<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="ltr"></div><div dir="ltr">Below is a note from John Peret about some of our current federal legislation. It includes an example of what you might say when you call or email a congressional office. </div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Representatives Rick Larsen, Derek Kilmer and Adam Smith have already signed on as the sponsors to the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act (H.R.1328). If you live in one of their congressional district it would be great if you could just contact them and thank them for cosponsoring the bill. Let’s get the rest of our Congress people on board.</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">We don’t currently have any cosponsors from Washington state on the Access Technology Affordability Act (H.R. 3702). </div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Marci</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Dear Federation Family:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Last week, the Access Technology Affordability Act was introduced in the House by Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA). Original cosponsors include Rep. Rutherford
(R-FL), Rep. Dunn (R-FL), Rep. Bilirakis (R-FL), Rep. Bost (R-IL), Rep. Cartwright (D-PA), Rep. Guest (R-MS), Rep. Case (D-HI), Rep. Neguse (D-CO), Rep. Posey (R-FL), Rep. Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Rep. Carter (R-GA) and Rep. Sarbanes (D-MD). The bill numbers for
the Access Technology Affordability Act are H.R. 3702 and S. 1467. Last Congress the Access Technology Affordability Act had 165 cosponsors in the House and 40 cosponsor<span style="color:#1F497D">s</span> in the Senate. Since it is a new Congress, we will
have to work hard to get back to that level of cosponsors. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">On March 1, 2023 the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act, H.R. 1328 was introduced by Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) along with 32 initial cosponsors. Over the past
three months, we have gained 16 more making a total of 48 cosponsors for this important legislation. The fight isn’t over so we need your help to keep up the momentum in this Congress.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Both the House and Senate are in session starting Tuesday, June 6 and throughout the remainder of next week. Please contact your Representative and Senators as soon as possible
and urge them to cosponsor the Access Technology Affordability Act, H.R.3702/S. 1467 and the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act, H.R.1328. If you are contacting a Senate office, you should not mention the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act
since it has not yet been introduced in the Senate. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">When you call or email, you might say the following:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">"Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME], and I am a constituent of [SENATOR or REPRESENTATIVE NAME]. I live in [CITY, STATE]. I would like to urge [SENATOR or REPRESENTATIVE NAME] to
cosponsor the Access Technology Affordability Act [H.R. 3702/ S. 1467] and the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act [H.R. 1328]. The Access Technology Affordability Act would increase employment opportunities for blind Americans who cannot afford the
high cost of access technology by creating a refundable tax credit in the amount of $2,000 to offset the cost of this technology. The Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act
<span style="background:white">authorizes the FDA to establish a minimum nonvisual access standard for Class II and Class III medical devices with digital displays so that blind people can operate them safely and independently.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Thanks."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">You can contact your Representatives and Senators by calling the Capitol Switchboard and asking for the office in question. The number is 202-224-3121. If you email your Representatives
and senators, please copy Jeff Kaloc at <a href="mailto:jkaloc@nfb.org"><span style="color:windowtext">jkaloc@nfb.org</span></a> and Justin Young at
<a href="mailto:jyoung@nfb.org"><span style="color:windowtext">jyoung@nfb.org</span></a>. Your calls and emails do make a difference.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">It is best to call or email the relevant staff person in your member of Congress's office. For your convenience, we have attached a list of relevant staffers in the House and
Senate. If you do not see your Representative or Senator, please email Jesa Medders at
<a href="mailto:jmedders@nfb.org"><span style="color:windowtext">jmedders@nfb.org</span></a><span style="color:#1F497D">,
</span>or call 410-659-9314, extension 2207 and she will do further research.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Thank you for all that you do,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Government Affairs Group<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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