[Nfbmt] Fwd: [Nfb-legislative-directors] Legislative Update on Space Available

Wed Jan 1 20:20:51 UTC 2014

It's unfortunate that this didn't get passed this year, especially
since we had Senator Tester as the Senate sponsor and all three of our
delegation were sponsors or co-sponsors.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Hartle, Jesse" <JHartle at nfb.org>
Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2013 13:49:59 +0000
Subject: [Nfb-legislative-directors] Legislative Update on Space Available
To: NFB Legislative Directors List <nfb-legislative-directors at nfbnet.org>

Fellow Federationists:

      I wanted to take a moment to update you all on our efforts to
allow 100% service disabled Veterans to participate in the Space
Available program.  As you know we were successful in getting our
legislation amended in to the House version of the National Defense
Authorization Act last June.  I unfortunately have to report that this
language was not included in the final bill passed by the Congress
shortly before Christmas.  The Conference Committee stripped the
language out because it was not included in the Senate version of the
bill.  The Senate did not allow for amendments to be considered on the
floor during consideration of the Defense bill.  This move prevented
Senator Tester, our Senate bill sponsor, from offering his amendment
to include our language in the Senate version of the defense bill.
While this is a setback, we will continue our work to get this
legislation passed.  The Congress has now passed a National Defense
Authorization Act for the past fifty-two years, and we will work with
our bill sponsors to have this language added as part of the Fiscal
Year 2015 Defense Bill.  While this issue is not going to be part of
our Washington Seminar agenda for 2014, the issue is no less
important.  We must continue to build cosponsor support for both HR
164, and S. 346.  I appreciate the work that all of you have done on
this legislation to this point, and ask that you continue that hard
work on our legislative agenda in 2014.  If you have any questions
about our Space available legislation, please feel free to contact me.
 Jesse

-----Original Message-----
From: Nfb-legislative-directors
[mailto:nfb-legislative-directors-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Sheri Koch
Sent: Monday, December 30, 2013 5:41 PM
To: NFB Legislative Directors List
Subject: Re: [Nfb-legislative-directors] 2014 NFB Washington Seminar
Legislative Topics

Hi Anil it Sheri again can you confirm that space A has been added as
an amendment to the appropriations bill and has it past? My husband
packed and ready for a trip thank you Sheri NFBWV

Sent from my iPhone

On Dec 30, 2013, at 4:03 PM, "Lewis, Anil" <ALewis at nfb.org> wrote:

	All:

	We have been informed that some congressional schedulers would like
to know the legislative topics in order to ensure that you meet with
the staff responsible for the specific issue. Although it is helpful
to have a staffer that is knowledgeable and responsible for our issues
present, please do your best to schedule meetings with the actual
members of Congress. The three legislative agenda topics for 2014 are:

	·        The Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act (HR 831)

	Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act allows employers to pay
workers with disabilities less than the minimum wage because of the
false assumption that they are less productive than non-disabled
workers. This antiquated provision breeds low expectations and
discourages disabled Americans from reaching their full potential. HR
831 responsibly phases out the use of the 14(c) special wage
certificates, ending the era of segregated, subminimum wage work.

	·        The Technology, Education and Accessibility in College and
Higher Education Act (TEACH) (HR 3505)

	Electronic instructional materials have replaced traditional methods
of learning in postsecondary education, but the overwhelming majority
of e-books, courseware, web content, and other technology are
inaccessible to students with print disabilities. The law mandates
equal access in the classroom, but fails to provide a prescription to
schools for how that applies to technology. The TEACH Act creates
accessibility guidelines for electronic instructional materials that
will guide the market, give clarity to schools, and protect blind
students’ rights to critical course material.

	·        The Air Carrier Technology Accessibility Act (ACTA)

	Passenger interaction with technology is a central component of air
travel. The Air Carrier Access Act prohibits discrimination on the
basis of disability by airlines, but it was written before the
emergence of web sites, kiosks, and mobile apps. These tools are all
inaccessible to blind travelers despite readily-available solutions,
resulting in segregation and substandard service. ACTA calls for all
technology-based air travel services to be accessible to blind
passengers.

	The full Legislative Agenda of Blind Americans, along with fact
sheets for each issue, are being proofed and they will be published
and distributed soon.

	Please contact me if you have any additional questions.

	Sincerely,

	Anil

	Mr. Anil Lewis, M.P.A.

	Director of Advocacy and Policy

	“Eliminating Subminimum Wages for People with Disabilities”

	http://www.nfb.org/fairwages

	NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND

	200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place

	Baltimore, Maryland   21230

	(410) 659-9314 ext. 2374 (Voice)

	(410) 685-5653 (FAX)

	Email: alewis at nfb.org

	Web: www.nfb.org

	twitter: @anillife

	The National Federation of the Blind wishes you a joyous and safe
holiday season. We would appreciate you including the NFB in your
end-of-year giving. Make your contribution
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=1>  now.

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