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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>See below. We now have a companion bill on the Senate side to join the one already in the house, HR431! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Scott Van Gorp, President<br>National Federation of the Blind of Iowa<br>Phone: 515-720-5282<br></span><a href="mailto:svangorp@nfbi.org"><span style='color:#0563C1'>Email</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.nfbi.org/"><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1'>Website</span></i></a><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> <br></span></i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/National-Federation-Of-the-Blind-Of-Iowa-372681823082570/posts"><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1'>Facebook</span></i></a><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> <br></span></i><a href="https://twitter.com/nfb_iowa"><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1'>Twitter</span></i></a><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> <br>Live the life you want.<br></span></i><br>The National Federation of the Blind of Iowa is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s 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 style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> National Federation of the Blind <webmaster@nfb.org> <br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, February 5, 2021 10:30 AM<br><b>To:</b> Scott Van Gorp <svangorp@nfbi.org><br><b>Subject:</b> Access Technology Affordability Act in the Senate<o:p></o:p></p></div><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><img border=0 width=600 height=28 style='width:6.25in;height:.2916in' id="_x0000_i1033" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/top-blue-bar.jpg"><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:6.65pt 6.65pt 6.65pt 6.65pt'><p class=MsoNormal><a href="nfb.org"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=240 height=264 style='width:2.5in;height:2.75in' id="_x0000_i1032" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/nfb-logo-for-email-template.jpg" alt="National Federation of the Blind logo and tagline live the life you want"></span></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'><p><strong><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></strong><o:p></o:p></p><h1><span style='color:black'>National Federation of the Blind Applauds the Introduction of the Access Technology Affordability Act in the Senate</span><o:p></o:p></h1><p><strong><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>Baltimore, Maryland (February 5, 2021):</span></strong><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'> The National Federation of the Blind, the premier membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans, applauds the introduction of the <a href="https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=19880&qid=4845173">Access Technology Affordability Act of 2021</a> in the United States Senate (S. 212) by Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Senator John Boozman (R-AR). This legislation removes an employment barrier commonly experienced by blind Americans who cannot afford the high cost of access technology by creating a refundable tax credit in the amount of $2,000 to be used over a three-year period to offset the cost of these technologies.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>Mark A. Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: “My wife, my two daughters, and I are all blind, and the children’s technology needs will increase as they complete their education and start their careers. My family is not unique; blind people across the nation face this challenge, and this legislation will provide critical assistance. We thank and commend Senators Cardin and Boozman for continuing to be champions for this act, which will help give blind people the technology they need to live the lives they want.”</span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>In addition to Cardin and Boozman, the Senate bill is cosponsored by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jon Tester (D-MT), and Richard Burr (R-NC). Companion legislation was <a href="https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=19881&qid=4845173">introduced in the House of Representatives</a> (H.R. 431) by Congressmen Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Mike Kelly (R-PA).</span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>To learn more about this and our other legislative priorities, attend our Great Gathering-In event for Washington Seminar, Monday, February 8 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET. Visit <a href="https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=19892&qid=4845173">nfb.org/washington-seminar</a> for more details.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>###</span><o:p></o:p></p><h2><span style='color:black'>About the National Federation of the Blind</span><o:p></o:p></h2><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;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. Founded in 1940, the NFB is the premier 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 <a href="https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=19882&qid=4845173">nfb.org</a>.</span><o:p></o:p></p><h2><span style='color:black'>CONTACT:</span><o:p></o:p></h2><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:black'>Chris Danielsen<br>Director of Public Relations<br>National Federation of the Blind<br>(410) 659-9314, extension 2330<br>(410) 262-1281 (Cell)<br><a href="https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=19883&qid=4845173">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a></span><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> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;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><span style='color:white'><a href="https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=19884&qid=4845173"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=50 height=35 style='width:.5231in;height:.3657in' id="_x0000_i1031" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-facebook-ms.png" alt="Facebook Logo"></span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=55 style='width:41.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:45.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:white'><a href="https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=19885&qid=4845173"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=50 height=35 style='width:.5231in;height:.3657in' id="_x0000_i1030" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-twitter-ms.png" alt="Twitter Logo"></span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=55 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align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white'>National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD 21230 | 410-659-9314 <o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr 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'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white'><a href="https://www.nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/unsubscribe?reset=1&jid=15908&qid=4845173&h=4b4e78c8d801cfa8" title=Unsubscribe><span style='color:white'>Unsubscribe</span></a> | <a href="https://www.nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/optout?reset=1&jid=15908&qid=4845173&h=4b4e78c8d801cfa8" title="Opt Out"><span style='color:white'>Opt Out</span></a> | <a href="https://www.nfb.org/libraries/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=19890&qid=4845173" title="Sign up for email newsletter"><span style='color:white'>Sign Up for Our E-newsletter</span></a> 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