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<p>Marci, <br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>Thank you for sending out this information regarding the comments
that we can submit to the department of Energy. <br>
</p>
<p>As you know, this is a U.S. Government web page, and John Pare
clearly states that names and comments of people will be publicly
available for vewing. I would love to give my feedback, but I am
concerned about what information the government can view about me
if they find out I submitted a comment against their latest
ruling, which I find stupid, but, anyways, just my question here.
<br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>Thank you so much! <br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 6/12/2025 5:13 PM, Marci Carpenter
via NFBSea wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite" cite="mid:808639755.50213.1749773584025@connect.xfinity.com">
<div> I encourage all our members to send comments. The number of
comments they receive makes a difference. John Pare provides a
sample that you can use. <br>
<br>
</div>
<div class="default-style"> Marci </div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div> ---------- Original Message ---------- </div>
<div> From: "Pare, John via NFBNet-Members-List"
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org"><nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org></a> </div>
<div> To: David Andrews via NFBNet-Members-List
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org"><nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org></a> </div>
<div> Date: 06/11/2025 12:19 PM PDT </div>
<div> Subject: [Nfbnet-members-list] Legislative Alert Regarding
Accessibility Features in Public Buildings </div>
<div> </div>
<div> </div>
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal">Dear Federation Family:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On May 16, 2025, the United States
Department of Energy released a direct final rule that
\u201crescinds certain new construction requirements related to
disability nondiscrimination in federally assisted programs
or activities.\u201d A direct final rule is slightly different
from the typical rulemaking process, it\u2019s a kind of
fast-track effort to put a new rule in place unless there
are \u201csignificant adverse comments\u201d which oppose the rule by
June 16, 2025.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As you may expect, we are adamantly
opposed to any attempt to roll back any accessibility
requirements in the construction of buildings for federally
assisted programs or activities. Just last week, President
Riccobono submitted the official <a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements/letter-united-states-department-energy-regarding" moz-do-not-send="true"> <span style="color: #467886;">comments
of the National Federation of the Blind to the
Department of Energy</span></a> opposing the rescinding
of the requirements. These comments are posted on the policy
statements page of our website, and we encourage you to read
them. But, more important than that, we urge you to submit
your own comments to the Department of Energy to ensure they
understand just how important accessibility is to us. Tell
them how important Braille signage is in buildings, or how
vital nonvisually accessible information is in an elevator.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When writing your comments, you might say
something like:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">\u201cMy name is [NAME], and I live in [CITY,
STATE]. I urge you to withdraw the direct final rule. As a
blind person myself, I know the importance of accessible
public buildings and architecture. Without accessible
features such as Braille signage on doors and Braille and
audio announcements in elevators, blind people are unable to
independently navigate these facilities. Again, I urge you
to withdraw the direct final rule.\u201d</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You can submit your comments online
through the Federal Register page at: <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/05/16/2025-08535/rescinding-new-construction-requirements-related-to-nondiscrimination-in-federally-assisted-programs#open-comment" moz-do-not-send="true"> <span style="color: #467886;">https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/05/16/2025-08535/rescinding-new-construction-requirements-related-to-nondiscrimination-in-federally-assisted-programs#open-comment</span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The link will take you directly to the
submission page where you will be able to type in your
comment, selecting the option to confirm that you are an
individual, and verifying that you understand your comments
may be publicly viewed on the website. Remember, time is of
the essence because the comment submission deadline is 11:59
p.m. Eastern on Monday, June 16, 2025. We apologize that we
did not get this information to you sooner, but there is
still time to leave your comment.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you for all that you do,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">John</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: #242424; mso-ligatures: none;">John
Paré</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: #242424; mso-ligatures: none;">Executive
Director for Advocacy and Policy</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: #242424; mso-ligatures: none;">200
East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: #242424; mso-ligatures: none;"><a href="tel:410-659-9314" moz-do-not-send="true">410-659-9314</a>,
extension 2218 | </span><u><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: #0563c1; mso-ligatures: none;"><a href="mailto:jpare@nfb.org" moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext">jpare@nfb.org</a></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: #242424; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://nfb.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" moz-do-not-send="true"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: #0563c1; text-decoration: none;"><img id="_x0000_i1028" style="width: 2.1833in; height: .7833in;" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/nfblogo.png" alt="National Federation of the Blind" width="210" height="75" border="0" moz-do-not-send="true"></span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: #242424; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: #242424; mso-ligatures: none;">
</span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind" target="_blank" rel="noopener" moz-do-not-send="true"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: #0563c1; text-decoration: none;"><img id="_x0000_i1027" style="width: .25in; height: .25in;" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/facebook.png" alt="Facebook" width="24" height="24" border="0" moz-do-not-send="true"></span></a></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: #242424; mso-ligatures: none;">
</span><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice" target="_blank" rel="noopener" moz-do-not-send="true"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: #0563c1; text-decoration: none;"><img id="_x0000_i1026" style="width: .25in; height: .25in;" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/twitter.png" alt="Twitter" width="24" height="24" border="0" moz-do-not-send="true"></span></a></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: #242424; mso-ligatures: none;">
</span><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind" target="_blank" rel="noopener" moz-do-not-send="true"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: #0563c1; text-decoration: none;"><img id="_x0000_i1025" style="width: .25in; height: .25in;" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/youtube.png" alt="Youtube" width="24" height="24" border="0" moz-do-not-send="true"></span></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: #242424; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: #242424; mso-ligatures: none;">The
National Federation of the Blind is a community of members
and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the
nation\u2019s blind. Every day we work together to help blind
people live the lives they want.</span></p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br>
<fieldset class="moz-mime-attachment-header"></fieldset>
<pre wrap="" class="moz-quote-pre">_______________________________________________
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</pre>
</blockquote>
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