[NFBAZ-EastValleyChapter] legislative alert, blind americans back to work act

Mon Apr 20 15:48:07 UTC 2026

Blind Americans Return to Work Act, H.R. 1175/S. 4334

Friday, April 17, 2026

The National Federation of the Blind, the transformative membership and
advocacy organization of blind Americans, urges the members of the House of
Representatives and the Senate to cosponsor the Blind Americans Return to
Work Act, H.R. 1175/S. 4334.

This bill will help eliminate the Social Security Disability Insurance
(SSDI) earnings cliff by instituting a two-for-one phase out of benefits
where every two dollars earned over the substantial gainful activity
threshold will cause a one-dollar reduction in a beneficiary’s monthly
payment.

Blind Americans Return to Work Act

The SSDI benefits program contains an earnings cliff that hinders blind
individuals from achieving the American dream. This is, in effect, a
penalty imposed on blind Americans when they work. Under current law, if a
blind worker earns more than the substantial gainful activity threshold,
even by just one dollar, they are not entitled to any benefits.

This causes blind employees to sometimes choose to remain unemployed,
refuse promotions, or limit the number of hours we work to prevent the loss
of our benefits. The Blind Americans Return to Work Act, H.R. 1175/S. 4334
will solve this problem by creating a gradual phaseout where employees
would effectively give back one dollar of our benefits for every two
dollars we earn over the substantial gainful activity threshold.

As of right now, we have 39 cosponsors in the House:
Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17] – SPONSOR
Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6]
Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31]
Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21]
Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]
Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]
Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]
Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22]
Rep. Crank, Jeff [R-CO-5]
Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6]
Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]
Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large]
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
Rep. Fine, Randy [R-FL-6]
Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2]
Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6]
Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3]
Rep. Schmidt, Derek [R-KS-2]
Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6]
Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2]
Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7]
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3]
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8]
Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3]
Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1]
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1]
Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19]
Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]
Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5]
Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5]
Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16]
Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15]
Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]
Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]
Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]
Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3]

The Senate has one cosponsor aside from the bill sponsor:
Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK] – SPONSOR
Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]

If you did not read your representative or senator’s name on the above
list, please contact their office and urge them to cosponsor the Blind
Americans Return to Work Act, H.R. 1175/S. 4334. Also, please keep in mind
that while any cosponsor is helpful, it is especially helpful to gain
cosponsors from the majority party. At this time, the Republican party has
a majority in both the House and Senate, so please make it a point to reach
out to Republican members of Congress.

We are hoping that a large surge of cosponsor support will give the bill a
big momentum boost that will increase the chance of being included in one
of the large legislative vehicles that are coming up. To do that, we need
your help to spread the message of increased earnings potential and
decreased dependence on government benefits to all members of Congress who
have not yet signed onto the bill. We are asking that you call or email
your representative and ask them to cosponsor the Blind Americans Return to
Work Act.

When you call or email you might say:

"My name is [YOUR NAME] and I want to urge [REPRESENTATIVE/SENATOR NAME] to
support the Blind Americans Return to Work Act, [H.R. 1175/S. 4334]. This
bill will eliminate the SSDI earnings cliff and incentivize more blind
Americans to work in higher-paying and more productive jobs, which will in
turn reduce dependence upon government benefits over time. Please cosponsor
the Blind Americans Return to Work Act."

We suggest a subject like: "Help get more blind Americans back to work by
cosponsoring [H.R. 1175/S. 4334]."

To find the contact information for your specific representative or
senator’s office, please see their names at the end of this message.

If you email, please copy Jesse Shirek at jshirek at nfb.org.

Arizona Senate and Represenatives:

Senator Ruben Gallego; Democratic; jonathan_tsentas at gallego.senate.gov;
202-224-4521

Senator Mark Kelly; Democratic; katie_campbell at kelly.senate.gov;
202-224-2235

AZ         03; Representative Yassamin Ansari; Democratic;
paniz.rezaeerod at mail.house.gov;
202-225-4065

AZ-05; Representative Andy Biggs; Republican; logan.wolfe1 at mail.house.gov;
202-225-2635

AZ-06; Representative Juan Ciscomani; Republican; alex.fink at mail.house.gov;
202-225-2542

AZ-02; Representative Eli Crane; Republican; derrick.miller at mail.house.gov;
202-225-3361

AZ-09; Representative; Paul Gosar; Republican; macayle.fuchs at mail.house.gov;
202-225-2315

AZ-07; Representative Adelita Grijalva; Democratic;
kelsey.mishkin at mail.house.gov;
202-225-2435

AZ-08; Representative Abe Hamadeh; Republican;
cameron.erickson at mail.house.gov;
202-225-4576

AZ-01; Representative David Schweikert; Republican;
john.quinn at mail.house.gov;
202-225-2190

AZ-04; Representative Greg Stanton; Democratic;
michelle.schein at mail.house.gov; 202-225-9888

-- 
Mark Feliz
NFBA. East Valley Chapter member
Cell: 480-560-0641
LIVE THE LIFE YOU WANT
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