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--></style></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Steve Cook, Board Member<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>National Association of Guide Dog Users<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><a href="mailto:scook@nagdu.org"><span style='color:#467886'>scook@nagdu.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>(803) 260-1292<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><a href="http://www.nfb.org/"><span style='color:#467886'>www.nfb.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><a href="http://www.nagdu.org/"><span style='color:#467886'>www.nagdu.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Subscribe to the NAGDU public calendar<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Facebook Group <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Email list <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Mastodon<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> National Federation of the Blind <web@nfb.org> <br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, November 19, 2025 12:01 PM<br><b>To:</b> Steve Cook <cookcafe@sc.rr.com><br><b>Subject:</b> Member Digest - Legislative Update<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr style='height:15.0pt'><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:15.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td valign=top style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=600 style='width:6.25in'><tr><td style='background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=left width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr style='height:7.5pt'><td width="100%" valign=top style='width:100.0%;background:#0075C9;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:7.5pt'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><img border=0 width=600 height=28 style='width:6.25in;height:.2916in' id="_x0000_i1034" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/top-blue-bar.jpg"><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td style='background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=left width="100%" style='width:100.0%'><tr style='height:7.5pt'><td width="100%" valign=top style='width:100.0%;background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:7.5pt'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td style='padding:12.0pt 12.0pt 12.0pt 12.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40922&qid=11983425"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=240 height=264 style='width:2.5in;height:2.75in' id="_x0000_i1033" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/nfb-logo-for-email-template.jpg" alt="National Federation of the Blind logo and tagline live the life you want"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td style='background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=left width=600 style='width:6.25in'><tr style='height:15.0pt'><td width="100%" valign=top style='width:100.0%;background:white;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:15.0pt;border-color:initial'><h1><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>Legislative Update: Key Issues Affecting Blind Americans</span><o:p></o:p></h1><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>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.</span><o:p></o:p></p><h2><span style='font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>Department of Education Update</span><o:p></o:p></h2><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40923&qid=11983425">On October 10, the reduction in force (RIF) notices issued to the Department of Education, specifically in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services and the Office for Civil Rights</a> 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.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>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. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>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.</span><o:p></o:p></p><h2><span style='font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>Medicare Telehealth Benefits Extended</span><o:p></o:p></h2><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>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 <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40924&qid=11983425">legislative alert back in early September</a>, the cosponsors have poured in. In total, the bill now has 140 cosponsors in the House and 65 in the Senate. </span><o:p></o:p></p><h2><span style='font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>Blind Americans Return to Work Act (H.R. 1175)</span><o:p></o:p></h2><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40925&qid=11983425">The Blind Americans Return to Work Act</a>, 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. </span><o:p></o:p></p><h2><span style='font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>Access Technology Affordability Act (H.R. 1529/S. 1918)</span><o:p></o:p></h2><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40939&qid=11983425">Our Access Technology Affordability Act</a>, 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. </span><o:p></o:p></p><h2><span style='font-size:20.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act (H.R. 3417)</span><o:p></o:p></h2><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40927&qid=11983425">Our Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act</a>, 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.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>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 <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40928&qid=11983425">nfb.org/advocacy</a>.</span><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr style='height:6.0pt'><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:6.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;display:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=600 style='width:6.25in;background:#002F6D'><tr style='height:45.0pt'><td width=135 style='width:101.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:45.0pt'></td><td width=55 style='width:41.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:45.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:white'><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40929&qid=11983425"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=50 height=35 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class=MsoNormal><span style='color:white'><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40934&qid=11983425"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=50 height=35 style='width:.525in;height:.3666in' id="_x0000_i1027" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-donte-ms.png" alt="Donate to the NFB Icon."></span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td width=135 style='width:101.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:45.0pt'></td></tr><tr style='height:18.75pt'><td colspan=8 style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:18.75pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white'>National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD 21230 | 410-659-9314 <o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr style='height:18.75pt'><td colspan=8 style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:18.75pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white'><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/unsubscribe?reset=1&jid=25632&qid=11983425&h=8ee58963ce727b63" title=Unsubscribe><span style='color:white'>Unsubscribe from this mailing list</span></a> | <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/optout?reset=1&jid=25632&qid=11983425&h=8ee58963ce727b63" title="Opt Out"><span style='color:white'>Opt out of all mailing lists</span></a> | <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40935&qid=11983425" title="Sign up for email newsletter"><span style='color:white'>Sign up for our newsletter</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan=8 style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span class=street-address><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white'>200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place</span></b></span><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white'><br><span class=locality>Baltimore</span><span class=adr>, </span><span class=region>MD</span><span class=adr> </span><span class=postal-code>21230</span><br><span class=country-name>United States</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:white'>.. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></table></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAJEAAP///wAAAAAAAAAAACH5BAkAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAgEAAEEBAA7" width="1" height="1" alt="Web Bug from https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/open?qid=11983425" /></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAJEAAP///wAAAAAAAAAAACH5BAkAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAgEAAEEBAA7" width="1" height="1" alt="Web Bug from 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