[NFBMI-Talk] Action Item: NFBMI H. R. 1175 Support Letter Template

[rob.parso3389 at gmail.com]

Good Afternoon Federation Friends,

 

I hope you are all staying warm and comfortable. This past week, our
affiliate's legislative committee chair discussed the importance of
supporting the Blind Americans Return to Work Act (H. R. 1175), which
proposes adopting the earnings slope process of the SSI program for SSDI to
promote competitive employment for Blind people and to avoid diminished
ambition/ loss of financial security. During this discussion, she reminded
everyone that though we all could not attend seminar in person, sending an
email to our elected representatives in Congress is a powerful advocacy
tool. Our present committee membership requested a template for guidance on
how to reach out to our senators and representatives, which we have been
hard at work developing. Attached to this message in Word format is a
document for members to use as a guide for connecting with members of
Congress. Please use the contact information offered in the previous email
from our state secretary to ensure that your message finds the intended
addressee. If you are writing a representative, then we would include the
bill number, as it is introduced in the House of Representatives. If you are
writing a Senator, then you would not include the bill number and would use
the name of the bill because it has not been introduced in the Senate yet.
Also, please feel free to personalize this template to make sure it has your
personal touch and story. Remember, our senators and representatives are
drawn to authenticity and may not be familiar with your personal testimony.
If there is a way you can connect this bill to your personal journey, please
be comfortable doing so or reaching out to leadership for feedback on your
draft. I have also included a copy of the template below for anyone that
would rather copy the text into a Word document for ease of access. Please
remember to include the fact sheet for the Blind Americans Return to Work
Act with your letter when submit it. Remember, we are more effective when we
work together and including that you are a member of the National Federation
of the Blind of Michigan in your letter is the only way that our elected
representatives will include your correspondence in this overall effort for
the Blind People's Movement here in the great state of Michigan. Additional
templates regarding our other issues are on the horizon. We appreciate all
you do and encourage you to work on submitting your letter this week. If you
are looking for feedback on your letter, feel free to reach out to me at
President at nfbmi.org <mailto:President at nfbmi.org> .

 

With love, 

 

Robert

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Your Street Address One

Your Street Address Two

Your City, MI Postal Code

Your Phone Number

 

Current Date

 

Title. Representative Name

Capital Office Street Address One

Capital Office Street Address Two

Washington, D. C., Postal Code

 

Dear Representative/ Senator,

 

I write as a constituent and active member of the National Federation of the
Blind of Michigan in high hopes that you co-sponsor the Blind Americans
Return to Work Act (H. R. 1175). This bill, introduced into the 119th
Congress by Representative P. Sessions supports blind Americans in our
efforts to continue to be active contributors to society as employed workers
without the impediment of lowered expectations due to perceived loss of
benefits or financial security. With the support of H. R. 1175, blind
Michiganders can be encouraged to 

*	Seek advanced employment opportunities. 
*	 Avert financial complacency of benefit programs.
*	Help reduce the staggering national unemployment average of blind
Americans( 65%).

 

This bill can have profound implications for blind people nationwide, but it
affects me personally. (Insert personal testimony if you have one).

I have attached information about H. R. 1175 in this message for your
convenience and would appreciate any feedback you could provide on your
support as blind Michiganders continue to work toward living the life we
want.

 

Sincerely,

 

Your Name.

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