<div dir="ltr"><div>This is the first of two messages that I am sending to you because we need your help. <br></div><div><br></div><div>We need you to contact four senators. Last week, we asked you to contact Senators Cardin and Van Hollen about the Thune amendment. If you did not have an opportunity to do that please do it right away. There is a correction to the name of the act that Senator Thune wants to amend. The correct name is "The United States Innovation and Competition Act". <br></div><div><br></div><div>
Please contact Senators Cardin (<a href="mailto:shannon_frede@cardin.senate.gov" target="_blank">shannon_frede@cardin.senate.gov</a>) and Van Hollen (<a href="mailto:deborah_haynie@vanhollen.senate.gov" target="_blank">deborah_haynie@vanhollen.senate.gov</a>). The Thune amendment may be introduced tomorrow, May 27, so please act right away. We also need to contact the Senate Majority Leader Schumer and Senator Peters, an important member of the appropriate committee. <span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:rgb(31,73,125)"><span style="color:rgb(68,68,68)"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)">The contact in Senator Schumer’s office is Meghan Taira,</span>
</span><a href="mailto:meghan_taira@schumer.senate.gov" target="_blank">meghan_taira@schumer.senate.gov</a>. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:rgb(31,73,125)"> </span></p><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:rgb(31,73,125)"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)">The contact in Senator Peters’s office is Catherine Barrett,
</span><a href="mailto:catherine_barrett@peters.senate.gov" target="_blank">catherine_barrett@peters.senate.gov</a>. </span></p>
</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>For your convenience, here is information about the Thune amendment.
<div>The National Federation of the Blind has been
working with Senator John Thune on an amendment to the
The United States Innovation and Competition Act
. This amendment relates to fully automated vehicles and contains two
provisions that would benefit blind people. <br></div><div><br></div><div>
The first provision would create an exemption
classification for manufacturers who “provide transportation access for
individuals with disabilities (as defined in section 3 of the Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102)),
including non-visual access for individuals who are blind or visually
impaired,” as long as the vehicle was equivalently safe to a non-exempt
vehicle. The second would prohibit a state from issuing a “motor vehicle
operator’s license for the operation or use
of a highly automated vehicle in a manner that discriminates on the
basis of disability.”
</div>
</div><div><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:rgb(31,73,125)"><br></span></p>
Read John Pare's message below for a sample letter. Thank you.
We do not want to be shut out from the opportunity to use driverless vehicles.
</div><div><br></div><div>
</div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please contact your senators and ask them to
support this important amendment. When you call or email your senators,
you might say something like:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">"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 support Senator Thune’s automated vehicles
amendment to the United States Innovation and Competition
Act. The amendment contains two provisions that would benefit blind
people. The first would create an exemption classification for
manufacturers who provide transportation access for individuals with
disabilities as long as the vehicle was equivalently safe
to a non-exempt vehicle. The second would prohibit a state from issuing
an operator’s license for the use of a highly automated vehicle in a
manner that discriminates on the basis of disability. Together, these
two amendments will ensure that blind Americans
are able to reap the rewards of highly automated vehicles.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks."</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You can contact your senators by calling the
Capitol Switchboard and asking for the office in question. The number is
202-224-3121. If you email your senators, please copy Jeff Kaloc at
<a href="mailto:jkaloc@nfb.org" target="_blank">jkaloc@nfb.org</a>. Your calls and emails do make a difference.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div><div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><b><font size="2">Sharon Maneki, Director of Legislation and Advocacy</font></b></div><div><font size="2">National Federation of the Blind of Maryland</font></div><div><font size="2">410-715-9596</font></div><div><font size="2"><br></font></div><div><font size="2">The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Everyday 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.<br></font></div><div><b><font size="2"></font></b></div><div><b><font size="2"><br></font></b></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>