<div dir="ltr"><div><div style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)" class="gmail_default">Hello All,</div><div style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)" class="gmail_default"><br></div><div style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)" class="gmail_default">If you did not have a chance to write to your Congressmen and Senators about the Access Technology Affordability Act, please do it. Also, please write to your representatives about H.R. 1175: Blind Americans Return to Work Act. This will help blind people because they will no longer go off the cliff and lose their benefits if they are receiving social security disability insurance (SSDI). Here is what the Advocacy and Policy Team had to say about this bill. Please do this by December 18th. Thanks for your help.</div><div style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)" class="gmail_default"><h1><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:24pt;color:black">Year-End Surge to Pass the 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 House to pass the
Blind Americans Return to Work Act, H.R. 1175. </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>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">We
are hoping with a strong surge in cosponsor support on this
legislation, we can better position it to start the new year off strong!
</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;font-size:14pt;color:black">Your involvement can help us achieve this goal. </span><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="color:black"><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=41124&qid=12054022" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">Call or email your representative to cosponsor the Blind Americans Return to Work Act today</a>.</span></span></span></span></p>
</div><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>