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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Dear Federation Family:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Last week the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act was reintroduced in both the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. The Senate bill, S. 2438, was introduced on Thursday, July 24, and is sponsored by Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), with three original cosponsors: Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). Then, on Friday, July 25, Representatives Bobby Scott (D-VA-3) and Pete Sessions (R-TX-17) introduced a companion bill, H.R. 4771. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>This bill phases out subminimum wages for workers with disabilities over a five-year period. The National Federation of the Blind has supported the elimination of subminimum wages since 1942. Each Congress we come closer and closer to getting this legislation passed. I believe this is the year we will get this done!</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Let’s get off to a fast start by building cosponsor support right away. Please call or email your two Senators and Representative and urge them to cosponsor this legislation. When you call or email you might say something like:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>“Dear [SENATOR/REPRESENTATIVE NAME]:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>My name is [YOUR NAME] and I live in [CITY, STATE]. I urge you to cosponsor the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act, [S. 2438/H.R. 4771]. This bill phases out subminimum wages for workers with disabilities over a five-year period. This will in turn help maximize the earning potential and promote dignity of work for all Americans with disabilities.”</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Attached is a list of the appropriate contact person in each Congressional office sorted by state. The list includes the staff member’s name and email address. I recommend you email that person, but you could also call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for the office in question.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>If you email, please copy me at <a href="mailto:jyoung@nfb.org">jyoung@nfb.org</a>. If you have questions regarding the legislative point of contact, please email Lindsey Walsh at <a href="mailto:lwalsh@nfb.org">lwalsh@nfb.org</a>. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Working together we will be successful!</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Warm regards,</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Justin T. Young, Ed.D</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Government Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the Blind</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230 </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>410-659-9314, extension 2210 | <a href="mailto:jyoung@nfb.org"><span style='color:blue'>jyoung@nfb.org</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://nfb.org/"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:blue;mso-ligatures:none;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=210 height=76 style='width:2.1833in;height:.7916in' id="_x0000_i1025" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/nfblogo.png" alt="National Federation of the Blind"></span></a><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:blue;mso-ligatures:none;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=24 height=24 style='width:.25in;height:.25in' id="_x0000_i1026" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/facebook.png" alt=Facebook></span></a><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:blue;mso-ligatures:none;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=24 height=24 style='width:.25in;height:.25in' id="_x0000_i1027" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/twitter.png" alt=Twitter></span></a><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:blue;mso-ligatures:none;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=24 height=24 style='width:.25in;height:.25in' id="_x0000_i1028" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/youtube.png" alt=Youtube></span></a><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div></body></html>