<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div>Hello All,</div><div id="AppleMailSignature">Read below what Parnell Diggs had to say about the latest piece of legislation HR 3765 that we need to appose. </div><div id="AppleMailSignature">Happy Thanksgiving to each and everyone of you!</div><div id="AppleMailSignature">Cathy<br><br>Sent from my iPhone</div><div><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><b>From:</b> "Diggs, Parnell via State-affiliate-leadership-list" <<a href="mailto:state-affiliate-leadership-list@nfbnet.org">state-affiliate-leadership-list@nfbnet.org</a>><br><b>Date:</b> November 25, 2015 at 2:21:45 PM EST<br><b>To:</b> State Affiliate Leadership List <<a href="mailto:state-affiliate-leadership-list@nfbnet.org">state-affiliate-leadership-list@nfbnet.org</a>>, NFB Legislative Directors List <<a href="mailto:nfb-legislative-directors@nfbnet.org">nfb-legislative-directors@nfbnet.org</a>><br><b>Cc:</b> "Diggs, Parnell" <<a href="mailto:PDiggs@nfb.org">PDiggs@nfb.org</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>[State-affiliate-leadership-list] H.R. 3765 the "ADA Education and Reform Act of 2015"</b><br><b>Reply-To:</b> State Affiliate Leadership List <<a href="mailto:state-affiliate-leadership-list@nfbnet.org">state-affiliate-leadership-list@nfbnet.org</a>><br><br></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Dear Colleagues,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is just a heads-up about H.R. 3765, the “ADA Education and Reform Act of 2015”, which was introduced on October 20, 2015, by Representative Ted Poe of Texas and referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. It is a terrible bill
that would have a chilling effect upon ADA rights.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">H.R. 3765 would make it illegal even to discuss litigation with covered entities for ADA violations without first requiring a person with a disability to suffer the indignity of asking that an access barrier be removed. It would also prohibit
litigation over existing violations if a covered entity promises future compliance, and it would eliminate jury trials for individuals with disabilities who do manage to get their ADA cases into court.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Keep in mind, the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990. It is those who still refuse to provide access to individuals with disabilities at this late date who should be penalized, not people with disabilities. There is no
shame in standing up for one’s rights under the ADA. So far, this bill does not have bipartisan support.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here are the names of the eleven cosponsors by state: Bradley Byrne of Alabama, Jeff Denham, Devin Nunes, and David Valadao of California, David Jolly of Florida, Doug Collins of Georgia, Mick Mulvaney of South Carolina, Michael Burgess,
Brian Babin, Kenny Marchant, and Lamar Smith of Texas. Please call your Congressmen and tell them that H.R. 3765 is a terrible idea.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We are tracking legislative developments from here and will keep you up-to-date on any breaking news, positive or negative, as appropriate.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks for all you do.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Parnell Diggs, Esq.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Director of Government Affairs<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">200 East Wells Street<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Baltimore, MD 21230<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Office: (410) 659-9314, extension 2222<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Mobile: (843) 267-2018<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Email:
<a href="mailto:pdiggs@nfb.org"><span style="color:windowtext">pdiggs@nfb.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Twitter:<span style="color:#1F497D">
</span>@NFB_Voice<span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">@ParnellDiggs<span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because
low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><a href="https://nfb.org/make-gift"><span style="color:windowtext">Make a gift</span></a> to the National Federation of the Blind and help ensure all blind Americans live the
lives they want</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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</div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div><span>_______________________________________________</span><br><span>State-affiliate-leadership-list mailing list</span><br><span><a href="mailto:State-affiliate-leadership-list@nfbnet.org">State-affiliate-leadership-list@nfbnet.org</a></span><br><span><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/state-affiliate-leadership-list_nfbnet.org">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/state-affiliate-leadership-list_nfbnet.org</a></span><br><span>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for State-affiliate-leadership-list:</span><br><span><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/state-affiliate-leadership-list_nfbnet.org/cathyj1949%40gmail.com">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/state-affiliate-leadership-list_nfbnet.org/cathyj1949%40gmail.com</a></span></div></blockquote></body></html>