<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;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D;}
span.EmailStyle22
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D;}
span.EmailStyle23
{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'>This is good – keep us posted and let us know when and if we need to resume calling on this issue. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Melanie<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"'> nfbk-bounces@nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbk-bounces@nfbnet.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>George Stokes<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, February 24, 2012 4:01 PM<br><b>To:</b> nfbk@nfbnet.org<br><b>Subject:</b> [Nfbk] FW: [BEP State Directors] Update on H.R. 7: Please Forward<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><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"'> Wright, Jennifer (OFB-FK) <a href="mailto:[mailto:JenniferN.Wright@ky.gov]">[mailto:JenniferN.Wright@ky.gov]</a> <br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, February 24, 2012 3:54 PM<br><b>To:</b> Nesbitt, Richard (OFB-FK); George Stokes<br><b>Subject:</b> RE: [BEP State Directors] Update on H.R. 7: Please Forward<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>Do you want me to send this one out to the SRC, too?<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) <br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, February 24, 2012 3:51 PM<br><b>To:</b> 'George Stokes'; Wright, Jennifer (OFB-FK)<br><b>Subject:</b> FW: [BEP State Directors] Update on H.R. 7: Please Forward<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>This is today’s update…Looks like good news…We still need to stay on top of this issue.<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"'> <a href="mailto:bep_state_directors-owner@ncsab.org">bep_state_directors-owner@ncsab.org</a> [<a href="mailto:bep_state_directors-owner@ncsab.org">mailto:bep_state_directors-owner@ncsab.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Sean Whalen<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, February 24, 2012 11:38 AM<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:mjones@okdrs.gov">mjones@okdrs.gov</a>; <a href="mailto:Barbara.J.Madrigal@dars.state.tx.us">Barbara.J.Madrigal@dars.state.tx.us</a>; <a href="mailto:Bettye.Odem-Davis@illinois.gov">Bettye.Odem-Davis@illinois.gov</a>; <a href="mailto:bfinn@ed.state.nh.us">bfinn@ed.state.nh.us</a>; <a href="mailto:Bgibson@utah.gov">Bgibson@utah.gov</a>; <a href="mailto:Brian.sigman@ct.gov">Brian.sigman@ct.gov</a>; <a href="mailto:ddenotaris@pa.gov">ddenotaris@pa.gov</a>; <a href="mailto:Greg.Trapp@state.nm.us">Greg.Trapp@state.nm.us</a>; <a href="mailto:jxavier@dor.ca.gov">jxavier@dor.ca.gov</a>; <a href="mailto:Karen.Keninger@blind.state.ia.us">Karen.Keninger@blind.state.ia.us</a>; <a href="mailto:Katy.Morris@arkansas.gov">Katy.Morris@arkansas.gov</a>; <a href="mailto:lgrupen@dhs.hawaii.gov">lgrupen@dhs.hawaii.gov</a>; <a href="mailto:Linda.mock@state.or.us">Linda.mock@state.or.us</a>; <a href="mailto:loudurand@dsb.wa.gov">loudurand@dsb.wa.gov</a>; <a href="mailto:cannonp@Michigan.gov">cannonp@Michigan.gov</a>; <a href="mailto:Pearl.vanzandt@nebraska.gov">Pearl.vanzandt@nebraska.gov</a>; <a href="mailto:Ray.Hopkins@dbvi.virginia.gov">Ray.Hopkins@dbvi.virginia.gov</a>; <a href="mailto:rita.houston@rehab.alabama.gov">rita.houston@rehab.alabama.gov</a>; <a href="mailto:Robert.Doyle@state.de.us">Robert.Doyle@state.de.us</a>; <a href="mailto:sschaffer@dors.state.md.us">sschaffer@dors.state.md.us</a>; <a href="mailto:vito.desantis@dhs.state.nj.us">vito.desantis@dhs.state.nj.us</a>; <a href="mailto:fschroeder@sks.com">fschroeder@sks.com</a>; <a href="mailto:bep_state_directors@ncsab.org">bep_state_directors@ncsab.org</a>; 'Catriona Macdonald'<br><b>Subject:</b> [BEP State Directors] Update on H.R. 7: Please Forward<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>We have been receiving calls from several blind entrepreneurs across the country inquiring about the status of H.R. 7. I am writing to urge you to share this update with your elected committees and consumer groups.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>IT appears as though H.R. 7 is being pulled from consideration by the House Republicans in favor of a shorter reauthorization bill. We are not yet clear in what respects the new approach will mirror H.R. 7 and where it will differ, but it looks like H.R. 7 and the LaTourette amendment are no longer immediate concerns. Of course, it is very possible that commercialization provisions show up in the new bill, but we do not know what form they may take or who may be their chief proponents.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We will continue to monitor the progress of the transportation reauthorization, which must pass in some form before March 31, and keep you up to date. Please remain ready to reengage and enlist blind entrepreneurs and other consumers in your states to conduct outreach to Congress if necessary.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Many thanks,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sean<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>