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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>From Deepa Goraya<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>An important update on automated vehicles and the Thune Amendment. The National Federation of the Blind has been working with Senator John Thune on an amendment to the United Sates Innovation and Competition Act. This amendment relates to fully automated vehicles and contains two provisions that would benefit blind people.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The first provision would create an exemption classification for manufacturers who “provide transportation access for individuals with disabilities (as defined in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102)), including non-visual access for individuals who are blind or visually impaired,” as long as the vehicle was equivalently safe to a non-exempt vehicle. The second would prohibit a state from issuing a “motor vehicle operator’s license for the operation or use of a highly automated vehicle in a manner that discriminates on the basis of disability.” <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Despite support from both automobile manufacturers and disability advocates, Senator Thune reluctantly withdrew his amendment on May 12 due to a lack of support from other senators on the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee over safety and liability concerns. President Riccobono wrote a <a href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements/letter-chair-cantwell-thune-amendment-endless-frontier-act">letter to Chair Cantwell and Ranking Member Wicker</a> regarding this topic expressing our support and endorsement of the Thune amendment on May 11. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The United Sates Innovation and Competition Act had been moved to the Senate floor for debate and Senator Thune planned to bring his amendment forward for a full Senate vote. The US Innovation and Competition Act did not pass but the Senate did come to an agreement as to which amendments would be voted on before the final vote on the bill. The Thune amendment was not one of these amendments.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>However, the National Federation of the Blind (along with the automated vehicle industry) still supports this amendment. There are a couple of scenarios. First, it can be included in another bill. Second, once the US Innovation and Competition Act is passed in the Senate, it will go to the House. The House has a companion bill (still called the Endless Frontier Act). It is unclear whether the House will try to pass its version of the bill or simply pass the Senate version. So, there might still be an opportunity to get this in the US Innovation and Competition Act in the House. If not, we can continue to urge Congress to include it in another bill.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We should continue to educate members of Congress on the benefits of fully automated vehicles and urge them to support the provisions in the Thune amendment, especially the provisions applicable to blind people and nonvisual accessibility. Once we identify another opportunity to include this amendment in a specific bill, either in the House or Senate, we will need to inundate Congress with our calls and emails.<br><br>Please contact your senators and educate them on the benefits of fully automated vehicles and urge them to support the provisions in the Thune amendment.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>You can contact your senators by calling the Capitol Switchboard and asking for the office in question. The number is 202-224-3121. If you email your senators, please copy Jeff Kaloc at <a href="mailto:jkaloc@nfb.org">jkaloc@nfb.org</a>. Your calls and emails do make a difference.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Pasted below are our Virginia Senate offices with the contact info of a specific staff member dedicated to transportation.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Stephanie Doherty Sen. Mark Warner VA <a href="mailto:stephanie_doherty@warner.senate.gov">stephanie_doherty@warner.senate.gov</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Evan McWalters Sen. Timothy Kaine VA <a href="mailto:evan_mcwalters@kaine.senate.gov">evan_mcwalters@kaine.senate.gov</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Deepa Goraya<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>NFBV Co-Legislative Director<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Deepinder K. Goraya, Esq<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#222222'><br><br><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>