[Nd-talk] FW: [Nfbnet-members-list] URGENT! Legislative Alert - December 6, 2017

Thu Dec 7 00:09:18 UTC 2017

Greetings,  

This legislative alert pertains to all of us blind folks. Please see message below and respond if you would. 

Any questions, please reach out to us.

Kindest regards, Sherry 

Sherry Shirek

Secretary – Social Events Committee Chair

National Federation of the Blind of North Dakota

Website www.nfbnd.org

Voice/text 701-781-3055

Email sherrybeth7 at gmail.com <mailto:sherrybeth7 at gmail.com> 

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day 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

From: NFBNet-Members-List [mailto:nfbnet-members-list-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Pare, John via NFBNet-Members-List
Sent: Wednesday, December 6, 2017 1:23 PM
To: nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Nfbnet-members-list] URGENT! Legislative Alert - December 6, 2017

Dear Fellow Federationists:

Thank you for all of your calls and emails from the previous legislative alert. Your work is definitely making a difference.

There is still a possibility that the Access Technology Affordability Act could be merged into the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. A version of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has passed in both the House and the Senate and is currently in conference committee.

We need more cosponsors.

Currently, the Access Technology Affordability Act has 16 cosponsors in the House (H.R. 1734) and 4 cosponsors in the Senate (S. 732).

Therefore, please call or email your representative and ask him or her to cosponsor H.R. 1734 and call or email your two senators and ask them to cosponsor S. 732. 

When you call or email, you might say something like the following:

“Hello, my name is [your name] and I am a constituent of [your senator/representative]. I live in [city, state]. I am calling to urge [your senator/representative] to cosponsor [S. 732 for Senate calls/H.R. 1734 for House calls], the Access Technology Affordability Act. This bill would increase the availability of Access Technology thereby increasing educational and employment opportunities for all blind Americans. The bill does this by creating a tax credit for the purchase of access technology. The National Federation of the Blind has analyzed the cost impact and the bill is either cost neutral or will save the government money. I urge [your senator/representative] to cosponsor the bill. Thanks.”

Also, please check the list at the end of this email for the current list of Senate and House cosponsors. You do not need to call anyone on this list, unless you would like to call them and thank them for their cosponsorship.

If you are in a meeting, you will want to go into more detail but general calls and emails do not have to be very long. The key points to mention: the bill number, that you are a constituent, and that you urge the member of Congress to cosponsor the legislation.

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 me at JPare at nfb.org <mailto:JPare at nfb.org> .

It is critical that we move on this quickly, so please strive to make your calls and send your emails as soon as possible. 

Warm regards,

John

John Paré

(410) 659-9314 x 2218

National Federation of the Blind

Senate ATAA Cosponsor List:

Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]               

Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]           

Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]

Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]   

House ATAA Cosponsor List:

Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]  

Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1]

Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]

Rep. Demings, Val Butler [D-FL-10]

Rep. Hanabusa, Colleen [D-HI-1]               

Rep. Kihuen, Ruben J. [D-NV-4]

Rep. Lawson, Al, Jr. [D-FL-5]

Rep. Lujan, Ben Ray [D-NM-3]

Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]

Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]

Rep. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV-3]

Rep. Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D-CA-40]

Rep. Ryan, Tim [D-OH-13]

Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]

Rep. Smucker, Lloyd [R-PA-16]  

Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large]              

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