[New-hampshire-students] See if this surprises you! Fw: SchedulingRequest

trishs slosser at metrocast.net
Tue Feb 3 10:19:25 UTC 2009


Absolutely send the letter!

> ----- Original Message -----
>From: "Marie Johnson" <jomar2000 at comcast.net
>To: "New Hampshire NFB State Affiliate Board" 
<nh-board at nfbnet.org
>Date sent: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 19:25:57 -0500
>Subject: [New-hampshire-students] See if this surprises you! Fw: 
SchedulingRequest

>Scheduling RequestBelow is a reply that I just received and 
thought I would share it with all of you for your feedback.
>As usual,  it comes as no shock to me to hear that he doesn't 
have the time nor the desire to meet with any of us for the 3rd
>year in a row.  He hasn't supported the quiet car legislation 
either, so can someone, anyone, tell me who voted Hoad back into 
Congress and why they did so?
>Is it worth the trouble to meet with his aid and wonder if she 
even addresses our concerns with him?
>Should we chalk him up as a lost cause?
>Should the affiliate compose a letter of concern in regards to 
his indifference?


>----- Original Message -----
>From: Mayer, Jesse
>To: jomar2000 at comcast.net
>Cc: Levin, Sarah
>Sent: Friday, January 30, 2009 3:45 PM
>Subject: Scheduling Request


>Hi Marie-


>Thank you for your request to meet with Congressman Paul Hodes.  
Unfortunately, due to the Congressman's hectic schedule, he will 
be unavailable for a meeting.  However, I am cc'ing the 
appropriate staff member, Sarah Levin, who can set up a meeting 
with you, and brief the Congressman at a later time.  Again, 
thank you for your request.

>Sincerely,

>Jesse





>    Hello Luke,

>    My name is Marie Johnson and I am the current President of 
the New Hampshire Affiliate of the National Federation of the  
Blind.  We actually made connections last year for the purpose of 
scheduling our annual trip to Washington.

>    A group of us will be traveling to Washington again this year 
in hopes of  meeting with Congressman Hoad to present our 
concerns and seek his support.  I would like to schedule an 
appointment for Tuesday February 10.  I have pasted below a 
summary of the concerns we would like to discuss with the 
Congressman, for his convenience and reference.

>    I can be reached at either my home phone; 603 225-7917 or my 
cell phone number; 603 524-1945, or by email at   
jomar2000 at comcast.net.



>    Thanks for your prompt attention to this request  I look 
forward to hearing from you in the near future and greatly 
appreciate your time.



>    Marie Johnson, President

>    NFB NH State Affiliate





>    1.      We urge Congress to ensure the safety of blind and 
other pedestrians by passing the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement 
Act.  This legislation would require the U.S.  Secretary of 
Transportation to:

>      ·        Begin a study within ninety days of its enactment 
to determine the most practical means of assuring that blind and 
other pedestrians receive essentially similar information to what 
they now receive from sound emitted by internal combustion 
engines;

>      ·        Determine the minimum amount of sound necessary to 
offer sufficient information for blind pedestrians to make safe 
travel judgments based on appropriate scientific research and 
consultation with blind Americans and other affected groups;

>      ·        Within two years of beginning the study, 
promulgate a motor vehicle safety standard to address the needs 
of blind and other pedestrians by requiring either a minimum 
level of sound or an equally effective means of providing the 
same information as is available from hearing internal combustion 
engines; and

>      ·        Apply the standard to all motor vehicles 
manufactured or sold in the United States beginning no later than 
two years after the date it is promulgated.


>    2.      We urge Congress to work with blind Americans to 
create a Technology Bill of Rights for the Blind that mandates 
consumer electronics, home appliances, and office equipment to 
provide user interfaces that are accessible through nonvisual 
means.  This legislation should:


>      ·        Mandate that all consumer electronics, home 
appliances, and office equipment be designed so that blind people 
can access the same functions as sighted people through nonvisual 
means and with substantially equivalent ease of use;


>      ·        Create a commission comprised of essential 
stakeholders to establish standards for nonvisual accessibility 
of electronic devices intended for use in the home or office;

>        ·        Endow the commission with enforcement powers or 
locate it within a government agency having such powers; and

>        ·        Authorize it to reexamine and rewrite standards 
to keep pace with the evolution of consumer electronic 
technology.


>    3.      We urge Congress to promote and facilitate the 
transition by blind Americans from recipients of Social Security 
Disability Insurance benefits to income-earning, taxpaying, 
productive members of the American workforce by enacting 
legislation to:


>      ·        Replace the monthly earnings penalty with a 
graduated 3-for-1 phase-out (i.e., a $1 reduction in benefits for 
each $3 earned above the limit);


>      ·        Replace the monthly earnings test with an 
annualized earnings test with an amount equal to twelve times.  
Substantial Gainful Activity amount; and


>      ·        Establish an impairment-related work expense 
deduction for blind Social Security Disability Insurance 
beneficiaries equal to the amount applicable for this deduction 
when determining an appropriate income subsidy under Medicare 
Part D or 16.3 percent of earnings, whichever is greater.





>###

>Jesse Mayer

>Congressman Paul W.  Hodes

>1317 Longworth House Office Building

>Washington, DC  20515

>202-225-5206 (p)

>202-225-2946 (f)

>Sign up for e-mail updates from Congressman Paul Hodes!

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