[Iabs-talk] Vendors Bill - A plea for help

[Patti Gregory-Chang]

I just received the following:



From: John Gordon, Chairman Illinois Committee of Blind Vendors

I am pleading for 10 minutes of your valuable time. As part of the Business 
Enterprise Program for the Blind, I have been the Chairman of our elected 
committee for approximately the last 12 years. My committee and I share a 
passion in providing substantial self employment opportunities for blind men 
and women in Illinois. Blind individuals are plagued with an unemployment of 
approximately 75%. You can make a difference in changing that by sharing 
this with your friends, family, and collegues. In 1936 Senator Jennings 
Randolph and Senator Morris Sheppard created the Randolph-Sheppard Act. This 
allowed blind men and women absolute priority to operate consessions on 
Federal property. 73 years later, it is the most successful employment 
oppertunity for blind individuals in the nation. In Illinois many years ago, 
we adopted a similar law which has aplication on state property. Although 
for many years this law was never challenged that changed
 drastically in the past 10 years. Senator Michael Jacobs has recently 
introduced Senat Bill 2045 and State Representative Michael McAuliff 
introduced it as House Bill 4230. This new legislation would mirror the 
Federal Randolph-Sheppard Act and create new oppertunities for blind people 
for many years to come. I am asking that you contact your state senator and 
ask for their support on Senate Bill 2045. I am also requesting that you 
contact your State Representative and ask for their support on House Bill 
4230. In order to find out who is your State senator and who your State 
Representative go to link attached to below and type in your address. If you 
want you can also dial the State directory at 217-782-2000 and they could 
possibly assist you. We have very little time as these Bills are already 
schedualed for hearings on Wednesday March 11, 2009.
Please ask your legislators to return your call with their position. Please 
feel free to share this information with your contact list. Remember I am 
depending you to help make a difference, thank you in advance.


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