[il-talk] Fwd: [Nfb-legislative-directors] Exciting Updates Regarding the TIME Act

[Yousufuddin Syed]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Sloan, Rose via Nfb-legislative-directors"
<nfb-legislative-directors at nfbnet.org>
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 2015 15:59:00 +0000
Subject: [Nfb-legislative-directors] Exciting Updates Regarding the TIME Act
To: "Nfb-legislative-directors at nfbnet.org"
<Nfb-legislative-directors at nfbnet.org>

Legislative Directors:

We write to you with several exciting updates about the TIME Act!

First, for those of you who were at the Legislative Director's Seminar
in January, you will undoubtedly remember "35 Cents," the faux-video
Marcus Soulsby and his group developed and performed for us.  That
monologue was the inspiration for the video released yesterday on
NFB's YouTube page called "35
Cents<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfBM_qS9iok>."  Although this
final video ultimately evolved from Marcus and team's original idea,
it nonetheless illustrates how employers are currently underestimating
the true vocational potential of people with disabilities. This
concept was voted as the winning idea for stimulating advocacy, so we
are confident you will watch the video, share it on your social media
networks, and show us just how effective this advocacy tool can be.
As a starting benchmark, after just three days, each of the last two
videos NFB released received over 1,000 views.  Let's beat that record
with "35 Cents" by getting well over 1,000 views in its first three
days.

Second, the New Hampshire state legislature just passed today
legislation that repeals state laws that allow entities to apply for
special wage certificates permitting them to pay people with
disabilities less than the minimum wage!  This bill (SB 47)
unanimously passed the state senate in March and was passed by the New
Hampshire House of Representatives today.  For those of you working to
develop a state legislative agenda, let this effort be a model. The
Federation can leverage this victory in other states, working to stop
the practice of subminimum wage employment at the state level in
concert with our united efforts on the national level.  Vermont and
New Hampshire may be the states that broke ground, but the Federation
is the only group that can bring more piecemeal victories and truly
cement the legacy.

Third, the regulations for WIOA have been released.  After an initial
review, it looks like there is a strong definition for competitive,
integrated employment.  However, it also looks as though there are no
enforcement mechanisms in place for Section 511.  Comments on the
proposed regulations are due in June, and NFB has already begun
regular meetings to formulate our official response.

Fourth, Congress' Spring Break is officially over; let's make sure
they're truly back to work! We encourage you to activate your advocacy
hierarchy and conduct a large-scale round of follow-up with your
members of Congress regarding the TIME Act (HR 188).  Remember, the LD
Seminar groups gave us many good ideas beyond the "35 Cents" video,
like the  idea of asking each chapter to put some time aside during or
after a chapter meeting specifically for letter writing, allowing the
entire affiliate to be engaged and generating a large number of
letters.  If your affiliate implements an idea from the LD Seminar or
comes up with a new and effective technique, let us know so we can
share it with the group! The current leaderboard winner for follow-up
is the New Jersey affiliate, which managed to send over sixty
follow-up emails to their members of Congress since Washington
Seminar.

As a reminder, use your follow-up email as an opportunity to explain
why the TIME Act is personal to you, and be sure to cc Rose
(rsloan at nfb.org<mailto:rsloan at nfb.org>) so that she can follow-up as
well.  Over the weekend, the Huffington Post released an article about
the TIME Act<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-blahovec/its-about-time-ending-sub_b_7041592.html>.
Articles such as these can be a great attachment when following up
with members of Congress.  If you're not sure who to contact, please
let us know off list, and we will provide you with the contact
information for the labor staffers in your state.  Please keep in mind
that we are trying to keep the cosponsor count even, and with a
current breakdown of 20 Democrats and 16 Republicans, it is especially
important to follow up with Republican offices.  Let's keep the
support for the TIME Act coming!
For those of you seeking updates on our other legislative initiatives,
here are some snippets:

Re TEACH Act, NFB is hosting our 7th negotiation meeting with the
higher ed lobby regarding the TEACH Act next week.

Re the Marrakesh Treaty, NFB conducted critical follow-up last month
to build on your Washington Seminar meetings. The advocacy culminated
with a meeting at the State Department between Dr. Maurer, Scott
LaBarre, and Lauren with Under Secretary Cathy Novelli. All other
groups have been trying to meet with her, but NFB was the only one
able to secure the sit-down. She says the ratification package is
coming, so stand by.

We hope you all are having a wonderful spring, and we look forward to
seeing you at Convention.

Best,

John, Lauren, and Rose

P.S. We are looking to reintroduce a modified version of the Blind
Persons Return to Work Act of 2009. The draft bill removes the SSDI
cash cliff, replacing it with a two-for-one phase out, and reduces
administrative burdens for SSA by eliminating the broken trial work
period and streamlining the two different types of work expenses. If
you know of a Republican Senator on the Finance or a Republican
Congressperson on the Ways and Means Committee that might be
interested in sponsoring this bill, please let Rose know.


Rose Sloan
Government Affairs Specialist

National Federation of the Blind
200 East Wells Street
Baltimore, MD 21230
Phone: (410) 659-9314, extension 2441
Email: rsloan at nfb.org<mailto:rsloan at nfb.org>

"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.

Make a gift<https://nfb.org/make-gift> to the National Federation of
the Blind and help ensure all blind Americans live the lives they
want.


Hello All,
Please check the "35 Cents" video. I was a part of that team which
came up with this idea.
Syed