[NFB-NM] FW: [NFB-Legislative-Directors] FW: NFB Legislative Alert - March 20, 2018

[Tonia Trapp]

Tonia Trapp, secretary

National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico

nfbnewmexicosecretary at gmail.com

www.nfbnm.org

 

Live the life you want.

 

The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.

 

From: Don Burns [mailto:dlburns2338 at gmail.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2018 3:13 PM
To: nfbnewmexicosecretary at gmail.com
Subject: FW: [NFB-Legislative-Directors] FW: NFB Legislative Alert - March 20, 2018

 

Hi Tonia:

 

Would you please post the following.

 

Thank you,

Don Burns

 

From: NFB-Legislative-Directors [mailto:nfb-legislative-directors-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Pare, John via NFB-Legislative-Directors
Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2018 2:45 PM
To: nfb-legislative-directors at nfbnet.org
Cc: Pare, John
Subject: [NFB-Legislative-Directors] FW: NFB Legislative Alert - March 20, 2018

 

Dear Legislative Directors:

 

The Legislative Alert below will be sent to all listservs later today or tomorrow morning. For questions regarding the Marrakesh Implementation Act, please contact Gabe at GCazares at nfb.org. For questions regarding H.R. 620, please contact Dylan at DHedtler-Gaudette at nfb.org. Please also feel free to contact me.

 

Thanks,

 

John

 

This legislative alert provides an update on our legislative activity. Please read it carefully to determine which senators need to be contacted and which topics should be covered. 

 

You might also want to consider meeting with your senator while they are back in the district. The next district work period is scheduled from March 23 through April 8. 

 

The Marrakesh Implementation Act was introduced in the Senate on March 15 by Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa. Other originating cosponsors included Senators Bob Corker (TN),  Dianne Feinstein (CA), Kamala Harris (CA), Orrin Hatch (UT), Patrick Leahy (VT), and Robert Menendez (NJ). If your senator is not on this list, please contact him or her and urge them to cosponsor S. 2559. The introduction of this bill is the direct result of your great advocacy and it is critical that we now work to build cosponsor support. 

 

H.R. 620, the ADA Education and Reform Act, was passed in the House of Representatives on February 15 and is now waiting for possible Senate action. The National Federation of the Blind opposes this legislation. Senator Duckworth has organized a letter opposing H.R. 620 in the Senate. So far thirty-seven senators have signed on to this letter but we need forty-one signatures to have a substantial impact. We are currently concentrating our efforts on the following ten senators:

1. Maria Cantwell (WA)

2. Joe Donnelly (IN)

3. Martin Heinrich (NM)

4. Heidi Heitkamp (ND)

5. Joe Manchin (WV)

6. Doug Jones (AL)

7. Bill Nelson (FL)

8. Gary Peters (MI)

9.Tom Udall (NM)

10. Angus King (ME)  

 

These ten Senators should be contacted and urged to sign the Senator Duckworth letter regarding opposition to H.R. 620.

 

You can contact your senator 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 me at JPare at nfb.org .

 

It is critical that we move on this quickly, so please strive to make your calls and send your emails as soon as possible.

 

I have also included a short sample ask that could be used for the items above: 

 

“My name is [name] and I am a constituent of Senator [name]. I am calling to encourage the Senator to cosponsor the Marrakesh Implementation Act (S. 2559). The Marrakesh Implementation Act would expand reading options for millions of blind and other Americans with print disabilities. I also ask that the Senator sign Senator Duckworth’s letter opposing the ADA Education and Reform Act (H.R. 620). H.R. 620 has been sent to the Senate and, if passed, would significantly erode the ADA and set disability rights back thirty years. 

 

Thank you for your support of blind Americans.

 

Sincerely,

[Your Name]”

 

Warm regards,

 

John

 

John G. Paré Jr. 

Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy

(410) 659-9314, extension 2218 | Jpare at nfb.org

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