[Nfbk] FW: [BEP State Directors] Action Alert: Commercialization in the House and Senate

[George Stokes]

From: Nesbitt, Richard (OFB-FK) [mailto:Richard.Nesbitt at ky.gov] 
Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2012 7:35 AM
To: George Stokes
Subject: FW: [BEP State Directors] Action Alert: Commercialization in the
House and Senate

 

Not good.we need to stay on top of this issue.

 

From: bep_state_directors-owner at ncsab.org
[mailto:bep_state_directors-owner at ncsab.org] On Behalf Of Sean Whalen
Sent: Wednesday, February 29, 2012 10:16 PM
To: 'Catriona Macdonald'; 'Michael Jones'; bep_state_directors at ncsab.org;
'Barbara Madrigal'; Bettye.Odem-Davis at illinois.gov; bfinn at ed.state.nh.us;
Bgibson at utah.gov; 'Brian Sigman'; ddenotaris at pa.gov; Greg.Trapp at state.nm.us;
jxavier at dor.ca.gov; 'Karen Keninger'; Katy.Morris at arkansas.gov;
lgrupen at dhs.hawaii.gov; Linda.mock at state.or.us; loudurand at dsb.wa.gov; 'Pat
Cannon'; 'Pearl Van Zandt'; 'Raymond E. Hopkins';
rita.houston at rehab.alabama.gov; Robert.Doyle at state.de.us; 'Susan Schaffer';
'Vito Desantis'; 'Fred Schroeder'
Subject: [BEP State Directors] Action Alert: Commercialization in the House
and Senate

 

Good evening NCSAB members:

 

We have just learned new information related to the potential
commercialization of highway rest areas, and it isn't good.

 

As the House of Representatives continues to work on an alternative
transportation reauthorization bill, Rep. LaTourette of Ohio has made it
clear that he intends to move forward with his amendment to commercialize
highway rest areas.

 

Of further concern, Senator Portman, also from Ohio, plans on offering a
commercialization amendment of his own (No. 1742) to the Senate version of
the transportation bill, S. 1813. Senator Portman is working to have his
amendment included among those that will be permitted to be offered on the
floor of the Senate.

 

In both chambers decisions about which amendments will be put to a vote will
be made next week, so it is important that Randolph-Sheppard stakeholders
contact their Members of the House and Senate to register concerns and
educate them as to the devastating impact on Randolph-Sheppard of
commercialization. In particular, it is vital that Senator Boxer of
California, Senate Majority Leader Reid of Nevada, House Speaker Boehner of
Ohio and Representative Dreier of California hear from constituents about
this issue. Boxer and Reid in the Senate, and Boehner and Dreier in the
House, will be instrumental in determining whether or not the Portman and
LaTourette amendments will be brought up for votes.

 

To reach your Senators and Representative, simply call (202) 225-3121 and
ask to be connected to their office.

 

Please share this update with your committees of blind vendors, as well as
the consumer organizations in your state.

 

Thank you very much for your continued work on this important issue.

 

Take care,

 

Sean

 

Sean Whalen

Policy Associate

Linchpin Strategies, LLC

 

639 Massachusetts Ave NE

Washington, DC 20002

Phone:  (866) 443-0998

Fax:       (202) 318-8113

 

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