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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Good morning everyone,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I decided to check the website, Congress.gov this morning to see if there was any mid-week movement on HR-431, The Access Technology Affordability Act, and was thrilled to see sponsorship on the bill is growing in the House. Here in Florida we have added the names of three more Congressmen, bringing our total to 5. Currently, 48 Congressional Reps have signed onto the bill.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Congratulations to members of all of our regional teams. All of us now have members from our meetings giving us support.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Today I noted the new names of:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Gus Bilirakis – Dist. 12 (awesome job West Team, you did it again)!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Bill Posey – Dist. 8 (East Team victory, of course it was)!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>&<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>John Rutherford – Dist. 04 (So happy to see this Jacksonville Rep. signing on again, the North Team continues to have a great relationship with this Representative…don’t worry, I’ll be getting my thank you note out soon).<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We had previously noted the names of:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Al C. Hastings – Dist. 20<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>&<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Maria Salazar – Dist. 27.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you were part of any meetings with any of these Reps, (or if you are a constituent of any of the above named), sending them a brief thank you for supporting HR-431 would truly be appreciated. Small gestures like that let the House members know we do not take their support for granted and will help build and strengthen a good working relationship with them as we move forward with more initiatives.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Senators Rubio and Scott have not yet added their names to the ATAA, (S-212), but we won’t stop working towards that goal. Currently, 11 Senators across the US have signed onto the Senate bill.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Florida is really doing some amazing work and I am so very proud to be part of our fantastic team.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please let me know if you need anything at all from me, I’m happy to serve.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Merry, Camille and Denise, if you have team members who may not be on the Florida listserve, please share this great news with them. Thanks<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Very Respectfully,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Russ Davis,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Legislative Director, National Federation of the Blind of Florida<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Ph. 904-993-8433<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in'>Email: Russell@radiorusty.com<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>