<html xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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--></style></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Greetings,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Pasted below and attached is a joint letter from<span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'> </span>Norma Crosby, President, National Federation of the Blind of Texas, Kevin Whitley, President, National Federation of the Blind of Alaska, Camille Tate, President, National Federation of the Blind of Florida, R. Diane Graves, President, National Federation of the Blind of Indiana, Tom Page, President, National Federation of the Blind of Kansas, Pam Allen, President, National Federation of the Blind of Louisiana, Shelia Wright, President, National Federation of the Blind of Missouri, James P. Marks, President,National Federation of the Blind of Montana, Ismael Collazo, President, National Federation of the Blind of South Dakota, to the Attorneys General representing Texas, Alaska, Indiana, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, and South Dakota regarding their participation as plaintiffs in the <i>Texas v. Kennedy</i> lawsuit. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jesse Shirek<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Director of Advocacy, National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>February 12, 2026</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Dear Attorneys General Paxton, Cox, Uthmeier, Rokita, Kobach, Murrill, Hanaway, Knudsen, and Jackley:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>The National Federation of the Blind, the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans, urges Attorneys General throughout the United States to acknowledge the full importance of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (“Section 504”) and <i>Olmstead v. L.C.</i>, 527 U.S. 581 (1999) (“<i>Olmstead</i>”) by immediately withdrawing their support for <i>Texas v. Kennedy</i> and its attacks on the integration mandate in the United States.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>On January 23, 2026, the nine remaining plaintiffs in <i>Texas v. Kennedy</i> filed to overturn the <i>Olmstead</i> decision’s community integration mandate, thereby laying the groundwork for the forced institutionalization of disabled people nationwide. Specifically, the January 23 filing again seeks to declare the entire Section 504 rule as illegal, stop the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from enforcing the rule, and stop HHS from instructing states not to take actions which place people with disabilities at “serious risk” of institutionalization. The National Federation of the Blind unequivocally condemns this action and is inherently opposed to the forced institutionalization of people with disabilities or any action which may lead to forced institutionalization.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>As the National Federation of the Blind indicated in our letter from February 2025, “The United States has long recognized a disabled person’s value as a student, employee, and a member of the public.” Overturning <i>Olmstead</i> would mean that rather than receiving services in our homes, neighborhood schools, and local communities, we would be forced out of public life entirely and into institutions which neither value nor serve us. Such a move could neither be interpreted as equitable nor as equal treatment under the law. Americans with disabilities are not inferior to our non-disabled peers and we will not be hidden away.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>The ultimate goal of the National Federation of the Blind is complete integration of the blind into society. Throughout the course of our eighty-five-year history, the Federation has worked diligently and tirelessly to combat discrimination based on misconceptions and low expectations. We believe that disabled Americans have the right to receive the education, training, and opportunity required to lead productive lives, and we do not believe that law-abiding people with disabilities who are simply trying to live the lives we want should be forced into any facility against our will. Such a move would not only be legally wrong, but also morally reprehensible.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>We urge you to immediately withdraw your support for <i>Texas v. Kennedy</i> and the dismantling of <i>Olmstead</i>, including its community integration mandate and Section 504. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Sincerely, </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Norma Crosby, President</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>National Federation of the Blind of Texas</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Kevin Whitley, President</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>National Federation of the Blind of Alaska</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Camille Tate, President</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>National Federation of the Blind of Florida</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>R. Diane Graves, President</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>National Federation of the Blind of Indiana</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Tom Page, President</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>National Federation of the Blind of Kansas</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Pam Allen, President</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>National Federation of the Blind of Louisiana</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Shelia Wright, President</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>National Federation of the Blind of Missouri</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>James P. Marks, President</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>National Federation of the Blind of Montana</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Ismael Collazo, President</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>National Federation of the Blind of South Dakota</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>