<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style></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'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>From: Deepa Goraya<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Hello Everyone,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>We have another legislative action alert for you to help with this week. The National Federation of the Blind is urging the members of the House of Representatives and the Senate to cosponsor the Blind Americans Return to Work Act, H.R. 1175/S. 4334.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>This bill will help eliminate the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) earnings cliff by instituting a two-for-one phase out of benefits where every two dollars earned over the substantial gainful activity threshold will cause a one-dollar reduction in a beneficiary’s monthly payment.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The only Virginia representative who has cosponsored the bill is Representative Eugene Vindman [D-VA-7]. So his constituents do not need to contact him to cosponsor. The Senate has one cosponsor aside from the bill sponsor, and none are from Virginia:<br>Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK] – SPONSOR <br>Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Please contact your representatives and senators and urge them to cosponsor the Blind Americans Return to Work Act, H.R. 1175/S. 4334. Also, please keep in mind that while any cosponsor is helpful, it is especially helpful to gain cosponsors from the majority party. At this time, the Republican party has a majority in both the House and Senate, so please make it a point to reach out to Republican members of Congress.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>We are hoping that a large surge of cosponsor support will give the bill a big momentum boost that will increase the chance of being included in one of the large legislative vehicles that are coming up. To do that, we need your help to spread the message of increased earnings potential and decreased dependence on government benefits to all members of Congress who have not yet signed onto the bill. We are asking that you call or email your representative.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>When you call or email you might say:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>"My name is [YOUR NAME] and I want to urge [REPRESENTATIVE/SENATOR NAME] to support the Blind Americans Return to Work Act, [H.R. 1175/S. 4334]. This bill will eliminate the SSDI earnings cliff and incentivize more blind Americans to work in higher-paying and more productive jobs, which will in turn reduce dependence upon government benefits over time. Please cosponsor the Blind Americans Return to Work Act."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>We suggest a subject like: "Help get more blind Americans back to work by cosponsoring [H.R. 1175/S. 4334]."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>If you email, please copy Jesse Shirek at <a href="mailto:jshirek@nfb.org">jshirek@nfb.org</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>A list of all Virginia representatives and their contact info is attached.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Thank you.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Deepa Goraya<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>Peace,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jacki Bruce<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:jackibruce6@gmail.com">mailto:jackibruce6@gmail.com</a> or <a href="mailto:membership@nfbv.org">membership@nfbv.org</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="tel:(757)291-1789">tel:(757)291-1789</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Find us on Facebook @NationalFederationoftheBlindofVirginia<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Find us on Instragram @nfbofvirginia<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Subscribe to our Youtube: NFB Virginia<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.nfbv.org/">www.nfbv.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>