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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Federation family,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>The below e-mail was sent with high importance to me today. Please take action by calling your congressman to tell them where you stand on the issue below. Our voices are heard when we speak together!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>I hope everyone is off to a great start for the week!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Warmly, <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Jeannie<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>As many of you know, the lack of public transportation is a major barrier to those clients our agency serves. Many times, lack of transportation prevents DRS clients from getting back and forth to school, to finding work, and getting to and from work once they become employed. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Those of you who have heard me speak about this issue will remember that I have said continuation and expansion of public transportation in the State of Oklahoma, particularly in rural Oklahoma, relies heavily on funding from the Federal Transportation Administration. Oklahoma’s public transportation industry has been unable to sustain or expand many routes because the funding is so uncertain. Transportation funding across the nation has continued piece meal due to continuing resolutions. That is no way to budget for long term planning. Public Transportation advocates have been pushing for multi-year funding but it has not yet happened. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin:11.25pt;line-height:18.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>According to Voices for Public Transportation</span><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#17375E'>, “A few members of Congress are trying to amend the new Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act so that public transit will no longer be included in the Highway Trust Fund. What does this mean? <strong><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>If these amendments pass, it means public transit will not receive federal funding.</span></strong>”</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Many of us use public transportation on a regular basis; additionally, we all have friends, family, clients, or co-workers who rely on public transportation to get them to medical appointments, grocery shopping, employment, or just out for recreation within the community.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:11.25pt;margin-right:11.25pt;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:18.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>contact your U.S. Representative to express your wishes that Public Transportation NOT be eliminated from the Highway Trust Fund. Call your representative directly or </span><em><b><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Call (888) 443-5862 TODAY to speak with your Representative’s office! </span></b></em><em><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#17375E;font-style:normal'>This toll free number will be answered by an automated system of Voices for Public Transportation and when you enter your home zip code, you will be directed to your Congressman’s office staff. I have made my call today! </span></em><o:p></o:p></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:11.25pt;margin-right:11.25pt;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:18.0pt'><em><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#17375E;font-style:normal'>To learn more about Voices for Public Transportation, here is the internet link: <a href="http://voicesforpublictransit.org/default.aspx?UserID=4e5af498-85ef-4e89-be9b-1f7ce9213600"><span style='color:#0000BF'>http://voicesforpublictransit.org/default.aspx?UserID=4e5af498-85ef-4e89-be9b-1f7ce9213600</span></a> </span></em><o:p></o:p></p><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:11.25pt;margin-right:11.25pt;margin-bottom:11.25pt;margin-left:0in;line-height:18.0pt'><em><span style='font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#17375E;font-style:normal'>Public transportation might not be so important to you right now, but sooner or later we will all need a ride. Let’s do what we can to make sure public transportation continues to be funded –at least until Oklahoma can sustain transportation on its own.</span></em><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>