<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)">Hello all,</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)">I regret that I have to inform you that there are no Maryland senators or congressmen, with the exception of Congressman Mfume, sponsoring H.R. 1175/S. 4334, the Blind Americans Return to Work Act. We must change this situation quickly. These bills will eliminate the cliff of losing all their benefits that blind people face when they are on SSDI if they make too much money. If this bill passes, people receiving SSDI will be able to keep their benefits. You can read Jesse Shirek's email below. Please email or call your representative this week, and everyone should call Senators Alsobrooks and Van Hollen. Thank you.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)"></div><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:600px"><tbody><tr><td style="border-width:medium;border-style:none;border-color:currentcolor"><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:600px"><tbody><tr><td style="background-color:rgb(0,117,201);border-width:medium;border-style:none;border-color:currentcolor;height:10px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;width:600px"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="background-color:transparent;border-width:medium;border-style:none;border-color:currentcolor"><img alt="" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/top-blue-bar.jpg" class="gmail-CToWUd" style="border-color: currentcolor; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; display: block; height: 28px; margin: 0px; width: 600px;"></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td style="border-width:medium;border-style:none;border-color:currentcolor"><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:600px"><tbody><tr><td style="border-width:medium;border-style:none;border-color:currentcolor;height:10px;text-align:center;vertical-align:top;width:600px"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="background-color:transparent;border-width:medium;border-style:none;border-color:currentcolor"><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=42686&qid=12526890" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="National Federation of the Blind logo and tagline live the life you want" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/nfb-logo-for-email-template.jpg" class="gmail-CToWUd" style="background-color: transparent; border-color: currentcolor; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; display: block; height: 220px; margin: 0px; width: 200px;"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td style="border-width:medium;border-style:none;border-color:currentcolor"><table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="height:145px;width:600px"><tbody><tr><td style="border-color:initial;border-style:none;border-width:medium;height:20px;vertical-align:top;width:600px"><h1><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:24pt;color:black">Blind Americans Return to Work Act</span></h1><p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">The National Federation of the Blind, the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans, urges the members of the House of Representatives and the Senate to cosponsor the Blind Americans Return to Work Act, H.R. 1175/S. 4334.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">This bill will help eliminate the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) earnings cliff by instituting a two-for-one phase out of benefits where every two dollars earned over the substantial gainful activity threshold will cause a one-dollar reduction in a beneficiary\u2019s monthly payment.</span></p><h2><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:20pt;color:black">How to Take Action</span></h2><ul><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt"><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=42687&qid=12526890" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" style="color:blue">Read the full legislative alert for further details.</a></span></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">Call your representatives. To find the contact information for your specific representative\u2019s office, please use the attached House and Senate spreadsheets. </span></li><li style="margin-left:15px"><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">Email your representatives and copy Jesse Shirek at <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=42688&qid=12526890" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" style="color:blue">jshirek@nfb.org</a></span></li></ul><h2><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:20pt;color:black">Sample Script</span></h2><p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">"My name is [YOUR NAME] and I want to urge [REPRESENTATIVE/SENATOR NAME] to support the Blind Americans Return to Work Act, [H.R. 1175/S. 4334]. This bill will eliminate the SSDI earnings cliff and incentivize more blind Americans to work in higher-paying and more productive jobs, which will in turn reduce dependence upon government benefits over time. Please cosponsor the Blind Americans Return to Work Act."</span></p><p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">We suggest a subject like: "Help get more blind Americans back to work by cosponsoring [H.R. 1175/S. 4334].</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br clear="all"></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>
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