<div dir="ltr"><div><div style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)" class="gmail_default">Hello All,</div><div style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)" class="gmail_default"><br></div><div style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)" class="gmail_default">If you have not done so, please contact the four staff people on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) committee and on the House Education and Workforce Committee. Please do it by close of business on Tuesday. Read Justin Youngs message below.</div><div style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)" class="gmail_default"><br></div><div style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)" class="gmail_default">
<font size="2"><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:black">It would be great if we could get the </span></font>
<font size="2"><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:black"> Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act</span></font>
<font size="2"><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:black">included in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
(WIOA). </span></font>
</div><div style="font-family:tahoma,sans-serif;font-size:small;color:rgb(0,0,0)" class="gmail_default">
<h1><font size="2"><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:black">Contact Congress Members about the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act</span></font></h1>
<p><font size="2"><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:black">We
are coming down to the wire on the 118th Congress and we want to make
sure that we’ve done everything that we possibly can in order to
advocate for our legislative priorities. In this case, we are trying to
ensure that the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act
(TCIEA) is included in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
(WIOA) reauthorization bill that is currently being considered.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="2"><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:black">Right
now is a crucial time for this initiative because Congress wants to
pass the WIOA reauthorization when they return after Thanksgiving. We
need you to flood the email inboxes and telephone lines and voicemail
boxes of four key committee staff members in order to make sure TCIEA
gets included in the final bill:</span></font></p>
<p><font size="2"><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:black">Amy Jones<br>
Majority Staff Director, House Committee on Education and the Workforce</span><br></font>
<font size="2"><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif"><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=36597&qid=10657019" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">Amy.jones@mail.house.gov</a></span><br></font>
<font size="2"><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:black">202-225-4527</span></font></p>
<p><font size="2"><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:black">Véronique Pluviose-Fenton<br>
Minority Staff Director, House Committee on Education and the Workforce</span><br></font>
<font size="2"><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif"><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=36598&qid=10657019" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">veronique.pluviose@mail.house.gov</a></span><br></font>
<font size="2"><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:black">202-225-3725</span></font></p>
<p><font size="2"><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:black">Warren Gunnels<br>
Majority Staff Director, Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions</span><br></font>
<font size="2"><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif"><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=36599&qid=10657019" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">Warren_Gunnels@help.senate.gov</a></span><br></font>
<font size="2"><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:black">202-224-0767</span></font></p>
<p><font size="2"><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:black">Amanda Lincoln<br>
Minority Staff Director, Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions</span><br></font>
<font size="2"><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif"><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=36600&qid=10657019" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">Amanda_lincoln@help.senate.gov</a></span><br></font>
<font size="2"><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:black">202-224-5375</span></font></p>
<h2><font size="2"><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:black">Sample Script</span></font></h2>
<p><font size="2"><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:black">When you call or email, you might say something like:</span></font></p>
<p><font size="2"><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:black">“Dear [NAME]: </span></font></p>
<p><font size="2"><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:black">I
am urging the [HOUSE EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE COMMITTEE/SENATE HELP
COMMITTEE] to please include the TCIEA in the WIOA reauthorization bill.
The TCIEA will eliminate the payment of subminimum wages for people
with disabilities and eliminate the need for a government program to
monitor special wage certificate holders. Thank you."</span></font></p>
<p><font size="2"><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:black">If you send an email, please use the subject line “Please Include the TCIEA in the WIOA Reauthorization” and copy Justin Young <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=36601&qid=10657019" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">jyoung@nfb.org</a>.</span></font></p>
<p><font size="2"><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:black">Congress
is working diligently to move the WIOA reauthorization bill as soon as
they get back after the Thanksgiving break, so time is of the essence
for us to make our voices heard. If you have any questions, please
contact Justin Young at <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=36601&qid=10657019" rel="nofollow" style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline" target="_blank">jyoung@nfb.org</a>.</span></font></p><p><font size="2"><span style="font-family:calibri,sans-serif;color:black">Thank you very much.<br></span></font>
</p>
</div><font size="2"><br clear="all"></font></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><font size="2"><b>Sharon Maneki, Director of Legislation and Advocacy</b></font></div><div><font size="2">National Federation of the Blind of Maryland</font></div><div><font size="2">410-715-9596</font></div><div><font size="2"><br></font></div><div><font size="2">The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Everyday 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.<br></font></div><div><font size="2"><b><br></b></font></div></div></div></div></div>