[Ncabs] Fwd: [Nfbnet-members-list] Legislative Alert

Thu Sep 7 00:16:47 UTC 2017

Hello, fellow students,

Please read below regarding our legislation. I encourage all of you to
contact our Senators and Representatives regarding our legislative
priorities. Please, please reach out if you have any questions.

Sincerely,
Kenia Flores
President, North Carolina Association of Blind Students

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Pare, John via NFBNet-Members-List" <nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org>
Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2017 18:19:01 -0500
Subject: [Nfbnet-members-list] Legislative Alert
To: nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org

Dear Fellow Federationists:
After thirteen years of legislative and
regulatory advocacy, as of Tuesday, September 5,
2017, the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act and
the associated regulations are now final. This is
a tremendous accomplishment for all of us, and is
a demonstration of our collective passion,
tenacity, and determination. These regulations
will help us live the safe and independent lives we want.

Having said that, Congress is back in session
with the House scheduled for twelve legislative
days in September, and the Senate scheduled for seventeen.

Our first call to action relates to the ADA
Education and Reform Act. The House Judiciary
Committee plans to vote on this bill (referred to
as a markup) on Thursday, September 7. Please
call Chairman Goodlatte and urge him to postpone
this vote until the appropriate research can be
done and a better solution proposed. For more
information, read
<https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/pdf/goodlatte_hr620_06142017.pdf>President
Riccobono's letter to Chairman Goodlatte.
Chairman Goodlatte can be reached at (202)
225-5431. As written, this bill will
significantly undermine our rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Our next most critical issue is the Access
Technology Affordability Act (ATAA) (H.R. 1734/S.
732). Both the President and Congress are putting
substantial focus on tax reform, thereby
increasing the likelihood that the ATAA has the
potential to be included in any such overall tax
reform. The best way for us to increase this
potential is by building cosponsor support for
both the House and Senate bills. As a result,
please contact your representative and your two
senators to urge them to cosponsor H.R. 1734 in
the House and S. 732 in the Senate. We will be
updating you on AIM HIGH, the Marrakesh Treaty,
the TIME Act, Space Available, and the Self-Drive
Act in subsequent legislative alerts.

A short summary of each bill is included below. I
have also included a list of all the current
cosponsors. The best way to contact your member
of Congress is to call the Capitol Switchboard at
(202) 224-3121 and ask for the office in
question. Emailing your member of Congress is
also a good idea. If you do so, please copy
<mailto:JPare at nfb.org>JPare at nfb.org.

Thanks for all you do!

Warm regards,

John

John ParÃ©
(410) 659-9314 x 2218
National Federation of the Blind

Bill Summaries

Accessible Instructional Material in Higher Education Act, H.R. 1772 (AIM HIGH)
This bill will promote instructional technology
and content that are accessible to the blind and
other students with print disabilities.
<https://nfb.org/aimhighfactsheet>Read the AIM HIGH fact sheet to learn more.

Access Technology Affordability Act of 2017, H.R. 1734 and S. 732 (ATAA)
These bills will facilitate the purchase of
access technology for blind people by creating a
refundable, per person tax credit.
<https://nfb.org/access-technology-affordability-act>Read
the Access Technology Affordability Act of 2017 fact sheet to learn more.

Transitioning to Integrated and Meaningful
Employment Act of 2017, H.R. 1377 (TIME)
This bill will increase employment opportunities
by removing stigmas and low expectations
propagated by section 14(c) of the Fair Labor
Standards Act. Note that the bill now phases out
subminimum wages over a six year period
corresponding to the recommendation of the
National Council on Disability.
<https://nfb.org/timefactsheet>Read the TIME Act fact sheet to learn more.

Current Cosponsors

Accessible Instructional Material in Higher
Education Act, H.R. 1772 (AIM HIGH) Current Cosponsors
Rep. Roe, David P. [R-TN-1] - Sponsor
Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large]
Rep. Davis, Susan A. [D-CA-53]
Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-3]
Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-41]
Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2]
Rep. Lawson, Al, Jr. [D-FL-5]
Rep. Murphy, Stephanie N. [D-FL-7]
Rep. Ross, Dennis A. [R-FL-15]
Rep. Gabbard, Tulsi [D-HI-2]
Rep. Hanabusa, Colleen [D-HI-1]
Rep. Young, David [R-IA-3]
Rep. Kinzinger, Adam [R-IL-16]
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
Rep. Brooks, Susan W. [R-IN-5]
Rep. Visclosky, Peter J. [D-IN-1]
Rep. Yarmuth, John A. [D-KY-3]
Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
Rep. Nolan, Richard M. [D-MN-8]
Rep. Kildee, Daniel T. [D-MI-5]
Rep. Harper, Gregg [R-MS-3]
Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]
Rep. Lujan Grisham, Michelle [D-NM-1]
Rep. Amodei, Mark E. [R-NV-2]
Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21]
Rep. Price, David E. [D-NC-4]
Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7]
Rep. Ryan, Tim [D-OH-13]
Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-5]
Rep. Gonzalez-Colon, Jenniffer [R-PR-At Large]
Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1]
Rep. Green, Gene [D-TX-29]
Rep. Johnson, Eddie Bernice [D-TX-30]
Rep. Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [R-WI-5]

Access Technology Affordability Act of 2017, H.R.
1734 and S. 732 (ATAA) Current Cosponsors
Rep. Young, David [R-IA-3] - Sponsor
Rep. Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D-CA-40]
Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]
Rep. Demings, Val Butler [D-FL-10]
Rep. Lawson, Al, Jr. [D-FL-5]
Rep. Hanabusa, Colleen [D-HI-1]
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
Rep. Ryan, Tim [D-OH-13]
Rep. Smucker, Lloyd [R-PA-16]
Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1]

Transitioning to Integrated and Meaningful
Employment Act of 2017, H.R. 1377 (TIME) Current Cosponsors
Rep. Harper, Gregg [R-MS-3] – Sponsor
Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-42]
Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-15]
Rep. Murphy, Stephanie N. [D-FL-7]
Rep. Young, David [R-IA-3]
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]
Rep. Lujan Grisham, Michelle [D-NM-1]
Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9]
Rep. Gonzalez-Colon, Jenniffer [R-PR-At Large]
Rep. Rice, Tom [R-SC-7]
Rep. Johnson, Eddie Bernice [D-TX-30]