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Dear Fellow Federationists:<br>
After thirteen years of legislative and regulatory advocacy, as of
Tuesday, September 5, 2017, the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act and the
associated regulations are now final. This is a tremendous accomplishment
for all of us, and is a demonstration of our collective passion,
tenacity, and determination. These regulations will help us live the safe
and independent lives we want. <br>
<br>
Having said that, Congress is back in session with the House scheduled
for twelve legislative days in September, and the Senate scheduled for
seventeen.<br>
<br>
Our first call to action relates to the ADA Education and Reform Act. The
House Judiciary Committee plans to vote on this bill (referred to as a
markup) on Thursday, September 7. Please call Chairman Goodlatte and urge
him to postpone this vote until the appropriate research can be done and
a better solution proposed. For more information, read
<a href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/pdf/goodlatte_hr620_06142017.pdf">
President Riccobono's letter to Chairman Goodlatte</a>. Chairman
Goodlatte can be reached at (202) 225-5431. As written, this bill will
significantly undermine our rights under the Americans with Disabilities
Act. <br>
<br>
Our next most critical issue is the Access Technology Affordability Act
(ATAA) (H.R. 1734/S. 732). Both the President and Congress are putting
substantial focus on tax reform, thereby increasing the likelihood that
the ATAA has the potential to be included in any such overall tax reform.
The best way for us to increase this potential is by building cosponsor
support for both the House and Senate bills. As a result, please contact
your representative and your two senators to urge them to cosponsor H.R.
1734 in the House and S. 732 in the Senate. We will be updating you on
AIM HIGH, the Marrakesh Treaty, the TIME Act, Space Available, and the
Self-Drive Act in subsequent legislative alerts. <br>
<br>
A short summary of each bill is included below. I have also included a
list of all the current cosponsors. 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
<a href="mailto:JPare@nfb.org">JPare@nfb.org</a>. <br>
<br>
Thanks for all you do!<br>
<br>
Warm regards,<br>
<br>
John<br>
<br>
John Paré<br>
(410) 659-9314 x 2218<br>
National Federation of the Blind<br>
<br>
<b>Bill Summaries <br><br>
Accessible Instructional Material in Higher Education Act, H.R. 1772 (AIM
HIGH)<br>
</b>This bill will promote instructional technology and content that are
accessible to the blind and other students with print disabilities.
<a href="https://nfb.org/aimhighfactsheet">Read the AIM HIGH fact sheet
to learn more.</a><br>
<br>
<b>Access Technology Affordability Act of 2017, H.R. 1734 and S. 732
(ATAA)<br>
</b>These bills will facilitate the purchase of access technology for
blind people by creating a refundable, per person tax credit.
<a href="https://nfb.org/access-technology-affordability-act">Read the
Access Technology Affordability Act of 2017 fact sheet to learn
more</a>.<br><br>
<b>Transitioning to Integrated and Meaningful Employment Act of 2017,
H.R. 1377 (TIME)<br>
</b>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. <a href="https://nfb.org/timefactsheet">Read the
TIME Act fact sheet to learn more.</a><br><br>
Current Cosponsors <br><br>
<b>Accessible Instructional Material in Higher Education Act, H.R. 1772
(AIM HIGH) Current Cosponsors<br>
</b>Rep. Roe, David P. [R-TN-1] - Sponsor<br>
Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large]<br>
Rep. Davis, Susan A. [D-CA-53]<br>
Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-3]<br>
Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-41]<br>
Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2]<br>
Rep. Lawson, Al, Jr. [D-FL-5] <br>
Rep. Murphy, Stephanie N. [D-FL-7]<br>
Rep. Ross, Dennis A. [R-FL-15]<br>
Rep. Gabbard, Tulsi [D-HI-2]<br>
Rep. Hanabusa, Colleen [D-HI-1]<br>
Rep. Young, David [R-IA-3] <br>
Rep. Kinzinger, Adam [R-IL-16]<br>
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]<br>
Rep. Brooks, Susan W. [R-IN-5]<br>
Rep. Visclosky, Peter J. [D-IN-1]<br>
Rep. Yarmuth, John A.
[D-KY-3] <br>
Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]<br>
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6] <br>
Rep. Nolan, Richard M. [D-MN-8]<br>
Rep. Kildee, Daniel T. [D-MI-5]<br>
Rep. Harper, Gregg [R-MS-3]<br>
Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]<br>
Rep. Lujan Grisham, Michelle
[D-NM-1] <br>
Rep. Amodei, Mark E. [R-NV-2]<br>
Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21]<br>
Rep. Price, David E. [D-NC-4]<br>
Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7] <br>
Rep. Ryan, Tim [D-OH-13] <br>
Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-5]<br>
Rep. Gonzalez-Colon, Jenniffer [R-PR-At Large]<br>
Rep. Cicilline, David N.
[D-RI-1] <br>
Rep. Green, Gene [D-TX-29]<br>
Rep. Johnson, Eddie Bernice
[D-TX-30] <br>
Rep. Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [R-WI-5]<br><br>
<b>Access Technology Affordability Act of 2017, H.R. 1734 and S. 732
(ATAA) Current Cosponsors<br>
</b>Rep. Young, David [R-IA-3] - Sponsor<br>
Rep. Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D-CA-40]<br>
Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]<br>
Rep. Demings, Val Butler [D-FL-10] <br>
Rep. Lawson, Al, Jr. [D-FL-5]<br>
Rep. Hanabusa, Colleen [D-HI-1]<br>
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] <br>
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]<br>
Rep. Ryan, Tim [D-OH-13]<br>
Rep. Smucker, Lloyd [R-PA-16]<br>
Rep. Cicilline, David N.
[D-RI-1] <br><br>
<b>Transitioning to Integrated and Meaningful Employment Act of 2017,
H.R. 1377 (TIME) Current Cosponsors<br>
</b>Rep. Harper, Gregg [R-MS-3] – Sponsor<br>
Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-42]<br>
Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-15]<br>
Rep. Murphy, Stephanie N. [D-FL-7]<br>
Rep. Young, David [R-IA-3] <br>
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]<br>
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6] <br>
Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]<br>
Rep. Lujan Grisham, Michelle [D-NM-1]<br>
Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9]<br>
Rep. Gonzalez-Colon, Jenniffer [R-PR-At Large]<br>
Rep. Rice, Tom [R-SC-7]
<br>
Rep. Johnson, Eddie Bernice
[D-TX-30] <br>
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