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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoPlainText>A Call to Action from the NFB Department of Government Affairs:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Dear Colleagues:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Congress will be in session just a little while longer to complete its business before members return home for the 2016 political campaign. While still at the Capitol, members of Congress are in a position to cosponsor the TIME Act (H.R. 188 and S. 2001). <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>We are asking you to make three phone calls: one to your House member and one to each of your two senators. The only senators who have sponsored this bill are Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire and Michael Bennett of Colorado, which means that those of you in New Hampshire or Colorado will only need to call one senator. Everyone else should still call both of their senators. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>On the House side, there are already seventy-one supporters of this bill which are listed by state in the first attachment. You only need to call your representative if they do not appear on this list. If you are unsure of whom your members of Congress are, please contact Melissa Kroeger. She can be reached by phone at (410) 659-9314, extension 2207 or by email at <a href="mailto:mkroeger@nfb.org">mkroeger@nfb.org</a>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>You can also reach your member of Congress by calling the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. When you call the Switchboard, you will be asked whether you are calling to speak to a House member or Senate member. When you select Senate, you will be asked your state and be provided with the names of your senators. When you select House of Representatives, you will be asked for your ZIP code and the system will then provide you with the name of your representative. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Once connected, I suggest you say something such as: “Hi, my name is….and I am a constituent of Representative/Senator Last Name. I am calling to urge Representative/Senator Last Name to cosponsor H.R. 188/S. 2001, the TIME Act. This bill will help people like me and other people with disabilities compete equally in the workforce. ”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>If you have time, in addition to calling, it would also be useful to send an email to the legislative director of your senators and representative. You can obtain this person’s name and email address when making the call described above. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Attached are four sample emails. Two are directed towards senators and representatives from the Republican Party and two are directed towards senators and representatives from the Democratic Party. You will need to add the name of the legislative director and the last name of the representative or senator in the appropriate bracketed areas. Please be sure to review and customize the email template before sending it and CC Kimie Beverly on all correspondence. Kimie’s email is <a href="mailto:kbeverly@nfb.org">kbeverly@nfb.org</a>.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Fellow Federationists, I know we have been working on this issue for a long time, but the dialogue is clearly shifting in our favor. Let us continue the work until we enjoy the same protections under our nation's wage laws as all other Americans do.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Yours in the family,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Parnell Diggs, Esq.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Director of Government Affairs<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>200 East Wells Street<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Baltimore, MD 21230<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Office: (410) 659-9314, extension 2222<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Mobile: (843) 267-2018<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Email: <a href="mailto:pdiggs@nfb.org">pdiggs@nfb.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Twitter: @NFB_Voice<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText> @ParnellDiggs<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Make a gift to the National Federation of the Blind and help ensure all blind Americans live the lives they want<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>