[Greater-baltimore] FW: Week of Action for HR 831!

[Danielsen, Chris]

Dear Fellow Federationists:

Please read the note from my colleague rose Sloan below, and take action right away!

Thanks,

Chris


Christopher S. Danielsen, J.D.
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind

From: Sloan, Rose
Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2014 9:13 AM
To: NCB Staff
Subject: Week of Action for HR 831!
We were made aware that this week is "National Goodwill Week".  As an indirect response to this, we have declared this week a week of action for H.R. 831.  The idea is to raise awareness about HR 831, first via social media (Twitter Tuesday), then via reaching out directly to Congressional offices (Call Wednesday), and finally, to the specific staffers who handle labor issues (Email Thursday).

That being said, I need your help.  If you could take a little bit of time today, tomorrow, and Thursday to contact your members of Congress, I would be very appreciative.  It should only take a few minutes tops, as I have sample tweets, phone scripts, and emails for you!

Today, all you have to do is tag your representative in a tweet.  (See the chart below.) If your Representative is not on this list, that is because he/she has already signed on.  You can either thank him/her for supporting the bill or just pick a different Representative to tag.  Either way, don't forget to use the hashtag #fairwages.

Thank you for all of your help! Together we will ensure that blind people are paid the wages we deserve.  Let me know if you have any questions.

Yours in the fight for fair wages,

Rose

State/District

Representative

Twitter Handle

Phone Number

Labor Legislative Aid

Labor Legislative Aid Email Address

MD1

Andy Harris

@Harris4Congress

202-225-5311

John Dutton

john.dutton at mail.house.gov<mailto:john.dutton at mail.house.gov>

MD2

C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger

@Call_Me_Dutch

202-225-3061

Deborah Haynie

deborah.haynie at mail.house.gov<mailto:deborah.haynie at mail.house.gov>

MD3

John Sarbanes

@RepJohnSarbanes

202-225-4016

Dvora Lovinger

dvora.lovinger at mail.house.gov<mailto:dvora.lovinger at mail.house.gov>

MD5

Steny Hoyer

@WhipHoyer

(202) 225-4131

Liz Murray

elizabeth.murray at mail.house.gov<mailto:elizabeth.murray at mail.house.gov>

MD6

John Delaney

@RepJohnDelaney

202-225-2721

Erin Hellin

erin.helling at mail.house.gov<mailto:erin.helling at mail.house.gov>




Sample tweets:


@Harris4Congress<https://twitter.com/Harris4Congress>, please co-sponsor HR 831. People with disabilities deserve a chance at #fairwages<https://twitter.com/search?q=%23fairwages&src=hash>. Thank you!



@WhipHoyer, people with disabilities need real jobs, not 3 cents an hour. Please support #fairwages<https://twitter.com/search?q=%23fairwages&src=hash> by co-sponsoring HR 831. Thanks!



It is outrageous that people with disabilities can be paid 3 cents an hour. If you agree, support #fairwages by cosponsoring H.R. 831 @Call_Me_Dutch








Sample Call Script for Call Wednesday:

Good Morning. My name is ___________, and I support H.R. 831: the Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act. I urge Representative _________ to please cosponsor this bill.

Currently, people with disabilities are legally being paid less than the minimum wage. Some are being paid as little as mere pennies per hour. I feel that this practice is wrong.  H.R. 831 will responsibly phase out this antiquated, discriminatory and immoral practice over a three year period.

Can I count on Representative __________ to support people with disabilities by cosponsoring H.R. 831?



Sample Email for Email Thursday:

Subject: Please Co-sponsor H.R. 831

Dear [name of Labor Legislative Aid]:

I write to express my support for H.R. 831: the Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act and to urge Representative [name of Representative] to please cosponsor this bill.

Currently, people with disabilities are being paid far below the minimum wage. This practice is legal under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. H.R. 831 will responsibly phase out this antiquated practice over a three year period.

If Representative [name of Representative] is ready to join nearly eighty Members of Congress by expressing a commitment to creating real employment opportunities for people with disabilities, please contact Scot Malvaney, Legislative Director for Congressman Harper at Scot.Malvaney at mail.house.gov<mailto:Scot.Malvaney at mail.house.gov>, and let him know that Representative ___________ would like to cosponsor H.R. 831.

Thank you,

[Your name]




Rose Sloan
Government Affairs Specialist

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
200 East Wells Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21230
Phone: (410)-659-9314 ext. 2441
E-mail: rsloan at nfb.org<mailto:rsloan at nfb.org>
Twitter: @RoseSloan8

"Eliminating Subminimum Wages for People with Disabilities"
http://www.nfb.org/fair-wages

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.

To make a donation to the National Federation of the Blind Imagination Fund, please visit www.nfb.org/ImaginingOurFuture<http://www.nfb.org/ImaginingOurFuture>.