<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>We need to do two things.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>First, the Marrakesh Treaty Implementation Act (S. 2559) is sitting idle in the House Judiciary Committee. We need Chairman Goodlatte to discharge this bill and put it on the House suspension calendar for a vote. The Department of State will not ratify the treaty until the House of Representatives passes this bill and the president signs it into law. This legislation is noncontroversial, supported by all relevant stakeholders, and was passed unanimously by the Senate on June 28. Please call Chairman Goodlatte at 202-225-5431. You must pick up the phone for this, because the congressman does not take email from non-constituents. Please do this quickly because congress is going out of town due because of the hurricane. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Many thanks to everyone who wrote to their congressman during Maryland day to ask them to cosponsor HR 1734. We are making progress because we have two congressman co-sponsoring this bill! Please contact the following congressman so that we can reach 100%. Congressmen Anthony Brown, Elijah Cummings, John Delaney, Andy Harris, Steny Hoyer, and John Sarbanes. You can contact your member of Congress by calling the Capitol Switchboard and asking for the office in question. The number is 202-224-3121. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This bill would increase the availability of Access Technology thereby increasing educational and employment opportunities for all blind Americans. The bill does this by creating a tax credit for the purchase of access technology. The National Federation of the Blind has analyzed the cost impact and the bill is either cost neutral or will save the government money. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> Thanks.<br><br><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>