[NABS-L] Updates from the Legislative Advocacy Committee

[Justin Salisbury]

Aloha NABS Members and Leaders,

During the Legislative Advocacy Committee call tonight, we discussed some of the bills in the United States Congress that we need to get our legislators to cosponsor:

Access Technology Affordability Act (ATAA) of 2019 (HR 2086 / S 815)
The cost of critically needed access technology is out of reach for most blind Americans. By providing a refundable tax credit for qualifying purchases, Congress will stimulate individual procurement of this technology and promote affordability of these tools.
Read the 2019 ATAA fact sheet<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/legislative-agenda/access-technology-affordability-act>.

The list of cosponsors for HR 2086 is available at this link<https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/2086/cosponsors?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22hr+2086%22%5D%7D&s=5&r=1&overview=closed#tabs>.
The list of cosponsors for S 815 is available at this link<https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/815/cosponsors?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22s+815%22%5D%7D&s=7&r=1&overview=closed#tabs>.


Transformation to Competitive Employment Act (TCE) (HR 873 / S 260)
We must promote competitive, integrated employment for people with disabilities. The Transformation to Competitive Employment Act removes artificial barriers to employment opportunities.
Read the 2019 TCE fact sheet<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/legislative-agenda/transformation-competitive-employment-act>.

The list of cosponsors of S 260 is available at this link<https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/260/cosponsors?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22s+260%22%5D%7D&s=1&r=1&overview=closed#tabs>.
The list of cosponsors of HR 873 is available at this link<https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/873/cosponsors?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22hr+873%22%5D%7D&s=3&r=1&overview=closed#tabs>.


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. If you email your representative or senators, please copy Gabe Cazares at gcazares at nfb.org<mailto:gcazares at nfb.org>.


Please reach out to the Legislative Advocacy Committee if we can be of any help!

Mahalo nui loa (Thank you very much),

Justin


Justin M. Hideaki Salisbury
he/him/his

Board Member | National Association of Blind Students
   A proud division of the National Federation of the Blind
(808) 797-8606
president at alumni.ecu.edu | www.nabslink.org<http://www.nabslink.org/>