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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><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Hi Virginia Federationists,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>We have been making tremendous progress in building support for the Access Technology Affordability Act. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>In the Senate, based on our advocacy, Senator Warner has signed onto the legislation. However, we have not yet convinced Senator Kaine to do the same. John Pare and I have been talking about how to urge Senator Kaine to join Senator Warner in support of this legislation. We are asking you to help by sending an email today.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>, I am asking you to reach out to Paul Lapointe in Senator Kaine’s office to ask for support of S 212.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Below is some sample language. Emails should be sent to Paul Lapointe, <a href="mailto:paul_lapointe@kaine.senate.gov">paul_lapointe@kaine.senate.gov</a>. </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>You can feel free to make personal adjustments to the below sample text and definitely provide your name and address at the bottom of the message.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>This is what I sent to him this morning.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Hi Mr. Lapointe: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>The Access Technology Affordability Act (S. 212/H.R. 431) will put more access technology in the hands of blind Americans thereby improving our employment and educational opportunities. The bill does this by creating a $2,000 refundable tax credit for use over a three year period for the purchase of specialized access technology for the blind. Examples of specialized access technology include: refreshable Braille displays, Braille notetakers, Braille embossers, and screen reading software. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>On February 12, a team from the National Federation of the Blind of Virginia discussed this legislation with Stephanie Gibbs and Veda Beltran from your office. They were interested in this legislation, but it wasn’t part of their portfolio. We are taking this time to specifically raise this legislation with you for consideration.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> The sponsor is Senator Cardin and Senator Boozman is the lead cosponsor. The Senate bill has 25 cosponsors with 113 cosponsors on the House bill.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Some of the cosponsors you are likely to recognize are:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Sen. Ron Wyden, Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Sen. Patty Murray, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Sen. Jon Tester, Chair of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Sen. Jack Reed, Chair of the Senate Committee on Armed Services<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Sen. Mark Warner, Chair of the Select Committee on Intelligence<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Sen. Patrick Leahy, President Pro Temp, Chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Rep. Frank Pallone, Chair of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Rep. John Yarmuth, Chair of the House Committee on Budget <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>The sponsor of the House bill is Rep. Mike Thompson, the Chairman of the Ways and Means subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>This language has been incorporated in the Reconciliation Package currently moving through the House (Section 138519, starting on page 755).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>According to the 2018 American Community Survey 69.1 percent of working age blind Americans are either unemployed or underemployed. This legislation would help blind students get the education they need, help blind workers get full-time employment, and improve our overall self-sufficiency.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>We would greatly appreciate it if Senator Kaine would cosponsor S. 212. To do so please contact Ron Storhaug at </span><a href="mailto:Ron_Storhaug@sbc.senate.gov"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Ron_Storhaug@sbc.senate.gov</span></a><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Thank you so much,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>