[il-talk] Legislative Update

[Rose Sloan]

Hi Cool People from Illinois!

First, it was great seeing so many of you this past weekend.

Next... today we had a legislative directors call.  I would like to give
you my minutes version of the call.  Please find them below.  As always, if
you have any questions about legislative stuff, feel free to contact me at
rsloan at nfb.org or at 410-659-9314 ext. 2441.

Love you all. Congrats on a great convention.

Rose

HR 831: Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act



We have 43 Co-Sponsors so far. We are happy to welcome Congressman Sessions
(R, TX), who is the Rules Committee Chairman and Congresswoman Cathy
McMorris Rodgers (R, WA) who is the Conference Committee Chair.  Both of
these members are parents of Children with Disabilities.



Not only do we have 43 co-sponsors, but we also have 67 organizations who
support us. If you know of any organizations that support the elimination
of 14 ( C ), have them write me an email.  We’d love to grow this list.



Please Write letters and make calls to your Members of Congress urging them
to support HR 831.  Make sure they understand that paying workers with
disabilities a subminimum wage is a blatant act of discrimination.



TEACH Bill.

The TEACH bill will drop either Wednesday or Nov. 12.

This bill will allow the access board to create accessibility guidelines
for students with disabilities.  If an institution (colleges) follows these
guidelines, they’re fine, but If not, they have to make sure that the
students have the same services. Watch for the bill number.  Once we have
the bill number, then you should start contacting your House members of
Congress.  When advocating for this issue remind members that accessibility
is a civil right under the ADA and Section 504.  We’re providing clarity to
what equal access means.  We’re not creating a new burden or a liability.
We’re making things clearer.



Space Available:

The bill passed in the house.  Senator Tester sponsored the bill in the
Senate (S 346). There are 18 CoSponsors so far.  The defense bill will be
delayed until December, and we are hoping to offer this as an amendment
like we did with the House version.

When advocating for this bill: tell Dems: Look at the CoSponors list. Tell
Reps to Look at the House Bill. There were 95 Rep co-sponsors.  Remind your
senators that This is the right thing to do for service disabled veterans.
We are trying to get more cosponsors.



CRPD:

The CRPD came up for a vote on the Senate floor last December but there was
not enough votes.  It Missed ratification by just six votes. This time
around, 6 Republicans support it and 55 Democrats support it.  We need 67.
This treaty will Not change  US law.  The treaty merely creates a committee
that will make recommendations to countries about how to improve
 conditions for people with disabilities . Over 100 countries have already
ratified the treaty, but the US is not one of them.  There will be a
hearing next Tuesday.  (Nov. 5).