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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in">Dear Federation Colleagues,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in">President Riccobono issued the following call to action today: Opposition to H.R. 620, the ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017.<br>
As you know, we ask members from time to time to contact their representatives in Congress in support of legislation that would benefit the blind community. But today I am calling upon all Federationists to contact their representatives in opposition to H.R.
620. The phone number for the Capitol switchboard is (202) 224-3121. >From there, simply ask to be connected with your representative. In addition, please call the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Robert Goodlatte, at (202) 225-5431.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in">Here are some brief talking points to share with the offices of your representative and Chairman Goodlatte: (1) the ADA was enacted in 1990, so covered entities have had ample time to learn about and comply with
the law; (2) the ADA already contains an “undue burden” provision to protect covered entities when the costs of making facilities accessible are too high; and (3) Title III of the ADA (which applies to public accommodations) does not allow monetary damages
for noncompliance.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in">The National Federation of the Blind has joined with 216 other allied civil rights organizations in opposing this bill. You can read our joint letter at
<a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/pdf/sign-on-letters/comments_on_hr620_03162017.pdf">
https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/pdf/sign-on-letters/comments_on_hr620_03162017.pdf</a>. If you want to know how this bill would affect us, consider internet access guaranteed under the ADA and
<a href="https://nfb.org/ada-title-ii-internet-regulations-joint-sanprm-comments">
our comments filed with DOJ last October</a> as just one example. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in">Please reach out to our federation friends without email access and ask them to make these important calls as well.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in">Cordially,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in">Ellen Ringlein, President<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in">Greater Baltimore Chapter<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in">National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in">The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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