[NFBP-Talk] Fwd: [NAGDU] Urgent: FAA Reauthorization

[Marsha Drenth]

Marsha drenth  
email: marsha.drenth at gmail.com  
Sent with my IPhone  
Please note that this email communication has been sent using my iPhone. As such, I may have used dictation and had made attempts to mitigate errors. Please do not be hesitant to ask for clarification as necessary. 

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Marion Gwizdala via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> Date: September 26, 2018 at 9:30:51 AM EDT
> To: nagdu at nfbnet.org, flagdu at nfbnet.org, coagdu at nfbnet.org, mjagdu at nfbnet.org, nyagdu at nfbnet.org, vaagdu at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Marion Gwizdala <president at nagdu.org>
> Subject: [NAGDU] Urgent: FAA Reauthorization
> Reply-To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
> 
> Dear Fellow Federationists,
> 
> Please see the letter below from President Riccobono to members of
> Congress regarding the FAA Reauthorization and feel free to disseminate
> this as widely as appropriate.
> 
> Please call your representative in the House and urge them to either
> remove Section 437 from H.R. 302 in its entirety, or align the language
> with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. You can contact your
> member of Congress by calling the Capitol Switchboard and asking for the
> office in question. The number is 202-224-3121.
> 
> Fraternally Yours,
> Marion Gwizdala
> NAGDU President
> 
> September 25, 2018
> 
> Re: Section 437 of FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018
> 
> Dear Chairman Thune, Ranking Member Nelson, Chairman Shuster, and Ranking
> Member DeFazio:
> 
> The National Federation of the Blind and its special interest division,
> the National Association of Guide Dog Users, strongly oppose Section 437
> of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (H.R. 302). The proposed measures
> detailed in this section infringe upon the civil rights of the blind by
> imposing unnecessary and burdensome restrictions upon those of us who use
> trained guide dogs, including people who train their own guide dogs. The
> purpose of this letter is to address some of our main concerns with the
> proposed language. We would welcome the opportunity to work with Congress
> to seek a solution that is satisfactory to all stakeholders.
> 
> One concern we have with the bill is requiring guide dog users to produce
> photographic identification of our guide dogs. This would only serve to
> enhance the sham cottage industry of fraudulent service animal
> certifications. Such restrictions would do nothing to curb those
> counterfeiters who attempt to take advantage of our civil rights in order
> to avoid legitimate fees charged by air carriers for the carriage of pets.
> 
> In addition, requiring guide dog users to obtain immunization records
> prior to traveling on an aircraft restricts the freedom of movement for
> the blind to travel for emergencies or simply take a spontaneous trip.
> This requirement is therefore discriminatory by creating a separate and
> unequal encumbrance on the blind not imposed upon our sighted peers.
> 
> We urge that Section 437 is either eliminated in its entirety or amended
> to align with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which provides
> sufficient protections for entities by allowing for the exclusion of any
> animal exhibiting disruptive behavior. We further urge the implementation
> of legal sanctions for the fraudulent misrepresentation of an animal as a
> service animal rather than imposing undue burdens on those of us who use
> legitimate specifically trained service animals.
> 
> We appreciate your immediate attention to this matter and we are available
> to meet to discuss this further. I can be reached by phone at
> 410-659-9314, or by email at officeofthepresident at nfb.org.
> 
> Sincerely,
> Mark A. Riccobono, President
> National Federation of the Blind
> 
> 
> 
> 
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