<html><head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head><body lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal">Dear Federation Family:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The new bipartisan, bi-cameral COVID-19 relief bills being proposed in Congress will likely contain some form of COVID-19 liability waiver for businesses. We are concerned that this business liability relief may echo some of the language
contained in Section 181 of the SAFE TO WORK Act, which attempted to grant exemptions to ADA requirements during the pandemic. For more information on the exemptions in question, please read
<a href="https://www.nfb.org/sites/www.nfb.org/files/files-pdf/safe-to-work-act-letter.pdf">
President Riccobono’s opposition letter to Senator Cornyn</a>. The details of the new bill have not been finalized yet, which makes now the perfect time for us to call or email to make sure Congress knows that we will not stand for the erosion of our rights.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When you call or email your senators or representative you might say something like:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">"Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME], and I am a constituent of [SENATOR/REPRESENTATIVE NAME]. I live in [CITY, STATE]. I strongly urge you to ensure the rights of all disabled Americans are protected in the upcoming COVID-19 relief legislation
by maintaining the critical protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Please do not allow for any business liability exemptions that will erode the crucial protections for disabled Americans set forth in the ADA. Thank you.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You can contact your senators and representative by calling the Capitol Switchboard and asking for the office in question. The number is 202-224-3121. If you email your members of Congress, please copy me at
<a href="mailto:jpare@nfb.org">jpare@nfb.org</a>. Your calls and emails do make a difference.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We recommend you call or email the legislative director in your member’s office. If you need the name and email of the appropriate staff person for any Senate or House office, please email Jesa Medders at
<a href="mailto:jmedders@nfb.org">jmedders@nfb.org</a>. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks for all you do,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">John<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">John G. Paré Jr. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">200 East Wells Street<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Baltimore, MD 21230<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Telephone: (410) 659-9314, extension 2218<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cell phone: (410) 917-1965<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Email: jpare@nfb.org <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>