[MD-Baltimore-County] Bills That Need Co-Sponsors

[Sharon Maneki]

Hello all,

Please read this announcement to the end. Please contact your
representative and senators Alsobrooks and Van Hollen. Ask them to
cosponsor the following bills by COB Friday, October 24th. You may decide
to write one letter with all the bills in it or to write six letters with
one bill a piece. You may decide to call your representative and senators
and tell them about one bill at a time(202-225-3121). Note that there is
only one bill for the senators. As you will see we have much work to do in
Maryland.

1. Please get cosponsors for the Connect for Health Act H.R. 4206.
Representatives Elfreth, McClain Delaney and Raskin have already
co-sponsored this bill so thank them for doing so. This bill will make
expanded telehealth coverage permanent. As of now, it expired on September
30. It is very important to blind people because we have trouble getting to
health appointments because we must rely on public transportation, which is
a burden and often unreliable. Telehealth is a good solution to this
problem.
Tell your representative why this bill is needed. They should contact Mike
Thompson of CA to become a cosponsor.

2. Please get cosponsors for the Access Technology Affordability Act, H.R.
1529/S. 1918. This bill will help blind Americans to be able to afford the
high cost of qualified access technology by creating a refundable tax
credit of 2,000 dollars for use over a three-year period. It will also help
blind people search for, apply for, and maintain steady and fulfilling
employment. In turn, with more of us working, we would actually be paying
more into the federal government through income and payroll taxes and be
less dependent on government benefits. To cosponsor H.R 1529, your
representative should contact Rep. Mike Kelly from PA. To cosponsor S.
1918, your senators should contact Senator John Boozman from AR.

3. Please get cosponsors for the Websites and Software Applications
Accessibility Act, H.R. 3417. The lead sponsor of this bill is Steny Hoyer,
thank him! Blind and disabled people experience unnecessary barriers on
websites and applications daily even though accessibility is achievable.
This bill will define a comprehensive statutory definition for
“accessibility,” and establish a technical assistance center to provide
technical assistance to covered entities, commercial providers, and
individuals with disabilities. Please end Website and Software Application
Inaccessibility for Americans with Disabilities by contacting congressman
Steny Hoyer from Maryland.

4. Please get cosponsors for the Blind Americans Return to Work Act, H.R.
1175. The lead sponsor of this bill is Kwesi Mfume so thank him for this! This
bill will eliminate the earnings cliff created by the Social Security
Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits program. This bill will also create
more employment opportunities for blind people because it will eliminate
the disincentive to work because of loss of benefits. Please contact
Representative Kweisi Mfume from Maryland to cosponsor this bill.

5. Please get cosponsors for the Transformation to Competitive Integrated
Employment Act (TCIEA), H.R. 4771. This bill will gradually eliminate the
practice of paying disabled workers less than the minimum wage over a five
year period. Maryland eliminated subminimum wage payments for disabled
workers in 2020. This bill is needed to finish the job for the country.
Please contact Representative Bobby Scott of Virginia.

6.  Please get cosponsors for the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility
Act, H.R. 5605. This bill will require Class II and Class III medical
devices (such as glucose monitors, insulin pumps, CPAP machines, etc.) with
digital user interfaces to meet a designated nonvisual accessibility
standard ensuring that blind Americans are able to safely and independently
administer our in-home medical care. The Medical Device Nonvisual
Accessibility Act will end unequal access to home-use medical devices for
blind Americans. Tell your representative to contact Rep. Janice Schakowsky
from Illinois to cosponsor this bill.


*Sharon Maneki, Director of Legislation and Advocacy*
National Federation of the Blind of Maryland
410-715-9596

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.
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