<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=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hello all,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It is time for us to contact our delegates and senators to ask them to support our legislative agenda. To refresh your memory, please read the fact sheets at <a href="http://www.nfbmd.org">www.nfbmd.org</a> under current advocacy issues. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In H.B. 1088 we are asking for vendor penalties for selling inaccessible products to the State. In S.B. 482 we are asking the General Assembly to establish a remote access information service for deaf-blind individuals. We are not writing to the Senate about procurement because they already passed S.B. 286. We will provide information on the House bill to establish the remote access information service in a separate announcement. Here is the list of people to write to by county and bill.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>S.B. 482 – Establishing the Remote Access Information Service for Deaf-blind individuals. Write to the following members of the Senate Finance Committee. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Everyone should write to the chairman, Thomas Middleton. His email address is <a href="mailto:thomas.mclain.middleton@senate.state.md.us">thomas.mclain.middleton@senate.state.md.us</a>. His snail mail address is Miller Senate Office Building,, Annapolis, MD 21401. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The snail mail address for the remaining committee members is James Senate Office Building, Annapolis, MD 21401. Their email addresses are <a href="mailto:firstname.lastname@senate.state.md.us">firstname.lastname@senate.state.md.us</a>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you live in Anne Arundel County write to Senator John Astle and thank him for sponsoring the bill. Also, write to Senator Ed Reilly and Senator Jim Rosapepe.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you live in Baltimore City write to Senator Nathaniel Oaks.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you live in Baltimore County write to Senators JB Jennings and Katherine Klausmeier.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you live in Montgomery County write to Senator Brian Feldman.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you live in Caroline, Cecil, Kent or Queen Anne counties write to Senator Steve Hershey.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you live in P.G. County write to Senators Joanne Benson and Jim Rosapepe.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you live in Somerset, Wicomico or Worcester counties write to Senator James Mathias.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>H.B. 1088 – Procurement - Information Technology - Vendor Penalties.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Everyone should write to the Delegate Shane Pendergrass, chairman of the Health and Government Operations Committee. Her email address is <a href="mailto:shane.pendergrass@house.state.md.us">shane.pendergrass@house.state.md.us</a>. Her snail mail address is House Office Building, Annapolis, MD 21401.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The snail mail address for the remaining committee members is House Office Building, Annapolis, MD 21401. Their email addresses are <a href="mailto:firstname.lastname@house.state.md.us">firstname.lastname@house.state.md.us</a> unless otherwise noted. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you live in Anne Arundel county write to Nicholaus Kipke. Joseline Pena-Melnyk(<a href="mailto:joseline.pena.melnyk@house.state.md.us">joseline.pena.melnyk@house.state.md.us</a>), Sid Saab, and Kathy Szeliga.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you live in Baltimore City write to Antonio Hayes and Samuel Rosenberg.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you live in Baltimore County write to Eric Bromwell, Terri Hill, Pat McDonough, Ric Metzgar, Christian Miele, and Chris West.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you live in Carroll County write to Susan Krebs.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you live in Montgomery county write to Bonnie Cullison (thank her for sponsoring the bill), Ariana Kelly, Marice Morales, and Andrew Platt.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you live in Frederick County write to Karen Lewis Young (karen.young@house.state.md.us).<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you live in P.G. County write to Angela Angel, Joseline Pena-Melnyk (<a href="mailto:joseline.pena.melnyk@house.state.md.us">joseline.pena.melnyk@house.state.md.us</a>), and Erek Barron.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you live in Dorchester or Wicomico Counties write to Sheree Sample-Hughes (<a href="mailto:sheree.sample.hughes@house.state.md.us">sheree.sample.hughes@house.state.md.us</a>).<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you live in St. Mary’s County write to Matthew Morgan.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><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><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Sharon Maneki, </span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>410-715-9596<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland 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</span>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>