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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> Tuesday, March 06, 2012 2:23 PM<br><b>To:</b> George Stokes<br><b>Subject:</b> FW: [BEP State Directors] Update: S. 1813 Poised for Action, Portman Commercialization Amendment 1742 Still in Play<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'>It is getting down to the wire…<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> Tuesday, March 06, 2012 9:51 AM<br><b>To:</b> bep_state_directors@ncsab.org<br><b>Subject:</b> [BEP State Directors] Update: S. 1813 Poised for Action, Portman Commercialization Amendment 1742 Still in Play<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>As I write, Senate leadership is still in the process of negotiating a unanimous consent agreement governing what amendments will be allowed to be offered to the transportation bill on the floor. It is still unclear if Senator Portman’s commercialization amendment will be among those agreed to be considered. We do know that Senator Portman continues to push for the opportunity to have a vote on his amendment. It is expected that Senate leadership will reach an agreement on amendments by this afternoon (Tuesday), and amendments will be considered over the next couple of days.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In preparation for the possibility that Senator Portman’s amendment is given a floor vote, it is still vitally important that all Senators hear from constituents expressing concerns about the Portman amendment. Please relay this message to your committees of blind vendors, as well as the consumer organizations in your states. And, if you have not yet done so, please weigh in with your U.S. Senators to let them know what the impact of commercialization would be on blind Randolph-Sheppard entrepreneurs.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Attached to this message you will find a letter, written in such a way as to avoid anything that could be considered lobbying, which you can sign your name to and email to the offices of your Senators. If you call or email me at 866 443-0998 or <a href="mailto:swhalen@linchpinstrategies.com">swhalen@linchpinstrategies.com</a>, I can provide you with the name and email address of the staffer who handles transportation issues in your Senators’ offices so you can directly contact individuals who will be advising Senators on the commercialization issue.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>If you prefer to call, you can reach your Senators by calling 202 225-3121 and asking to be connected to their offices.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thank you all so much for your continued efforts on behalf of the Randolph-Sheppard program and the blind entrepreneurs who benefit from the opportunities it creates.<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>