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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> NFB-Legislative-Directors [mailto:nfb-legislative-directors-bounces@nfbnet.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Walls, Kyle via NFB-Legislative-Directors<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, February 23, 2022 1:40 PM<br><b>To:</b> 'NFB Legislative Directors List'<br><b>Cc:</b> Walls, Kyle<br><b>Subject:</b> [NFB-Legislative-Directors] 2022 Washington Seminar Recap<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Good afternoon Legislative Directors:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Now that we have met with most US Congressional offices and the dust has settled a little, it seemed like a good time to do a quick recap of the 2022 Washington Seminar and what it accomplished. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Overall, we had nearly 400 scheduled meetings. That means that almost 80 percent of your elected representatives at the federal level heard from you about our four core issues. That is an impressive accomplishment, and one in which we can all take pride. Let’s see if we can get those numbers even higher for next year. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>But before we move to next year, let’s talk a little about the fruits of our labor for this year. As always, your hard work has paid immediate dividends. Four of the five introduced bills that we took to Washington this year gained cosponsors. In the House, the Access Technology Affordability Act (H.R. 431) gained 12 cosponsors to bring the total number up to 130. The Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act (H.R. 4853) gained a whopping 17 cosponsors, which more than doubled the number we started with and brought the total up to 27. The Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act (H.R. 2373) gained 10 cosponsors to bring its total up to 34. In the Senate, the Access Technology Affordability Act (S. 212) added one new cosponsor to bring the total up to 35. This is great progress, and a true testament to the power of the Federation.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please be sure to enter the ratings for your meetings. We have seen a lot come through, but there are still many more that need to be input into the Portal. If you are having trouble entering your ratings, remember that you can always send them to <a href="mailto:HillAppointments@nfb.org">HillAppointments@nfb.org</a> and we will enter them for you. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Additionally, please remember that if you have not been able to schedule or conduct a meeting with your member of Congress, it is not too late to do so. It’s never too late to speak with your elected representatives. While the official Washington Seminar takes place over the course of one week near the beginning of the year, our advocacy never ends and we are always striving to move our bills forward. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thank you all for another amazing Washington Seminar, and I look forward to seeing everyone in person in 2023! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Be great,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Kyle<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Kyle Walls<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Research and Regulatory Specialist<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(410) 659-9314, extension 2223 | <a href="mailto:kwalls@nfb.org">kwalls@nfb.org</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://nfb.org/"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=210 height=76 id="_x0000_i1025" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/nfblogo.png" alt="National Federation of the Blind"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=24 height=24 id="_x0000_i1026" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/facebook.png" alt=Facebook></span></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=24 height=24 id="_x0000_i1027" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/twitter.png" alt=Twitter></span></a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=24 height=24 id="_x0000_i1028" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/youtube.png" alt=Youtube></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>