[nfbwatlk] FW: From The Washington Seminar

[Mike Freeman]

-----Original Message-----
From: sysop at NFBnet.org [mailto:sysop at NFBnet.org] On Behalf Of Mike Freeman
Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2002 9:37 AM
To: Multiple recipients of NFBnet nfb of washington talk Mailing List
Subject: re: From The Washington Seminar



That's a big Ten-Four! Actually, security is tight but notall that much
more stringent than in past years. I haven't seen the two-hour lines
people have talked about. There is more hand-wanding than heretofore,
though. You can bet that no Ohio Federationists are selling folding
scissors on the Hill! <grin>  And, as I think I've said, the subway and
tunnels under the Capitol are closed.

We had a fine meeting with Rep. Nethercutt this morning. More meetings
this afternoon.

I'll check in again after this evenings gathering.

Mike Freeman <mikef at pacifier.com>
Amateur Radio: < K 7 U I J >

On Tue, 5 Feb 2002, Bennett Prows wrote:

>
>
> Thanks Mike.  Sounds like the NFB is undaunted by security concerns--but
> concerned about social security.  (Grin!  Keep their feet to the ...,
well,
> the floor in this case.
>
> B. P.
> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Original Message - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>
>
> Hello listers!
>
> This is being written after a successful first day on the Hill.  While we
> have not encountered any "over-the-top" enthusiasm among congressional
> staffers (the usual case when one doesn't see the senator or
> representative himself/herself), there was positive interest in our
> presentations and I believe that our issues will garner serious
> consideration.
>
> This year as in the past several years, oneof our issues is to push for
> passageof legislation raising the amount a blind SSDI recipient may earn
> without loss of benefits to $30,000 over the next three years. Washington
> is in good shape here as all but two representeatives (Larsen and Smith)
> are on the House bill (HR-498) and Senator Patty Murray is on the Senate
> equivalent, S-682. I believe that we will get Senator Cantwell on board
> also.
>
> Our second issue is advocacy of passing legislation allowing Part B
> Medicare funds to be channeled through the state rehabilitation
> agency/agencies to finance skills training and independent living services
> for older blind citizens. The House bill has been introduced by Rep.
> Martin Frost of TX; it is anticipated that a Senate equivalent will be
> introduced shortly.  The House Bill number is HR-2674.  (There is another
> bill, HR-2484, introduced by Rep. Kapuano, which would do somewhat the
> same but which has serious drawbacks).
> Our third issue is advocacy of legislation which would, among other
> things, set up a mechanism to establish a universal electronic file format
> for textbooks for grades K-12, require that textbook publishers furnish
> electronic copies of all such textbooks in this file format and establish
> a repository for such copies.  School Districts would then obtain these
> electronic copies in a timely manner so that blind children would no
> longer have to wait a geological era to get their texts.
>
> The fact sheets for our issues are available on
>
> http://www.nfb.org
>
> under the "laws and legislation" link.
>
> I'll give you another report after tomorrow's appointments.
>
> Onward, comrades!
>
> Mike Freeman <mikef at pacifier.com>
> Amateur Radio: < K 7 U I J >
>
>
> --
> This mailing list is sponsored by the National Federation of the Blind,
NFB.
> To view or search an archive of messages for this list, go to:
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>
> - - - - - - - - - - - - End of Original Message - - - - - - - - - - - -
>
>
> --
> This mailing list is sponsored by the National Federation of the Blind,
NFB.
> To view or search an archive of messages for this list, go to:
http://www.nfbnet.org
> For more information about the NFB, please call (410) 659-9314, point your
> internet browser to http://www.nfb.org or Telnet to nfbnet.org.
>


--
This mailing list is sponsored by the National Federation of the Blind, NFB.
To view or search an archive of messages for this list, go to:
http://www.nfbnet.org
For more information about the NFB, please call (410) 659-9314, point your
internet browser to http://www.nfb.org or Telnet to nfbnet.org.