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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Thank you for this information Dennis. Very
comprehensive.</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=nfbmo@nfbnet.org href="mailto:nfbmo@nfbnet.org">Dennis Miller via
NFBMO</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=nfbmo@nfbnet.org
href="mailto:nfbmo@nfbnet.org">NFB of Missouri Mailing List</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Cc:</B> <A title=millerdennis893@gmail.com
href="mailto:millerdennis893@gmail.com">Dennis Miller</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, June 19, 2023 2:33 PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [NFBMO] FW:
[NFB-Legislative-Directors] Pre-Convention Legislative Summary</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<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-TOP: #b5c4df 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-TOP: 3pt; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in">
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: "Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</SPAN></B><SPAN
style='FONT-SIZE: 10pt; 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> Monday, June 19,
2023 1:25 PM<BR><B>To:</B> <A
href="mailto:nfb-legislative-directors@nfbnet.org">nfb-legislative-directors@nfbnet.org</A><BR><B>Cc:</B>
Walls, Kyle<BR><B>Subject:</B> [NFB-Legislative-Directors] Pre-Convention
Legislative Summary<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Dear Legislative Directors:<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>This email will serve as a comprehensive status update for
all of our bills in the current Congress. This is simply to give you an idea
of where we are on our key legislative priorities as we get ready to travel to
Houston for our 2023 National Convention. <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><U>Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility
Act</U></B><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>This bill would mandate a minimum nonvisual access standard
for Class II and Class III home use medical devices. The Act calls on the
Access Board to create a minimum nonvisual access standard for covered
devices. The Food and Drug Administration will oversee compliance with minimum
nonvisual access standards for home use medical devices.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B> </B><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B>House of Representatives</B><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>The Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act was
introduced in the current Congress on March 1, 2023 by Representative Jan
Schakowsky (Illinois). The bill number is H.R. 1328, and it currently has 48
cosponsors. <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><U>Access Technology Affordability
Act</U></B><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>This bill would establish a refundable tax credit for blind
individuals in the amount of $2,000 to be used over a three-year period to
offset the cost of access technology. Defines “qualified access technology” in
the tax code as hardware, software, or other information technology, the
primary function of which is to convert or adapt information that is visually
represented into forms or formats useable by blind individuals. The bills
sunsets after five years.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B> </B><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B>House of Representatives</B><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>The Access Technology Affordability Act was introduced in
the House of Representatives on May 25, 2023 by Representative Mike Kelly
(Pennsylvania). The lead cosponsor is Representative Mike Thompson
(California). The bill number is H.R. 3702 and it currently has 13 cosponsors.
<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B>Senate</B><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>The Access Technology Affordability Act was introduced in
the Senate on May 4, 2023 by Senator Ben Cardin (Maryland). The lead cosponsor
is Senator John Boozman (Arkansas). The bill number is S. 1467 and it
currently has five cosponsors. <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><U>Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment
Act</U></B><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>This legislation would discontinue the issuance of new
Special Wage Certificates by forbidding the Secretary of Labor from issuing
them to new applicants. The bill would also create a grant program for states
and individual 14(c) certificate holders to assist with their transition to
competitive, integrated employment. The bill would also create a technical
assistance center to support all 14(c) holders in their transition to
competitive integrated employment under the US Department of
Labor.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B>House of Representatives</B><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>The Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act
was introduced in the House of Representatives on February 28, 2023 by
Representative Bobby Scott (Virginia). The lead cosponsor is Representative
Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Washington). The bill number is H.R. 1263 and it
currently has fifteen cosponsors. <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B>Senate</B><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>The Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act
was introduced in the Senate on February 27, 2023 by Senator Bob Casey
(Pennsylvania). The lead cosponsor is Senator Steve Daines (Montana). The bill
number is S. 533 and Senator Daines is currently the only cosponsor.
<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>This is a great start as we get to roughly the first
quarter mark of the 118th Congress. Let’s continue to build cosponsors right
up to the start of the Convention. <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>Looking forward to seeing all of you in Houston.
<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 | <SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d"><A href="mailto:kwalls@nfb.org">kwalls@nfb.org</A>
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><A href="https://nfb.org/"><SPAN
style="TEXT-DECORATION: none"><IMG id=_x0000_i1028 border=0
alt="National Federation of the Blind"
src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/nfblogo.png" width=210
height=76></SPAN></A><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d">
</SPAN><A href="http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind"><SPAN
style="TEXT-DECORATION: none"><IMG id=_x0000_i1027 border=0 alt=Facebook
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<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"> </SPAN><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><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: #1f497d"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<P>
<HR>
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