[NFBMT] Legislative Alert 6/26/2017

[Bruce&Joy Breslauer]

Dear Fellow Federationists:

Last week was fantastic in terms of legislative support. Our AIM HIGH bill
(H.R. 1772) gained eight new cosponsors! The new cosponsors are Tim Ryan
(OH), Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX), Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM), Al Lawson, Jr.
(FL), John Yarmuth (KY), Seth Moulton (MA), David Cicilline (RI), and David
Rouzer (NC).  These eight representatives bring the total number of
cosponsors for AIM HIGH to thirty-one, and we couldn't have gotten this far
without your help.

 

We would also like to give you a quick update on the progress of one of our
other legislative priorities, the TIME Act (H.R. 1377). Last Thursday we held
a legislative briefing hosted by Congressman Gregg Harper of Mississippi, the
sponsor of the TIME Act, to discuss why this legislation is so critical to
people with disabilities. The event drew a huge crowd of Congressional
staffers that filled one of the hearing rooms in the Longworth House Office
Building to capacity. We hope to ride this wave of momentum all the way to
the bill’s passage. 

 

While we are excited about the new Congressional support for our legislation,
we can't let that progress slow our efforts. This marks the last week that
Congress will be in session before their Independence Day recess week. We ask
that all of you keep calling and emailing your representative and ask them to
cosponsor H.R. 1377, H.R. 1734, and H.R. 1772. And don't forget to call your
two senators to get them to cosponsor our Senate bill, S. 732 so that this
surge of support will continue. The bill summaries and complete list of
cosponsors for all of our legislation is included at the end of this email.

 

Despite our excitement regarding the increased support for our legislation to
improve the lives of people with disabilities, we cannot be content to rest
on our laurels. H.R. 620 is still a very real threat to the rights and
freedoms of Americans with disabilities. If passed, this legislation will
dramatically weaken the ADA, hindering education, independent living, and
community participation for all people with disabilities. The bill prevents
people with disabilities from filing a lawsuit regarding an ADA violation
until the person first notifies the violator. The violator then has 60 days
to respond and then has another 120 days to remedy the problem, for a total
delay of 180 days. While you have your members of Congress on the phone to
urge them to support our legislation, please remind them to oppose H.R. 620,
the ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017.

 

The best way to contact your member of Congress is to call the Capitol
Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for the office in question. Emailing
your member of Congress is also a good idea. If you do so, please copy
JPare at nfb.org <mailto:JPare at nfb.org> .

 

Thanks for all you do! 

 

Warm regards, 

 

John 

 

John G. Paré Jr. 

(410) 659-9314 x 2218

National Federation of the Blind

 

Bill Summaries

Accessible Instructional Material in Higher Education Act, H.R. 1772 (AIM
HIGH)

This bill will promote instructional technology and content that are
accessible to the blind and other students with print disabilities. Read the
AIM HIGH fact sheet to learn more.

 

Access Technology Affordability Act of 2017, H.R. 1734 and S. 732 (ATAA)

These bills will facilitate the purchase of access technology for blind
people by creating a refundable, per person tax credit. Read the Access
Technology Affordability Act of 2017 fact sheet to learn more. 

 

Transitioning to Integrated and Meaningful Employment Act of 2017, H.R. 1377
(TIME)

This bill will increase employment opportunities by removing stigmas and low
expectations propagated by section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Note that the bill now phases out subminimum wages over a six year period
corresponding to the recommendation of the National Council on Disability.
Read the TIME Act fact sheet to learn more.

 

Current cosponsors 

Accessible Instructional Material in Higher Education Act, H.R. 1772 (AIM
HIGH) Current Cosponsors

Rep. Roe, David P. [R-TN-1] – Sponsor

Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large]

Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-3]

Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2]

Rep. Murphy, Stephanie N. [D-FL-7]

Rep. Ross, Dennis A. [R-FL-15]

Rep. Gabbard, Tulsi [D-HI-2]

Rep. Hanabusa, Colleen [D-HI-1]

Rep. Kinzinger, Adam [R-IL-16]

Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]

Rep. Brooks, Susan W. [R-IN-5]

Rep. Visclosky, Peter J. [D-IN-1]

Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]

Rep. Nolan, Richard M. [D-MN-8]

Rep. Kildee, Daniel T. [D-MI-5]

Rep. Harper, Gregg [R-MS-3]

Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]

Rep. Amodei, Mark E. [R-NV-2]

Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21]

Rep. Price, David E. [D-NC-4]

Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-5]

Rep. Gonzalez-Colon, Jenniffer [R-PR-(At Large]

Rep. Green, Gene [D-TX-29]

Rep. Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [R-WI-5]

Rep. Ryan, Tim [D-OH-13]

Rep. Johnson, Eddie Bernice [D-TX-30]

Rep. Grisham, Michelle Lujan [D-NM-1]

Rep. Lawson, Jr., Al [D-FL-5]

Rep. Yarmuth, John [D-KY-3]

Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]

Rep. Cicilline, David [D-RI-1]

Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7] 

 

Access Technology Affordability Act of 2017, H.R. 1734 and S. 732 (ATAA)
Current Cosponsors

Rep. Young, David [R-IA-3] – Sponsor

Rep. Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D-CA-40]

Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]

Rep. Lawson, Al, Jr. [D-FL-5]

Rep. Hanabusa, Colleen [D-HI-1]

Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]

Rep. Ryan, Tim [D-OH-13]

Rep. Smucker, Lloyd [R-PA-16]

 

Transitioning to Integrated and Meaningful Employment Act of 2017, H.R. 1377
(TIME) Current Cosponsors

Rep. Harper, Gregg [R-MS-3] – Sponsor

Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-42]

Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-15]

Rep. Murphy, Stephanie N. [D-FL-7]

Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]

Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]

Rep. Lujan Grisham, Michelle [D-NM-1]

Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9]

Rep. Gonzalez-Colon, Jenniffer [R-PR-At Large]

Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6] 

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