [OH-12], Greg Landsman [OH-1], Steve Cohen [TN-9], Jennifer L. McClellan [VA-4], Suhas Subramanyam [VA-10]. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Given that the Senate version of the bill already has significant cosponsor support, including from Majority Leader Thune, we are going to focus our advocacy on increasing support in the House by asking you to call or email your Representative if they do not appear on the above list. </span><o:p></o:p></p><h3 style='color:1b5633'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1B5633'>Sample Script</span><o:p></o:p></h3><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>When you call or email you might say: "My name is [YOUR NAME] and I want to urge [REPRESENTATIVE NAME] to support the CONNECT for Health Act, H.R. 4206. This bill will make permanent Medicare telehealth benefits that have been temporarily extended numerous times since 2020. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Making these telehealth benefits permanent will significantly reduce the travel burden on blind Americans who live in rural areas and may have difficulty securing reliable transportation for regular physician visits. Please cosponsor H.R. 4206. Thank you."</span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>We suggest a subject like: "Please Cosponsor the CONNECT for Health Act, H.R. 4206"</span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>To find the contact information for your specific representative’s office, please use the attached spreadsheet. It is organized alphabetically by state. You can also call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for the office in question. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>If you are having trouble finding the contact information for your member of Congress, please contact Lindsey Walsh at </span><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40151&qid=11623818"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>lwalsh@nfb.org</span></a><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>. If you email, please copy Justin Young at </span><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40152&qid=11623818"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>jyoung@nfb.org</span></a><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>.</span><o:p></o:p></p><h2><span style='font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>About the National Federation of the Blind</span><o:p></o:p></h2><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Founded in 1940, the NFB is the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans with affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at </span><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40153&qid=11623818"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>nfb.org</span></a><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>.</span><o:p></o:p></p><h2><span style='font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Government Affairs Contact:</span><o:p></o:p></h2><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:black'>Justin Young<br>Governmental Affairs Specialist<br>National Federation of the Blind<br>410-659-9314, extension 2210<br></span><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40152&qid=11623818"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>jyoung@nfb.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr style='height:6.0pt'><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:6.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-line-height-alt:6.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";display:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=600 style='width:6.25in;background:#002F6D'><tr style='height:45.0pt'><td width=135 style='width:101.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:45.0pt'></td><td width=55 style='width:41.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:45.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40154&qid=11623818"></a><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=55 style='width:41.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:45.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40155&qid=11623818"></a><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=55 style='width:41.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:45.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40156&qid=11623818"></a><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=55 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style='height:18.75pt'><td colspan=8 style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:18.75pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/unsubscribe?reset=1&jid=25311&qid=11623818&h=e532a26f9301490f" title=Unsubscribe><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:white'>Unsubscribe from this mailing list</span></b></a><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:white'> | </span></b><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/optout?reset=1&jid=25311&qid=11623818&h=e532a26f9301490f" title="Opt Out"><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:white'>Opt out of all mailing lists</span></b></a><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:white'> | </span></b><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40160&qid=11623818" title="Sign up for email newsletter"><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:white'>Sign up for our newsletter</span></b></a><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:white'> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan=8 style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span class=street-address><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:white'>200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place</span></b></span><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:white'><br><span class=locality>Baltimore</span><span class=adr>, </span><span class=region>MD</span><span class=adr> </span><span class=postal-code>21230</span><br><span class=country-name>United States</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:white'>.. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></table></div><p class=MsoNormal><span 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