[Nfb-krafters-korner] Fw: [leadership] ALERT: Quiet Car Bill Passes Through Senate

Fri Dec 10 20:43:53 UTC 2010

Hope this is okay to post on this list, but I think it impacts most all of us regardless of it its NFB or ACB working on it.  Please read on.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: John Vernon 
To: John Vernon 
Sent: Friday, December 10, 2010 10:00 AM
Subject: Fw: [leadership] ALERT: Quiet Car Bill Passes Through Senate

Hi All,  Please contact your Senators via the number given below.  Ask him or her to vote yes on this measure.  It won't cost the government a red cent, but it may just save a few lives, including my own.

All the best!  John
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Eric Bridges 
To: leadership at acb.org ; announce at acb.org 
Sent: Friday, December 10, 2010 8:27 AM
Subject: [leadership] ALERT: Quiet Car Bill Passes Through Senate

Late yesterday  thanks in large part to Senator Kerry (D-MA), an amended version of S. 841, The Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act passed the U.S. Senate under Unanimous Consent. 

The language that was contained in the Motor Vehicle Safety Act concerning our issue was placed in as an amendment. As many are aware,  this language was agreed upon by the blind community, auto industry, and both political parties.

This bill will   would require that the Department of Transportation establish a motor vehicle safety standard that would require hybrid and electric vehicles in the next three years  to be equipped with an alert sound to alert pedestrians of their presence and operation. 

The Motor Vehicle Safety Act has met with significant resistance over the past two weeks and will most likely not move before the end of the 111th Congress. ACB is grateful to the Senate Commerce Science and Transportation Committee for allowing Senator Kerry to move this along by itself. This is a tremendous achievement given the amount  of political gridlock that is so pervasive in Congress right now.

Please begin calling your Congressmen to urge them to ask ;Majority Leader Hoyer to bring up S.  841 under the Suspension Calendar next week. The Suspension Calendar is reserved for noncontroversial bills.

Capitol Switchboard: 202-225-3121

Website: www.house.gov

This legislation would not have made it this far without the persistent advocacy of the ACB membership. Congratulations to  one and all. We only have one last step to go!

Eric   

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