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<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> NFBNet-Members-List
[mailto:nfbnet-members-list-bounces@nfbnet.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Pare, John
via NFBNet-Members-List<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, November 10, 2017 4:38 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Nfbnet-members-list] Legislative Alert - November 10, 2017<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'> <br>
Dear Fellow Federationists: <br>
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.<br>
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!<br>
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.<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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 <a
href="mailto:JPare@nfb.org">JPare@nfb.org</a>.<br>
Warm regards,<br>
<br>
John<br>
<br>
John G. Paré Jr. <br>
Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy<br>
200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230<br>
(410) 659-9314, extension 2218 | <a href="mailto:Jpare@nfb.org">Jpare@nfb.org</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<a href="https://nfb.org/"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0
width=209 height=76 id="_x0000_i1025"
src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20171110153750.09e131e0@visi.com.4"
alt="National Federation of the Blind"></span></a><br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind"><span
style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=24 height=24 id="_x0000_i1026"
src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20171110153750.09e131e0@visi.com.5" alt=Facebook></span></a>
<a href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img
border=0 width=24 height=24 id="_x0000_i1027"
src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20171110153750.09e131e0@visi.com.6" alt=Twitter></span></a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind"><span style='text-decoration:
none'><img border=0 width=24 height=24 id="_x0000_i1028"
src="cid:7.1.0.9.2.20171110153750.09e131e0@visi.com.7" alt=Youtube></span></a><br>
<br>
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. <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></p>
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