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</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> Friday, March 02, 2012 11:13 AM<br><b>To:</b> George Stokes<br><b>Subject:</b> FW: [BEP State Directors] Urgent Action Required: Commercialization Amendment to S. 1813<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>The current update…I will keep you informed…<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> Friday, March 02, 2012 10:46 AM<br><b>To:</b> bep_state_directors@ncsab.org; 'Catriona Macdonald'; 'Michael Jones'; 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; Eddie.weaver@dhhs.nc.gov<br><b>Subject:</b> [BEP State Directors] Urgent Action Required: Commercialization Amendment to S. 1813<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Good morning NCSAB members:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We have learned that the plan on the surface transportation reauthorization bill is for the Senate to move S. 1813 first, and then for the House to take up the Senate bill. Senator Portman of Ohio continues to push hard for the opportunity to offer his commercialization amendment – amendment number 1742 to S. 1813 - which would threaten business opportunities for blind entrepreneurs along federal highways and have a devastating impact on Randolph-Sheppard programs across the country.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Senate is poised to move quickly on S. 1813, and it is absolutely vital that all United States Senators hear from blind vendors, SLAs, and anybody who cares about the future of business opportunities for the blind as soon as possible. Please call your Senators today to register your concerns with Portman amendment 1742 to S. 1813, and pass this message along to your elected committees and consumer organizations so that they can do the same. Again, we are working in a very tight timeframe, so contacts will be most effective if made today.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>You can reach your Senators’ offices by calling the Capitol switchboard at (202) 225-3121.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thank you for your continued efforts to preserve business opportunities for blind entrepreneurs!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Take care,<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>