<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="ltr"></div><div dir="ltr"><br><br><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><b>From:</b> Florida Statewide Chapter Secretary via NFBF-Statewide <nfbf-statewide@nfbnet.org><br><b>Date:</b> June 12, 2025 at 10:50:16\u202fPM EDT<br><b>To:</b> nfbf-statewide@nfbnet.org<br><b>Subject:</b> <b>[NFBF-Statewide] Urgent Reminder: Submit a Comment Regarding Accessibility Features in Public Buildings - Deadline June 16th</b><br><b>Reply-To:</b> Florida Statewide Chapter Secretary <statewide@nfbflorida.org><br><br></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">\ufeff<div dir="ltr"><div><p><span style="background-color:transparent;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt">Hello Everyone,</span></p><span id="gmail-docs-internal-guid-2df832b1-7fff-f4fe-2b8d-33892ab9eb0b"><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-variant-alternates:normal;vertical-align:baseline">Many of you have likely seen the recent legislative alert regarding accessibility in public buildings. If you haven\u2019t had a chance to review it yet, I want to send a quick reminder about how important this issue is. Submitting a public comment will take just a few minutes. Simply follow the link included in the original alert email. When submitting, you\u2019ll need to include your name, city, ZIP code, and email address. If you prefer, there are anonymous ways to submit your comment as well; details can be found on the submission website. </span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:11pt">To learn more about the issue and the impact of this proposed rule, I encourage you to read the email from our National Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy, John Pare.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><br></p></span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Dear Federation Family:<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">On May 16, 2025, the United States Department of Energy released a direct final rule that \u201crescinds certain new construction requirements related to disability nondiscrimination in federally assisted programs or activities.\u201d A direct final rule is slightly different from the typical rulemaking process, it\u2019s a kind of fast-track effort to put a new rule in place unless there are \u201csignificant adverse comments\u201d which oppose the rule by June 16, 2025.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">As you may expect, we are adamantly opposed to any attempt to roll back any accessibility requirements in the construction of buildings for federally assisted programs or activities. Just last week, President Riccobono submitted the official <a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements/letter-united-states-department-energy-regarding" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(70,120,134)">comments of the National Federation of the Blind to the Department of Energy</span></a> opposing the rescinding of the requirements. These comments are posted on the policy statements page of our website, and we encourage you to read them. But, more important than that, we urge you to submit your own comments to the Department of Energy to ensure they understand just how important accessibility is to us. Tell them how important Braille signage is in buildings, or how vital nonvisually accessible information is in an elevator.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">When writing your comments, you might say something like:<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">\u201cMy name is [NAME], and I live in [CITY, STATE]. I urge you to withdraw the direct final rule. As a blind person myself, I know the importance of accessible public buildings and architecture. Without accessible features such as Braille signage on doors and Braille and audio announcements in elevators, blind people are unable to independently navigate these facilities. Again, I urge you to withdraw the direct final rule.\u201d<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">You can submit your comments online through the Federal Register page at: <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/05/16/2025-08535/rescinding-new-construction-requirements-related-to-nondiscrimination-in-federally-assisted-programs#open-comment" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(70,120,134)">https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/05/16/2025-08535/rescinding-new-construction-requirements-related-to-nondiscrimination-in-federally-assisted-programs#open-comment</span></a><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">The link will take you directly to the submission page where you will be able to type in your comment, selecting the option to confirm that you are an individual, and verifying that you understand your comments may be publicly viewed on the website. Remember, time is of the essence because the comment submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Monday, June 16, 2025. We apologize that we did not get this information to you sooner, but there is still time to leave your comment.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Thank you for all that you do,<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">John</p></div><div><br></div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr">Jose Bohorquez, Secretary<div>Florida Statewide Chapter - National Federation of the Blind of Florida</div><div>"<span style="text-indent:0.25in">We know that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or our future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between
blind people and our dreams. Our collective power, determination, and diversity
achieve the aspirations of all blind people."</span></div><div><span style="text-indent:0.25in">-- NFB Belief Statement</span></div><div><a href="https://forms.gle/qokDRMGtvpR3GTfC7" target="_blank">Click here to become a member of the Statewide Chapter.</a></div><div><a href="mailto:statewide@nfbflorida.org" target="_blank">Click here to email the secretary.</a><br></div><div>If you wish to keep up with all things Statewide, please subscribe to one of the mailing lists below. Subscribing to both ensures you will receive all statewide-related communication. The NFB of Florida internet mailing list does not require moderator approval, but the Florida Statewide mailing list requires approval so patience is key. Always check your spam folder for emails.</div><div>To subscribe to the Statewide chapter mailing list, send an email with a random message to <a href="mailto:nfbf-statewide-subscribe@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">nfbf-statewide-subscribe@nfbnet.org</a>. No subject required! Upon receiving your confirmation messageand confirming, you will have to wait till a moderator approves the subscription request. This should take between 24-72 hours.</div><div>To subscribe to the National Federation of the Blind of Florida mailing list, send an email with a random message to <a href="mailto:nfbf-l-subscribe@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">nfbf-l-subscribe@nfbnet.org</a>. No subject required! No moderator approval required.</div><div>Upon sending your email, wait five minutes and check your inbox for a confirmation message and follow the instructions. Always check your junk/spam folder for emails.</div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.25in"></p></div></div></div>
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