[NFB-NM] S. 732 Legislative Alert

Thu Aug 3 03:13:06 UTC 2017

From: NFBNet-Members-List [mailto:nfbnet-members-list-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Pare, John via NFBNet-Members-List
Sent: Tuesday, August 01, 2017 5:24 PM
To: nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Nfbnet-members-list] S. 732 Legislative Alert

Dear Fellow Federationists:

Thank you for all of your calls and emails since the last legislative alert.
We are now up to thirty-four cosponsors on AIM HIGH, H.R. 1772, ten
cosponsors on the Access Technology Affordability Act, H.R. 1734, and twelve
cosponsors on the TIME Act, H.R. 1377. In the Senate, the Access Technology
Affordability Act, S. 732, has one cosponsor. The complete list of
cosponsors is included at the end of this email.

The House of Representatives adjourned on July 28 and will not return to
Washington, DC until September 5. The Senate is still in session and will
not adjourn until August 11. The Senate will then also return on September
5.

I have two recommendations. First, call your Senator immediately and ask him
or her to cosponsor S. 732, the Access Technology Affordability Act. It
would be terrific if we could grow the number of cosponsors before the
Senate adjourns on August 11. Second, invite your member of Congress to
attend a chapter meeting or other local NFB event while they are in the
district. Alternately, you could ask to meet with them in their district
office. 

I also want to update you on H.R. 620, the ADA Education and Reform Act.
Your calls and emails have significantly helped in this area. In addition
President Riccobono wrote an op-ed published in
<http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/politics/343880-passing-the-ada-educ
ation-and-reform-act-would-be-a-step>
<http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/politics/343880-passing-the-ada-educ
ation-and-reform-act-would-be-a-step> The Hill on July 26, the
twenty-seventh anniversary of the signing of the ADA into law. 

Your calls and emails have also made a tremendous difference protecting
Medicaid. As I mentioned in a previous alert, an estimated 38.8 percent of
blind Americans rely on Medicaid for their healthcare according to the US
Census Bureau. To learn more about this topic please read President
Riccobono’s Saving Medicaid op-ed
<http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/healthcare/339073-saving-medicaid-is
-critical-to-americas-blind> , also published in The Hill.

The Senate will be in session until August 11 but please try to make your
calls or send your emails by Friday, August 4. A short summary of each bill
is included below. I have also included a list of all the current
cosponsors. The best way to contact your member of Congress is to call the
Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for the office in question.
Emailing your member of Congress is also a good idea. If you do so, please
copy JPare at nfb.org. 

Thanks for all you do!

Warm regards,

John

John G. ParÃ© Jr. 
(410) 659-9314 x 2218
National Federation of the Blind

Bill Summaries 

Accessible Instructional Material in Higher Education Act, H.R. 1772 (AIM
HIGH)
This bill will promote instructional technology and content that are
accessible to the blind and other students with print disabilities. Read the
AIM HIGH fact sheet to learn more. <https://nfb.org/aimhighfactsheet> 

Access Technology Affordability Act of 2017, H.R. 1734 and S. 732 (ATAA)
These bills will facilitate the purchase of access technology for blind
people by creating a refundable, per person tax credit. Read the Access
Technology Affordability Act of 2017 fact sheet to learn more
<https://nfb.org/access-technology-affordability-act> .

Transitioning to Integrated and Meaningful Employment Act of 2017, H.R. 1377
(TIME)
This bill will increase employment opportunities by removing stigmas and low
expectations propagated by section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Note that the bill now phases out subminimum wages over a six year period
corresponding to the recommendation of the National Council on Disability.
Read the TIME Act fact sheet to learn more. <https://nfb.org/timefactsheet> 

Current Cosponsors 

Accessible Instructional Material in Higher Education Act, H.R. 1772 (AIM
HIGH) Current Cosponsors
Rep. Roe, David P. [R-TN-1] - Sponsor
Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large]
Rep. Davis, Susan A. [D-CA-53]
Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-3]
Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-41]
Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2]
Rep. Lawson, Al, Jr. [D-FL-5]   
Rep. Murphy, Stephanie N. [D-FL-7]
Rep. Ross, Dennis A. [R-FL-15]
Rep. Gabbard, Tulsi [D-HI-2]
Rep. Hanabusa, Colleen [D-HI-1]
Rep. Young, David [R-IA-3]     
Rep. Kinzinger, Adam [R-IL-16]
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
Rep. Brooks, Susan W. [R-IN-5]
Rep. Visclosky, Peter J. [D-IN-1]
Rep. Yarmuth, John A. [D-KY-3]          
Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6] 
Rep. Nolan, Richard M. [D-MN-8]
Rep. Kildee, Daniel T. [D-MI-5]
Rep. Harper, Gregg [R-MS-3]
Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]
Rep. Lujan Grisham, Michelle [D-NM-1]        
Rep. Amodei, Mark E. [R-NV-2]
Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21]
Rep. Price, David E. [D-NC-4]
Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7]  
Rep. Ryan, Tim [D-OH-13]      
Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-5]
Rep. Gonzalez-Colon, Jenniffer [R-PR-At Large]
Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1]         
Rep. Green, Gene [D-TX-29]
Rep. Johnson, Eddie Bernice [D-TX-30]          
Rep. Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [R-WI-5]

Access Technology Affordability Act of 2017, H.R. 1734 and S. 732 (ATAA)
Current Cosponsors
Rep. Young, David [R-IA-3] - Sponsor
Rep. Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D-CA-40]
Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]
Rep. Demings, Val Butler [D-FL-10]   
Rep. Lawson, Al, Jr. [D-FL-5]
Rep. Hanabusa, Colleen [D-HI-1]
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]   
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
Rep. Ryan, Tim [D-OH-13]
Rep. Smucker, Lloyd [R-PA-16]
Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1]         

Transitioning to Integrated and Meaningful Employment Act of 2017, H.R. 1377
(TIME) Current Cosponsors
Rep. Harper, Gregg [R-MS-3] – Sponsor
Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-42]
Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-15]
Rep. Murphy, Stephanie N. [D-FL-7]
Rep. Young, David [R-IA-3]     
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6] 
Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]
Rep. Lujan Grisham, Michelle [D-NM-1]
Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9]
Rep. Gonzalez-Colon, Jenniffer [R-PR-At Large]
Rep. Rice, Tom [R-SC-7]         
Rep. Johnson, Eddie Bernice [D-TX-30]          

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