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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>Kaloc, Jeff via NFB-Legislative-Directors<br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, September 29, 2023 11:51 AM<br><b>To:</b> 'NFB Legislative Directors List'<br><b>Cc:</b> Kaloc, Jeff<br><b>Subject:</b> [NFB-Legislative-Directors] Legislative Alert - Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act - 9/29/2023<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif"'>Dear Federation Family:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif"'>Thanks to everyone’s hard work the bipartisan <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/2984?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%22duckworth%22%7D&s=2&r=1"><span style='color:windowtext'>Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act</span></a> (S. 2984 /H.R. 5813) was introduced in both the Senate and the House of Representatives yesterday. This is a culmination of your advocacy beginning with Washington Seminar, and up to now. The Senate bill was introduced by Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, and the House bill was introduced by Representative John Sarbanes of Maryland. You can read more about the introduction of the bill in <a href="https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-sarbanes-sessions-reintroduce-bicameral-bipartisan-legislation-to-help-make-websites-and-software-applications-accessible-for-americans-with-disabilities">Senator Duckworth’s official press release</a>. Senator Warren and Senator Markey have cosponsored the Senate bill and Representative Pete Sessions cosponsored the House bill. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif"'>After years of advocacy, we are proud to have champions like Senator Duckworth and Representative Sarbanes, but the real challenge has only just begun. Now we have to shift our focus towards building support for the legislation in order to get it through the committees, onto the floor of the Senate and the House, and ultimately passed by both Chambers, to the desk of the president. This is where your advocacy, as blind constituents from every state in the Union who will benefit from the requirements of this legislation, is more important than ever. Please call and email your senators and representatives and ask them to cosponsor the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act today!</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif"'>When you call or email you might say something like:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif"'>"Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME], and I am a constituent of [SENATOR/REPRESENTATIVE NAME]. I live in [CITY, STATE]. I would like to urge [SENATOR/REPRESENTATIVE NAME] to cosponsor the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act, [S. 2984/H.R. 5813]. This legislation would ensure that blind and disabled Americans can have the same opportunity to independently access websites and applications as our non-disabled peers.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif"'>Thanks." </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif"'>You can contact your member of Congress by calling the Capitol Switchboard and asking for the office in question. The number is 202-224-3121. We have also attached a contact list for Senate and House offices to this email. The lists are organized alphabetically by state, followed by the name of the member of Congress, then the staff member name, then the staff member contact email. If you contact your senator or representative via email, please copy Jeff Kaloc at <a href="mailto:jkaloc@nfb.org">jkaloc@nfb.org</a>. Your calls and emails do make a difference.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif"'>Inaccessible websites and applications are a barrier and prevent us from living the lives we want. They prevent us from getting the education, employment, and independence that we desire. This is why our advocacy for this bill is so important. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif"'>Have a good weekend,</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif"'>Jeff Kaloc</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif"'>Governmental Affairs Specialist</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif"'>200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif"'>410-659-9314, extension 2206 | <a href="mailto:jkaloc@nfb.org">jkaloc@nfb.org</a> </span><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_i1028" 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_i1027" 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_i1026" 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_i1025" 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></div></body></html>