[NFBMT] Legislative Update: Your participation is requested

Mon Feb 8 15:45:31 UTC 2021

Hello, Montana Federationists!

These are exciting times.  We have a busy next few days.

This morning at 9:00AM, there is a  meeting of the Joint Appropriations
Subcommittee on Education regarding Bill HB-2, which is the General
Appropriations Act.  At this meeting, the committee will be dealing with the
state library budget, among other things, and decide how much funding will go
to which department for what reason.  This is our chance to possibly get
funding for NFB-Newsline now.   

Watch/Listen

 <http://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00309/Harmony/en> Watch or listen to
committee hearings: All committee meetings will have a video-stream link and
an audio-stream link so you can observe a committee meeting live or watch the
archive of the hearing.

Choose to listen to the hearing for HB2, held by the Joint Appropriations
Subcommittee on Education.

Then later this afternoon, at 3:00Pm our time, will be the Great Gathering In
of the 2021 virtual Washington Seminar, our annual gathering of Federation
members from all across the country to discuss our legislative priorities for
the year. 

Zoom Details for the Great Gathering-In

The Zoom platform includes closed captions and Spanish interpretation. Join
the Zoom Meeting just before 3:00 p.m. MST to catch commentary from the
Nation's Blind Podcast hosts, Anil Lewis and Melissa Riccobono.

https://zoom.us/j/97142192062

One tap mobile: +13017158592,,97142192062# 

+13126266799,,97142192062#

1CapApp: https://ennis.1capapp.com/event/nfb 

Schedule of Virtual Meetings with our Senators and Representative: 

Please join us.

Tuesday, February 9, 2021:  

NFB-MT Meeting With Senator Jon Tester

Time: Feb 9, 2021 10:30 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada), 12:30 PM Eastern

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/95945371147?pwd=Sng3OVN0OEdmQmRYc1JxMjgvRUF3UT09

Meeting ID: 959 4537 1147

Passcode: 773300

One tap mobile

+13462487799,,95945371147# US (Houston)

+14086380968,,95945371147# US (San Jose)

Dial by your location

        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

        +1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)

        +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

        +1 646 876 9923 US (New York)

        +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

Meeting ID: 959 4537 1147

Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/acRMZF2hkF

Please join us!

Tuesday, February 9, 2021

NFB-MT Meeting With Senator Steve Daines

Time: Feb 9, 2021 01:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada), 3:00PM Eastern

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/98568500325?pwd=UlExcGxkeVVxVlhoVVRXeWppKzBmdz09

Meeting ID: 985 6850 0325

Passcode: 536920

One tap mobile

+16699006833,,98568500325# US (San Jose) 12532158782,,98568500325# US 

+(Tacoma)

Dial by your location

        +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

        +1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)

        +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

        +1 646 876 9923 US (New York)

Meeting ID: 985 6850 0325

Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/a9bQN6VRR

Please join us!

Wednesday, February 10, 2021

NFB-MT Meeting with Representative Matt Rosendale

Time: Feb 10, 2021 09:45 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada), 11:45AM Eastern

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/99970804226?pwd=THZYSkxoSXVXMGEvZjFweWN1RHlxQT09

Meeting ID: 999 7080 4226

Passcode: 146416

One tap mobile

+14086380968,,99970804226# US (San Jose) 16699006833,,99970804226# US 

+(San Jose)

Dial by your location

        +1 408 638 0968 US (San Jose)

        +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

        +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

        +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)

        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

        +1 646 876 9923 US (New York)

        +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) Meeting ID: 999 7080 4226 Find
your local number: https://zoom.us/u/aE3luAzOu

Fact Sheets

Access Technology Affordability Act

The cost of critically needed access technology is out of reach for most
blind Americans. The
<https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/washington-seminar/washington
-seminar-priorities/fact-sheet-access> Access Technology Affordability Act
will improve affordability of critically needed access technology necessary
for employment and independent living. 

*
<https://www.nfb.org/sites/www.nfb.org/files/2021-01/2021-Access-Technology-A
ffordability-Act-Fact-Sheet.docx> Access Technology Affordability Act (Word)

I think Senator Tester was a sponsor of this last session.

Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act

Advanced digital interfaces create barriers that prevent blind individuals
from independently and safely operation home-use medical devices that are
essential to their daily healthcare needs. The
<https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/washington-seminar/washington
-seminar-agenda/fact-sheet-medical-device> Medical Device Nonvisual
Accessibility Act will end unequal access to home-use medical devices for
blind Americans.

*
<https://www.nfb.org/sites/www.nfb.org/files/2021-01/2021-Medical-Device-Nonv
isual-Accessibility-Act-Fact-Sheet.docx> Medical Device Nonvisual
Accessibility Act (Word)

Twenty-First Century Mobile Apps and Website Accessibility Act

Websites are required by law to be accessible, but without implementing
regulations most businesses and retailers have little understanding of what
accessible means. The
<https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/washington-seminar/washington
-seminar-agenda/fact-sheet-accessible-websites-act> Twenty-First Century
Mobile Apps and Website Accessibility Act will end website and mobile
application inaccessibility for blind Americans.

*
<https://www.nfb.org/sites/www.nfb.org/files/2021-01/2021-Twenty-First-Centur
y-Mobile-Apps-and-Website-Accessibility-Act-Fact-Sheet.docx> Twenty-First
Century Mobile Apps and Website Accessibility Act (Word)

Americans with Disabilities Voting Rights Act

The constitutionally protected right to vote that is available to all
Americans is inaccessible to blind Americans. The
<https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/washington-seminar/washington
-seminar-priorities/fact-sheet-voting-act> Americans with Disabilities Voting
Rights Act will ensure that all methods of voting, including registration,
are accessible to blind and low-vision citizens.

*
<https://www.nfb.org/sites/www.nfb.org/files/2021-01/2021-Americans-with-Disa
bilities-Voting-Rights-Act-Fact-Sheet.docx> Americans with Disabilities
Voting Rights Act (Word)

Joy Breslauer, First Vice President, and advocacy and Public Policy Committee
Chair 

National Federation of the Blind of Montana 

DON'T MISS THIS ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY!  

This is our chance to be more powerful together than we have ever been alone.

See you there!

Joy Breslauer, First Vice President, and Advocacy and Public Policy Committee
Chair

National Federation of the Blind of Montana 

Web Site: http://www.nfbofmt.org

Live the life you want

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. 