[NFB-Maryland] Legislative Alert: Immediate Action Needed on Access Technology Affordability Act

[president at nfbmd.org]

Fellow Federationists,

We had a very productive and successful Washington Seminar, and the Maryland
affiliate did an outstanding job with our appointments and advocacy.  In
addition, the Maryland Congressional delegation knows how important our work
is, as reflected in the fact that four out of the fifteen total Members of
Congress who attended our NFB Congressional Reception on February 11, 2020
were from Maryland.  These members were Senator Cardin, Majority Leader
Hoyer, Congressman Raskin, and Congressman Sarbanes.

 

We will spend each of the next several weeks focusing on one of our 2020
Legislative Priorities.  To that end, we need your help, because it is our
collective action that makes us the powerhouse advocacy organization we are.

 

This week, we are focusing on the Access Technology Affordability Act (H.R.
2086 and S. 815).

 

This legislation removes an employment barrier commonly experienced by blind
Americans who cannot afford the high cost of access technology by creating a
refundable tax credit in the amount of $2,000 to offset the cost of these
technologies.

 

We are doing quite well in Maryland in terms of cosponsors on this bill, but
we are so close to 100% that we need a strong push from our members this
week.

 

Both of our Senators have already cosponsored this bill; in fact, one of our
Senators is the lead sponsor.  Five out of our eight Members of the House of
Representatives have already cosponsored this bill as well, so we need to
focus on the remaining three - Congressmen Andy Harris, Stenny Hoyer, and
Anthony Brown. 

 

We need everyone to call Congressmen Harris, Hoyer, and Brown and urge them
to cosponsor the Access Technology Affordability Act. 

 

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
representative]. I live in [city, state]. I am calling to urge [your
representative] to cosponsor H.R. 2086, the Access Technology Affordability
Act. This legislation removes an employment barrier commonly experienced by
blind Americans who cannot afford the high cost of access technology by
creating a refundable tax credit in the amount of $2,000 to offset the cost
of these technologies. I urge [your representative] to cosponsor the bill.

 

Thanks."

 

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. 

 

 

Your calls and emails do make a difference! 

 

Thanks for all you do.

 

 

 

Ronza Othman, President

National Federation of the Blind of Maryland

443-426-4110

 

The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland 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.

 

 

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