<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 14 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Tahoma;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p.MsoAcetate, li.MsoAcetate, div.MsoAcetate
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Balloon Text Char";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";}
span.BalloonTextChar
{mso-style-name:"Balloon Text Char";
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Balloon Text";
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";}
span.EmailStyle19
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:windowtext;}
span.EmailStyle20
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D;}
span.EmailStyle21
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Nesbitt, Richard (OFB-FK) [mailto:Richard.Nesbitt@ky.gov] <br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, February 23, 2012 7:22 AM<br><b>To:</b> George Stokes; Shirley, Patrick B (Education Cabinet); Kennedy, Jack B (OFB-FK)<br><b>Subject:</b> FW: [BEP State Directors] Urgent: Action Required on LaTourette Commercialization Amendment<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>We all need to watch this one…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> bep_state_directors-owner@ncsab.org [mailto:bep_state_directors-owner@ncsab.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Sean Whalen<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, February 22, 2012 5:32 PM<br><b>To:</b> mjones@okdrs.gov; Barbara.J.Madrigal@dars.state.tx.us; Bettye.Odem-Davis@illinois.gov; bfinn@ed.state.nh.us; Bgibson@utah.gov; Brian.sigman@ct.gov; ddenotaris@pa.gov; Greg.Trapp@state.nm.us; jxavier@dor.ca.gov; Karen.Keninger@blind.state.ia.us; Katy.Morris@arkansas.gov; lgrupen@dhs.hawaii.gov; Linda.mock@state.or.us; loudurand@dsb.wa.gov; cannonp@Michigan.gov; Pearl.vanzandt@nebraska.gov; Ray.Hopkins@dbvi.virginia.gov; rita.houston@rehab.alabama.gov; Robert.Doyle@state.de.us; sschaffer@dors.state.md.us; vito.desantis@dhs.state.nj.us; fschroeder@sks.com; bep_state_directors@ncsab.org<br><b>Subject:</b> [BEP State Directors] Urgent: Action Required on LaTourette Commercialization Amendment<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dear NCSAB members:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It is our understanding that Congressman LaTourette’s office is still working on drafting his rest area commercialization amendment, however, we have not yet seen any final language. The most recent version we have seen would allow commercialization, but only on non-interstate federal highways. Through conversations with many state agencies, we have confirmed that such an amendment would still have a devastating impact on Randolph-Sheppard programs in many states.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We need blind entrepreneurs to reengage and reach out once again to their Members of Congress to express opposition to this amendment. The organization of state departments of Transportation will be on the Hill next week lobbying in support of commercialization, so it is vital that we once again communicate our opposition to this amendment and let Members of Congress know that blind entrepreneurs oppose the commercialization of rest areas.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please share this alert with your elected committees of blind vendors, as well as the consumer organizations in your states.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Now is the time to call Representatives and tell them to vote “no” on the LaTourette amendment to H.R. 7, which would shut down small businesses owned and managed by blind entrepreneurs.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>You can reach your Member of Congress by calling (202) 225-3121 and asking to be connected to his or her office.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thank you for your continued efforts to protect highway vending opportunities for the blind.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sean Whalen<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Policy Associate<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Linchpin Strategies, LLC<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>639 Massachusetts Ave NE<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Washington, DC 20002<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Phone: (866) 443-0998<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Fax: (202) 318-8113<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>