[Nfbofsc] Legislative Alert - November 10, 2017

[Ernest Gallman]

Dear Fellow Federationists:
 The House of Representatives, Committee on Ways and Means, favorably 
reported the Tax Cuts and  Jobs Act out of committee on Thursday, 
November 9. The bill now goes to the House floor. Please  continue to 
call your representative and urge him or her to demand that the 
additional standard  deduction for blind people be restored.  A summary 
of the Senate companion bill, also called the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, 
was released on  Thursday, November 9. The Senate bill does not 
eliminate the additional standard deduction for the  blind. This is 
extremely good news!  Please call your two senators and urge them to 
continue to maintain the additional standard  deduction for the blind. 
Please also ask them to vote for any amendment which incorporates the  
Access Technology Affordability Act (S. 732) into the Tax Cuts and Jobs 
Act.  As a quick reminder, beginning in the 1940s, as a result of NFB’s 
advocacy, the IRS has included  an additional standard deduction for 
blind people compared to non-blind people. This deduction  reduces 
one’s taxable income and the corresponding amount of taxes a blind 
person has to pay. In  2017, the standard deduction for a non-blind 
person filing as single is $6,350 and the standard  deduction for a 
blind person filing as single is $7,900, an increase of $1,550. As far 
as the  effect this deduction has on how much in taxes one would have 
to pay, that depends on one’s  individual tax situation.
 The deduction is not intended to pay for a specific item, but all of 
the extra items that blind  people have to pay for to live the lives we 
want. Examples include transportation, access  technology, readers, 
Braille transcription, white canes, supplies for a guide dog, etc.
 Your calls and emails are making a big difference so please keep them 
up! 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 me at  JPare at nfb.org .
 Warm regards,
 John
 John G. Paré Jr.
 Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy
 200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
 (410) 659-9314, extension 2218 |  Jpare at nfb.org
National Federation of the Blind
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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.