[NFBofSC] FW: Member Digest - Legislative Update

Wed Nov 19 23:51:59 UTC 2025

Steve Cook, Board Member

National Association of Guide Dog Users

 <mailto:scook at nagdu.org> scook at nagdu.org

(803) 260-1292

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From: National Federation of the Blind <web at nfb.org> 
Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2025 12:01 PM
To: Steve Cook <cookcafe at sc.rr.com>
Subject: Member Digest - Legislative Update

  <https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/top-blue-bar.jpg> 

 <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40922&qid=11983425> 

Legislative Update: Key Issues Affecting Blind Americans

Things have been busy since our last legislative alert in October. We've
experienced a federal government shutdown, a wave of reduction in force
(RIF) notices at the Department of Education, and a frenzy of new cosponsor
activity on our legislation. This email will serve as an update on all of
these developments as we prepare for the end of 2025.

Department of Education Update

On October 10, the reduction in force (RIF) notices issued to
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40923&qid=11983425>  the Department
of Education, specifically in the Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services and the Office for Civil Rights put everyone on high
alert. The elimination of the positions in these two offices would have been
extremely detrimental to programs administered under the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the
Randolph-Sheppard Program.

In response to this disastrous action, National Federation of the Blind
members have been engaging with Congress to let them know the impact this
action will have on us. We asked you to call or email your senators and
representatives, and you did. Then we asked some of you to come to
Washington, DC in person to meet with your senators on the Senate Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and you did. 

In the most recent Continuing Resolution to fund the government, passed on
November 13, Congress agreed that the RIF notices would be rescinded. While
we will still need to ensure these programs remain protected, this is a huge
triumph.

Medicare Telehealth Benefits Extended

Also included in the Continuing Resolution was a provision to extend the
Medicare telehealth benefits once again. However, this is again a temporary
expansion and will expire in just a couple of months on January 30, 2026.
One of the vehicles to make these benefits permanent is the CONNECT for
Health Act (H.R. 4206/S. 1261). Since we sent our legislative alert back in
early September <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40924&qid=11983425> ,
the cosponsors have poured in. In total, the bill now has 140 cosponsors in
the House and 65 in the Senate. 

Blind Americans Return to Work Act (H.R. 1175)

The Blind Americans Return to Work Act
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40925&qid=11983425> , which would
help get more blind people employed by instituting a two-for-one phase out
of Social Security Disability Insurance benefits for income earned above the
substantial gainful activity threshold, has gained two new cosponsors since
the beginning of October: Rep. Jared Golden (ME) and Rep. Josh Harder (CA).
We are still working to get this bill introduced in the Senate. 

Access Technology Affordability Act (H.R. 1529/S. 1918)

Our Access Technology Affordability Act
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40939&qid=11983425> , which would
help offset the high cost of access technology by creating a $2,000
refundable tax credit for use over a three-year period, has gained five new
House cosponsors since the beginning of October: Rep. Nick Begich (AK), Rep.
Earl Carter (GA), Rep. Vern Buchanan (FL), Rep. Chellie Pingree (ME), and
Rep. Bill Huizenga (MI). In that same amount of time in the Senate, the bill
has gained one new cosponsor, Sen. Dan Sullivan of Alaska. 

Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act (H.R. 3417)

Our Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40927&qid=11983425> , which would
create accessibility standards for websites and mobile applications, has
gained two new cosponsors since the beginning of October: Rep Eugene Vindman
(VA) and Rep. Randy Fine (FL). We are working to get this bill introduced in
the Senate.

As we approach the end of the first session of the 119th Congress, we are in
a great position to get several of the above bills passed. Please watch for
legislative alerts on these bills in the very near future. In the meantime,
for updates on all our legislation and our regulatory efforts, please be
sure to visit nfb.org/advocacy
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40928&qid=11983425> .

 <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40929&qid=11983425> 

 <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40930&qid=11983425> 

 <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40931&qid=11983425> 

 <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40932&qid=11983425> 

 <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40933&qid=11983425> 

 <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40934&qid=11983425> 

National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD 21230
| 410-659-9314 

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United States

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