[New-York-News] Cosponsoring the Blind Americans Return to Work Act

[chrisminkler at gmail.com]

The Blind Americans Return to Work Act has been introduced in the United
States House of Representatives.  It is HR 1175.  It is sponsored by
Representative Pete Sessions, a Republican from Texas.  The lead cosponsor
is Representative Kweisi Mfume, a Democrat from Maryland.  According to
congress.gov, this bill currently has 3 cosponsors.  None of the current
cosponsors are from New York State.  I encourage everyone to call their
representative (also known as congressman or congresswoman) and ask him or
her to cosponsor HR 1175.  The number for the Capitol switchboard in
Washington DC is 202-224-3121.  If you do not know the name of your
representative, give the operator your zip code and the operator can look up
the name of your representative.  The more cosponsors we have for this bill,
the greater the chance it will be brought up for a vote in the House of
Representatives.  This was one of our issues at this year's Washington
Seminar.  

The Blind Americans Return to Work Act, HR 1175, will, if passed, phase out
the SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) earnings cliff.  SSDI
currently has a built in earnings cliff.  The SSDI benefits are eliminated
if the beneficiary exceeds a monthly earnings limit.  This bill, if passed,
would establish a gradual phase out of SSDI benefits for people making over
the SGA (substantial gainful activity) limit.  Under this bill, for every 2
dollars a blind worker earns over the SGA limit, their benefits would be
reduced by 1 dollar.  

There is currently no bill on this issue in the US senate.  Chris Minkler,
president NFB Buffalo chapter, co-legislative director NFB of NY State.  

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