<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hello All,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please take special note and act on the email that I have forwarded from our Newly appointed Legislative Director Kyra Sweeney. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thank you<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Shara Winton<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President, National federation of the Blind of Massachusetts<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.nfbma.org/"><span style='color:#0563C1'>www.nfbma.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:sharawinton@gmail.com"><span style='color:#0563C1'>sharawinton@gmail.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>617-304-0347<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> Massachusetts-NFB <massachusetts-nfb-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Kyra Sweeney via Massachusetts-NFB<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, May 8, 2024 12:07 PM<br><b>To:</b> NFB of Massachusetts E-mail List <massachusetts-nfb@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> Kyra Sweeney <kyra.sweeney94@gmail.com><br><b>Subject:</b> [Massachusetts-NFB] IMPORTANT! Time to Contact Our Senators about HR3935<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Hi everyone,</span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> </span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>For anyone who missed last night’s board meeting, I am excited to announce that I am the new legislative director for the NFB of MA. On that note, I already have an important task for all of us this week!</span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> </span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>As you might have seen in yesterday’s legislative alert email, Congress is working on legislation to re-authorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The legislation is being <span style='color:black'>considered this week in the Senate using the bill number H.R. 3935.</span></span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> </span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>The bill has several disability-related provisions, including <span style='color:black'>training requirements for assisting passengers with disabilities, better access standards for the accessibility of in-flight entertainment, and improved accessibility of airline websites</span></span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>. Additionally, the bill initiates a pilot program for air passengers to register their service animal, eliminating the need to complete the service animal forms for each flight.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'> </span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>This week, we need to contact our Senators, either by phone or by email, to urge them to maintain the disability related portions of the bill as it moves through the Senate. Here is a sample message from the National Office:</span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'> </span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>"Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME], and I am a constituent of [SENATOR NAME]. I live in [CITY, STATE]. I would like to urge [SENATOR NAME] to maintain the disability-related provisions of H.R 3935 as it moves through the Senate. These provisions in the legislation will help increase the accessibility of air travel for blind and disabled passengers. Thanks."</span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'> </span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>If applicable, feel free to personalize your message with a recent disability barrier you experienced while traveling. I know that several of us have experienced these kinds of barriers, and it is crucial that we make our senators aware of the issues we have faced as blind travelers.</span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'> </span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>I have included the contact information for our senators below. Please contact both of them if you can. We only have until Friday evening to do this!!! If you can’t make the calls or send the emails now, it can be helpful to set a reminder on your phone, so you don’t forget later.</span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'> </span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>Sen. Ed Markey</span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>Jeremy D'Aloisio - Legislative Director</span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'><a href="mailto:jeremy_d%27aloisio@markey.senate.gov">jeremy_d'aloisio@markey.senate.gov</a></span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>(202) 224-2742</span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'> </span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>Sen. Elizabeth Warren</span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>Gabrielle Elul - Legislative Director</span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'><a href="mailto:gabrielle_elul@warren.senate.gov">gabrielle_elul@warren.senate.gov</a></span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>(202) 224-4543</span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'> </span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>Feel free to reach out to me with any questions. Let’s make these calls and emails a priority in the next couple of days, so that we can work toward better and more accessible travel experiences!</span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'> </span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>Best,</span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'> </span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>Kyra Sweeney</span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:8.0pt;line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'><a href="mailto:Kyra.sweeney94@gmail.com">Kyra.sweeney94@gmail.com</a></span><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></body></html>