[il-talk] Fwd: [Nfb-legislative-directors] Space A update!

[Denise Avant]

> Begin forwarded message:
> 
> From: Denise Avant <davant1958 at gmail.com>
> Date: December 5, 2014 at 5:35:09 PM CST
> Subject: Fwd: [Nfb-legislative-directors] Space A update!
> To: NFB of Illinois Nfb-i conference call Number <il-talk at nfbnet.org>, Illinois Association of Blind Students List <iabs-talk at nfbnet.org>
> 
> 
> 
> Denise R. Avant
> President
> National Federation of the Blind of Illinois
> Live the life you want
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> Begin forwarded message:
> 
>> From: "McLarney, Lauren via Nfb-legislative-directors" <nfb-legislative-directors at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfb-legislative-directors at nfbnet.org>>
>> Date: December 5, 2014 at 4:26:32 PM CST
>> To: "'nfb-legislative-directors at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfb-legislative-directors at nfbnet.org>'" <nfb-legislative-directors at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfb-legislative-directors at nfbnet.org>>
>> Subject: [Nfb-legislative-directors] Space A update!
>> Reply-To: "McLarney, Lauren" <LMcLarney at nfb.org <mailto:LMcLarney at nfb.org>>, NFB Legislative Directors List <nfb-legislative-directors at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfb-legislative-directors at nfbnet.org>>
>> 
>> Happy Friday, Federationists!
>>  
>> I have an important update on the Space Available bill.  As you know, it successfully passed in the House as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), and we have been waiting for the Senate version of NDAA to move so we could amend it into that as well.  However, we have run into the same problem as last year: the Senate has done NDAA almost exclusively behind closed doors and is unlikely to allow floor amendments!  Worse, we heard there is controversy over parts of NDAA that is jeopardizing if it will even pass at all!  This is our chance to pass Space A – S. 346 has 19 cosponsors and no opposition, it passed in the House, and NDAA is the perfect vehicle for it – let’s mobilize and get this thing done.
>>  
>> We need everyone to do two things. 1) Call Senator Tester’s office (202-224-2644) or email his staffers (dylan_laslovich at tester.senate.gov <mailto:dylan_laslovich at tester.senate.gov> and Jorge_Rueda at hsgac.senate.gov <mailto:Jorge_Rueda at hsgac.senate.gov>) and urge them to file Space Available as an amendment to NDAA. If amendments are allowed, Space A needs to be in line for consideration! 2) Please call Senator Levin’s committee office (202) 224-3871) or email his staffer (jonathan_clark at armed-services.senate.gov <mailto:jonathan_clark at armed-services.senate.gov>) to urge them to include Space Available in NDAA. 
>>  
>> We can’t allow Space Available to sit on the shelf for yet another year, collecting dust and cosponsors, while the right vehicle to move it keeps circling the block and refusing to pick up amendments. That would mean a procedural problem stopped this bill, rather than any real problem with the actual bill itself. Please speak up on behalf of blind veterans and help us get Space Available in NDAA!
>>  
>> Lauren McLarney
>> Manager of Government Affairs
>> National Federation of the Blind
>> 200 East Wells Street
>> Baltimore, MD 21230
>> 410.659.9314 ext. 2207
>>  
>> 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. 
>>  
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