<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><br><br><div id="AppleMailSignature">Sent from my iPhone</div><div><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><b>From:</b> "Pare, John via NFBNet-Members-List" <<a href="mailto:nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org">nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org</a>><br><b>Date:</b> December 19, 2017 at 11:16:51 PM EST<br><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org">nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org</a><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>[Nfbnet-members-list] Legislative Update - December 19, 2017</b><br><b>Reply-To:</b> "Pare, John" <<a href="mailto:JPare@nfb.org">JPare@nfb.org</a>><br><br></div></blockquote><div><span></span></div><blockquote type="cite"><div>
<br>
Dear Fellow Federationists:<br>
<br>
The House of Representatives passed the conferenced version of the Tax
Cuts and Jobs Act this afternoon. The Senate is expected to pass it this
evening. President Trump is expected to sign it into law by the end of
the week.<br>
<br>
The good news is the additional standard deduction for the blind was
included in the bill. This means that a blind person filing single or
head of household will get an additional $1,550 deduction. A blind person
filing married will get an additional $1,250 deduction, and two blind
spouses filing jointly will get an additional $2,500 deduction.<br>
<br>
This provision would not have been preserved if it had not been for your
advocacy. Thanks to everyone for sending emails and making phone
calls.<br>
<br>
While we had hoped the Access Technology Affordability Act would be
merged into the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, our bill sponsors are still fully
committed to passage of our legislation. We need to continue to build
cosponsors on the House and Senate bills (H.R. 1734 and S. 732).<br>
<br>
As far as the impact the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will have on the federal
deficit, there is still great concern. Some analysts predict an
additional $1.5 trillion of federal debt, while others believe that
increased economic activity will offset any additional debt. Our concern
is that increased federal debt could lead to automatic spending cuts
mandated by the Budget Control Act of 2011. We will need to keep a close
watch and be ready to advocate against any cuts to vocational
rehabilitation, IDEA, Medicaid, Medicare, or SSDI.<br>
<br>
For those attending Washington Seminar, please remember we are only
fourteen days away from the deadline to make hotel reservations at the
Holiday Inn Capitol. That means that we are only forty-one days away from
the Great Gathering-In and the official start of the 2018 Washington
Seminar. You can make your reservations online by visiting the
<a href="http://ichotelsgroup.com/redirect?path=rates&brandCode=HI®ionCode=1&localeCode=en&GPC=FB8&hotelCode=WASSM&_PMID=99801505">
Holiday Inn Capitol’s reservations portal</a> which will already include
our group code, or by calling the Holiday Inn Capitol directly. The
telephone number to call is 1 877-572-6951, and the booking code to
reference is FB8. The 2018 room rate is $192.00 per night. This rate does
not include DC sales tax, currently 14.8%. The last day to make your room
reservations is Tuesday, January 2, 2018, so please make your
reservations as soon as possible.<br>
<br>
More information regarding our 2018 legislative priorities, fact sheets,
and FAQs is forthcoming. Please don't hesitate to let us know if you have
any questions.<br>
<br>
Warm regards,<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>
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<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>
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