<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 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hello all,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please call Senators Mikulski and Cardin tomorrow, Friday, or Monday. Read the President’s message below. By spending a couple of minutes to make two phone calls, we can have a profound effect on the lives of disabled veterans. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Fellow Federationists:<br> <br>Last week, Senator Heller from Nevada introduced an amendment to the Senate’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to include the same Space Available language that you already helped pass in the House NDAA last month. This is the first time we've ever been able to get an amendment for Space Available introduced in the Senate. This amendment currently has two cosponsors, Senators Tester from Montana and Ayotte from New Hampshire, but we need more support. <br> <br>Please call your senators and urge them to cosponsor amendment S.A. 4235 to the Senate NDAA so that all veterans with disabilities rated as total can participate in the Space Available Program, not just those injured on or after September 23, 1996. We expect the Senate to begin debating the NDAA next week so time is of the essence for us to build support for our legislation. If we can get this amendment through the Senate, we will only need a signature from the President to end the disparate treatment of our courageous vets in the Space Available Program based on which war they fought in.<br> <br>The US Capitol switchboard number is <a href="tel:(202)%20224-3121">(202) 224-3121</a>. The fact sheet is available at:<a href="https://nfb.org/equal-access-air-travel-service-disabled-veterans"> https://nfb.org/equal-access-air-travel-service-disabled-veterans</a>. If you have any questions, feel free to email or call Derek Manners, Advocacy and Policy Analyst, at<a href="mailto:DManners@nfb.org">DManners@nfb.org</a> or <a href="tel:(410)%20659-9314">(410) 659-9314</a>, extension 2210. <br> <br>Please share this message widely throughout the Federation.<br> <br>Thank you for all that you do.<br> <br> <br>Mark A. Riccobono, President<br><br><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>Sharon Maneki, </b>President<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>410-715-9596<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>