[nfbwatlk] Fw: Legislative Alert-Cosponsors Needed for H.R. 734 and H.R. 886

Thu Apr 9 02:57:16 UTC 2009

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "McCarthy, Jim" <JMcCarthy at nfb.org>
To: <undisclosed-recipients:>
Sent: Wednesday, April 08, 2009 3:22 PM
Subject: Legislative Alert-Cosponsors Needed for H.R. 734 and H.R. 886

Fellow Federationists:

            Our activities at the 2009 Washington Seminar kicked off our
legislative efforts.  Aggressive follow-up with the staff that we met,
and with representatives at home, strengthens our opportunities for
success.

            Congress has begun its spring district work period which
lasts two weeks.  Members left Washington at the end of last week and
they will not return for legislative business until Monday, April 20.
This offers us an opportunity to meet senators and representatives in
their districts over these two weeks.  Therefore, I encourage you to
learn their schedules and attend any town hall or other public meetings
that you can.

            As you know, there are two bills we advocated for at the
2009 Washington Seminar that are presently introduced in the House of
Representatives.  These two bills are H.R. 734, the Pedestrian Safety
Enhancement Act of 2009, and H.R. 886, the Blind Persons Return to Work
Act of 2009.

            At Washington Seminar, attendees reported on representatives
who were rated as likely cosponsors of H.R. 886.  Representatives were
rated as 4 or 5 on our scale, with 5 being the most likely to cosponsor.

            At the present time H.R. 886 has five cosponsors that
include the lead sponsor, John Lewis, which means that H.R. 886 is not
advancing right now as quickly as is necessary, so we must increase our
efforts to move this legislation.  Key points are:

-- This bill would establish a benefit reduction instead of totally
ending the benefit for blind people who earn more than the allowable
earnings amount, which would be a yearly rather than monthly amount, as
is now the case.

-- This amount would continue to be indexed as it is under present law.

-- Earnings over the annual amount would result in a one dollar loss of
Social Security benefits for each three dollars of excess earnings.

-- There would be an Impairment Related Work Expense deduction for
anyone with excess earnings.

-- The amount of this deduction would be 16.3% of excess earnings, or
the amount determined by the Commissioner of the Social Security
Administration, whichever amount is greater.

            I know that you will, as you always do, work hard over the
upcoming two-week spring district period to increase commitments from
your representatives on this important legislation.

            Presently, we have 105 cosponsors on H.R. 734, the
Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act.  This is outstanding, but we need
more.  A legislative alert was sent last week identifying the
cosponsors.  Over the spring district work period, you should reach out
to those representatives who have not yet cosponsored this legislation.
Attending question and answer sessions for representatives that are
already cosponsors and publicly thanking them for their support of H.R.
734, will allow you to focus the attention on the silent car issue in
your local communities.

            This attention should help us achieve our goal of getting
this legislation enacted as soon as possible, so that we can continue to
travel with confidence and have the information we need to make
appropriate travel judgments.

            Let us build support for H.R. 886 and continue the march
toward passage of H.R. 734.

            Below you will find the list of the cosponsors of H.R. 886
and a list of those who were rated 4 or 5 who should be cosponsors of
H.R. 886.

            Thank you for your continuing efforts on behalf of our
National Federation of the Blind.

Most cordially,

James D. McCarthy

Government Programs Specialist

National Federation of the Blind

Telephone:  (410) 659-9314, extension 2240

E-mail:  jmccarthy at nfb.org <blocked::mailto:jmccarthy at nfb.org>

Jesse Hartle

Government Programs Specialist

National Federation of the Blind

Telephone:  (410) 659-9314, extension 2233

E-mail:  jhartle at nfb.org <blocked::mailto:jhartle at nfb.org>

Cosponsors of H.R. 886

John Lewis, GA - Sponsor

James Oberstar MN

Pedro Pierluisi, PR

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, FL

Tim Ryan, OH

Representatives Rated Five

Rep. Abercrombie, Neil (D-HI) - Cosponsored in 110th

Rep. Davis, Danny (D-IL) - Cosponsored in 110th

Rep. Driehaus, Steve (D-OH)

Rep. Lance, Leonard (R-NJ)

Rep. Langevin, James (D-RI)

Representatives Rated Four

Rep. Ackerman, Gary (D-NY)

Rep. Bachus, Spencer (R-AL)

Rep. Berkley, Shelley (D-NV) - Cosponsored in 110th

Rep. Berry, Marion (D-AR)

Rep. Biggert, Judy (R-IL)

Rep. Bilbray, Brian (R-CA)

Rep. Blumenauer, Earl (D-OR) - Cosponsored in 110th

Rep. Braley, Bruce (D-IA) - Cosponsored in 110th

Rep. Castor, Kathy (D-FL)

Rep. Clarke, Yvette (D-NY)

Rep. Clyburn, James (D-SC)

Rep. Crenshaw, Ander (R-FL)

Rep. DeGette, Diana (D-CO)

Rep. Delahunt, Bill (D-MA)

Rep. DeLauro, Rosa (D-CT)

Rep. Doyle, Mike (D-PA)

Rep. Ellison, Keith (D-MN) - Cosponsored in 110th

Rep. Etheridge, Bob (D-NC

Rep. Frank, Barney (D-MA)

Rep. Garrett, Scott (R-NJ)

Rep. Green, Al (D-TX)

Rep. Hall, Ralph (R-TX)

Rep. Hare, Phil (D-IL) - Cosponsored in 110th

Rep. Heinrich, Martin (D-NM)

Rep. Heller, Dean (R-NV)

Rep. Himes, Jim (D-CT)

Rep. Hodes, Paul (D-NH)

Rep. Hunter, Duncan (R-CA)

Rep. Jackson-Lee, Sheila (D-TX)

Rep. Johnson, Hank (D-GA)

Rep. Johnson, Sam (R-TX)

Rep. Kennedy, Patrick (D-RI)

Rep. King, Peter (R-NY)

Rep. Latta, Bob (R-OH)

Rep. Lee, Barbara (D-CA)

Rep. Lungren, Dan (R-CA)

Rep. Maffei, Dan (D-NY)

Rep. Markey, Ed (D-MA)

Rep. Matheson, Jim (D-UT)

Rep. McDermott, Jim (D-WA) - Cosponsored in 110th

Rep. McGovern, Jim (D-MA)

Rep. McIntyre, Mike (D-NC)

Rep. Meek, Kendrick (D-FL)

Rep. Meeks, Gregory (D-NY)

Rep. Mollohan, Alan (D-WV)

Rep. Moran, Jim (D-VA)

Rep. Nadler, Jerrold (D-NY)

Rep. Norton, Eleanor (D-DC)

Rep. Oberstar, James (D-MN) - Cosponsored in 110th

Rep. Ortiz, Solomon (D-TX)

Rep. Paul, Ron (R-TX) - Cosponsored in 110th

Rep. Peterson, Collin (D-MN) - Cosponsored in 110th

Rep. Petri, Tom (R-WI)

Rep. Platts, Todd (R-PA) - Cosponsored in 110th

Rep. Polis, Jared (D-CO)

Rep. Rothman, Steven (D-NJ) - Cosponsored in 110th

Rep. Rush, Bobby (D-IL) - Cosponsored in 110th

Rep. Sanchez, Linda (D-CA) - Cosponsored in 110th

Rep. Schiff, Adam (D-CA)

Rep. Sessions, Pete (R-TX)

Rep. Stark, Pete (D-CA) - Cosponsored in 110th

Rep. Sutton, Betty (D-OH) - Cosponsored in 110th

Rep. Terry, Lee (R-NE)

Rep. Thompson, Glenn (R-PA)

Rep. Tiberi, Patrick (R-OH)

Rep. Towns, Edolphus (D-NY) - Cosponsored in 110th

Rep. Visclosky, Peter (D-IN) - Cosponsored in 110th

Rep. Watson, Diane (D-CA)

Rep. Wolf, Frank (R-VA) - Cosponsored in 110th

Rep. Woolsey, Lynn (D-CA)

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