<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Fellow Federationists,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This is a call to action on the Access Technology Affordability Act. Please see below. Contact information for Maryland Senators is at the end of this message. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif'>We are closing in on getting the Access Technology Affordability Act passed into law. It has been included in the House Reconciliation legislation but it is important to keep advocating for the bill so it remains in the Senate version. That being said, it is critically important to reach out to your Senators to gain support. Having these Senators cosponsor the bill is critical to it remaining in the reconciliation bill. We must move quickly and place a sense of urgency on this task as the House and Senate continue to negotiate the provisions of the overall package. By reaching out to your Senator for support, this will greatly improve the likelihood that we will be able to keep the Access Technology Affordability Act in the reconciliation bill.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif'>When you call or email, you might say the following:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif'>"Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME], and I am a constituent of [SENATOR NAME]. I live in [CITY, STATE]. I would like to urge [SENATOR NAME] to cosponsor the Access Technology Affordability Act, S. 212. 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 this technology.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif'>Thanks."</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif'>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 senators, please copy Jeff Kaloc at <a href="mailto:jkaloc@nfb.org">jkaloc@nfb.org</a>. Your calls and emails do make a difference.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif'>It is best to call or email the relevant staff person in your member of Congress's office. Here are the names of the relevant people.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sen. Christopher Van Hollen <br>Sarah Schenning, Legislative Director: <a href="mailto:sarah_schenning@vanhollen.senate.gov">sarah_schenning@vanhollen.senate.gov</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Senator Ben Cardin<br>Bill VanHorne, Policy Advisor: bill_vanhorne@cardin.senate.gov<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif'>Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif'>Ronza<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Ronza Othman, </span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>President</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>443-426-4110<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Pronouns: she, her, hers<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond",serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>