[MD-AtLarge] Legislative action needed quickly

[nfbmd]

Hello all,
 
We need to kill HR 620, the ADA Education and Reform Act.  Maryland still
has no co-sponsors on our three bills.  Please read John Pare’s message
below and take action.  
 
 
H.R. 620, the ADA Education and Reform Act will be voted on in committee
(referred to as markup) over the next week or two. If passed, this
legislation will dramatically weaken the ADA, hindering education,
employment, and community participation for all people with disabilities.
The bill prevents people with disabilities from filing a lawsuit regarding
an ADA violation until the person first notifies the violator. The violator
then has 60 days to respond and then has another 120 days to remedy the
problem, for a total delay of 180 days.
 
Does it make sense to wait 180 days for accessible instructional material?
By then, the class will be over. How about waiting 180 days for an
accessible job application? By then the job will be filled. How about
waiting 180 days at the doctor’s office for an accessible check in kiosk?
Furthermore, this legislation will do nothing to stop so called frivolous
lawsuits which will still be valid under state law. Businesses do not need
more time to comply with the ADA ­they have had twenty-seven years already. 
 
Please call your representative and urge them to oppose H.R. 620, the ADA
Education and Reform Act. And if your Representative has not cosponsored one
of our other three bills, also urge them to do so. Congress will be back in
session for the next two weeks but please try to make your calls and send
your emails by Friday, June 22. A short summary of each bill is included
below. I have also included a list of all the current cosponsors. The best
way to contact your member of Congress is to call the Capitol Switchboard at
(202) 224-3121 and ask for the office in question. Emailing your member of
Congress is also a good idea. If you do so, please copy JPare at nfb.org
<mailto:JPare at nfb.org> . 
 
It is critical that we shut down H.R. 620. In addition, we are hoping to
significantly raise the number of cosponsors on all of our bills before
convention but we cannot do it without everyone working together. Your calls
and emails make a big difference. 
 
Thanks for all you do!
 
Warm regards,
 
John
 
John G. Paré Jr. 
(410) 659-9314 x 2218
National Federation of the Blind
 
Bill Summaries 

Accessible Instructional Material in Higher Education Act, H.R. 1772 (AIM
HIGH)
This bill will promote instructional technology and content that are
accessible to the blind and other students with print disabilities. Read the
AIM HIGH fact sheet to learn more.
 
Access Technology Affordability Act of 2017, H.R. 1734 and S. 732 (ATAA)
These bills will facilitate the purchase of access technology for blind
people by creating a refundable, per person tax credit. Read the Access
Technology Affordability Act of 2017 fact sheet to learn more
<https://nfb.org/access-technology-affordability-act> .

Transitioning to Integrated and Meaningful Employment Act of 2017, H.R. 1377
(TIME)
This bill will increase employment opportunities by removing stigmas and low
expectations propagated by section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Note that the bill now phases out subminimum wages over a six year period
corresponding to the recommendation of the National Council on Disability.
Read the TIME Act fact sheet to learn more. <https://nfb.org/timefactsheet> 



 
Sharon Maneki, President
National Federation of the Blind of Maryland
410-715-9596
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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