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<DIV>A message from Jesse Hartle<BR><BR>Fellow Federationists:<BR><BR>Today the
United States Senate allowed Senator Portman's Amendment <BR>1742 to the surface
transportation bill, S. 1813, to be considered on <BR>the floor.
Senator<BR>Portman's amendment sought to allow states to open commercial
<BR>ventures on federal highways and interstates. This policy would have
<BR>dramatically impacted<BR>the livelihood of blind entrepreneurs in the
Randolph-Sheppard <BR>program who operate vending facilities along the federal
highways and <BR>interstates across<BR>our country.<BR><BR>I am pleased to tell
you that, due to the advocacy of the National <BR>Federation of the Blind,
Senator Portman's Amendment 1742 was voted <BR>down by a count of<BR>86 to 12 by
the United States Senate. I appreciate the hard work <BR>that you put into
protecting the interest of blind vendors. I will <BR>continue to
keep<BR>you posted on this issue, as this bill will soon be sent to the House
<BR>of Representatives for consideration.<BR><BR>Jesse<BR><BR>Jesse
Hartle<BR>Government Programs Specialist<BR>National Federation of the
Blind<BR>Phone: (410) 659-9314, Ext. 2233<BR>Email: <A
href="mailto:jhartle@nfb.org">jhartle@nfb.org</A><BR> <BR><FONT size=2
face=Arial>Representative,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Kenneth Chrane,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Maryland Free State,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Republic</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Telephone: (410) 486-1569</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Cell Phone: (410) 800-8252</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
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