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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> NFBNet-Members-List [mailto:nfbnet-members-list-bounces@nfbnet.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>National Federation of the Blind via NFBNet-Members-List<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, November 29, 2017 9:32 PM<br><b>To:</b> nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org<br><b>Subject:</b> [Nfbnet-members-list] Organization Says Senate Tax Bill Disastrous for Education, Employment of Blind Americans<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><br><b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br><br></b> <o:p></o:p></p><h1>Organization Says Senate Tax Bill Disastrous for Education, Employment of Blind Americans<o:p></o:p></h1><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-align:center'>National Federation of the Blind Denounces Tax Cuts and Jobs Act<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><b>Baltimore, Maryland (November 29, 2017):</b> The National Federation of the Blind officially opposes the United States Senate’s current Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA).<br><br>The organization cites a probable dramatic increase in unemployment among blind Americans, which already approaches sixty percent, as the reason for its opposition.<br><br>According to projections by the Congressional Budget Office, the losses in tax revenue under the TCJA will be so high, at least initially, that they will trigger the “pay-as-you-go” rules of the Office of Management and Budget. This will eliminate funding for vital programs and services for the blind, such as Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) funding. These vital services link blind people to educational and employment opportunities by providing the training and resources that they need.<br><br>The 2015 American Community Survey, the most recent data available, reported that, for working age adults reporting significant vision loss, only 42.0% were employed.<br><br>“The detrimental impact the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will have on blind Americans cannot be denied,” said Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind. “This bill slams the door on education and vocational rehabilitation, and ultimately on employment, for some seven million blind Americans. We call upon the United States Senate either to protect these critical programs and services, or to vote no.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-align:center'><b>###<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><b>About the National Federation of the Blind<br><br></b>The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, is the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind Americans. Founded in 1940, the NFB consists of affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. The NFB defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at <a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=9801&qid=2062514">www.nfb.org</a>.<br><br><b>CONTACT:<br><br></b>Chris Danielsen<br><br>Director of Public Relations<br><br>National Federation of the Blind<br><br>(410) 659-9314, extension 2330<br><br>(410) 262-1281 (Cell)<br><br><a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td width=508 style='width:381.0pt;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td width=508 style='width:381.0pt;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td width=508 style='width:381.0pt;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><br><br><br> <br><br><a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=9802&qid=2062514"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=50 height=35 style='width:.5208in;height:.3645in' id="_x0000_i1025" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-facebook-ms.png" alt="Facebook Logo"></span></a><br><br><a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=9803&qid=2062514"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=50 height=35 style='width:.5208in;height:.3645in' id="_x0000_i1026" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-twitter-ms.png" alt="Twitter Logo"></span></a><br><br><a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=9804&qid=2062514"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=50 height=35 style='width:.5208in;height:.3645in' id="_x0000_i1027" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-instagram-ms.png" alt="Instagram Logo"></span></a><br><br><a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=9805&qid=2062514"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=51 height=35 style='width:.5312in;height:.3645in' id="_x0000_i1028" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-youtube-ms.png" alt="YouTube Logo"></span></a><br><br><a href="mailto:nfb@nfb.org"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=50 height=35 style='width:.5208in;height:.3645in' id="_x0000_i1029" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-email-ms.png" alt="Email Icon Image"></span></a><br><br><a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=9806&qid=2062514"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=50 height=35 style='width:.5208in;height:.3645in' id="_x0000_i1030" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-donte-ms.png" alt="Donate to the NFB Icon."></span></a> <br><br><b>National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD 21230 | (410) 659-9314</b><br><a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/unsubscribe?reset=1&jid=7857&qid=2062514&h=f206087b568dad8a">Unsubscribe</a> | <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/optout?reset=1&jid=7857&qid=2062514&h=f206087b568dad8a">Opt Out </a>| <a href="https://nfb.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=9807&qid=2062514">Sign up for email newsletter </a><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td width=508 style='width:381.0pt;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:white'><br>200 East Wells Street<br>Baltimore, MD 21230<br>United States</span><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>