[Nfbwv-talk] Information for our Representatives

Wed Jun 28 15:03:06 UTC 2017

Greetings Fellow Federationists,

I am sharing the below E-mail with you to assist you with contacting our state's members of the House of Representatives as well as to share a copy of the E-mail with John Pare.  As you will recall, our Legislative Director Sheri Koch and our national office are asking that we assist them with getting our representatives and senators on board with cosponsoring some legislation we want passed.  Please feel free to use the below message and substitute your name and contact information as well as any other message you want to convey.

Below is what contact information I have for our representatives, and the E-mail address for John Pare so you can copy him as well is:

jpare at nfb.org

Charlene

Congressman Evan Jenkins
PHONE:  202-225-3452
Geoffrey Hempelmann
E-MAIL:  Geoffrey.hempelmann at mail.house.gov<mailto:Geoffrey.hempelmann at mail.house.gov>
Josh Sutherland
E-MAIL:  josh.sutherland at mail.house.gov

Congressman David McKinley
PHONE:  202-225-7564
Special Assistant/Policy Advisor
PHONE:  202-225-4172
Margie Almanza
E-MAIL:  Margie.almanza at mail.house.gov

Congressman Alex Mooney
PHONE:  202-225-2711
Ted Dacey
E-MAIL:  Ted.dacey at mail.house.gov<mailto:Ted.dacey at mail.house.gov>
Lindsay Schneider
E-MAIL:  Lindsay.schneider at mail.house.gov

Dear Representative (Insert Name):

As a blind person residing in West Virginia, I am requesting that you sign on to cosponsor H.R. 1377, H.R. 1734, and H.R. 1772. More information about these bills is shown below.

I also want to make you aware of a major concern of mine and others with disabilities.  H.R. 620 is still a very real threat to the rights and freedoms of Americans with disabilities. If passed, this legislation will dramatically weaken the ADA, hindering education, independent living, and community participation for all people with disabilities. The bill prevents people with disabilities from filing a lawsuit regarding an ADA violation until the person first notifies the violator. The violator then has 60 days to respond and then has another 120 days to remedy the problem, for a total delay of 180 days.  I respectfully request that you oppose H.R. 620, the ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017.

Bill Summaries

Accessible Instructional Material in Higher Education Act, H.R. 1772 (AIM HIGH)

This bill will promote instructional technology and content that are accessible to the blind and other students with print disabilities. Read the AIM HIGH fact sheet to learn more.

Access Technology Affordability Act of 2017, H.R. 1734 and S. 732 (ATAA)

These bills will facilitate the purchase of access technology for blind people by creating a refundable, per person tax credit. Read the Access Technology Affordability Act of 2017 fact sheet to learn more.

Transitioning to Integrated and Meaningful Employment Act of 2017, H.R. 1377 (TIME)

This bill will increase employment opportunities by removing stigmas and low expectations propagated by section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Note that the bill now phases out subminimum wages over a six-year period corresponding to the recommendation of the National Council on Disability. Read the TIME Act fact sheet to learn more.

Current cosponsors

Accessible Instructional Material in Higher Education Act, H.R. 1772 (AIM HIGH) Current Cosponsors
Rep. Roe, David P. [R-TN-1] - Sponsor
Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large]
Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-3]
Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2]
Rep. Murphy, Stephanie N. [D-FL-7]
Rep. Ross, Dennis A. [R-FL-15]
Rep. Gabbard, Tulsi [D-HI-2]
Rep. Hanabusa, Colleen [D-HI-1]
Rep. Kinzinger, Adam [R-IL-16]
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
Rep. Brooks, Susan W. [R-IN-5]
Rep. Visclosky, Peter J. [D-IN-1]
Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]
Rep. Nolan, Richard M. [D-MN-8]
Rep. Kildee, Daniel T. [D-MI-5]
Rep. Harper, Gregg [R-MS-3]
Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]
Rep. Amodei, Mark E. [R-NV-2]
Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21]
Rep. Price, David E. [D-NC-4]
Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-5]
Rep. Gonzalez-Colon, Jenniffer [R-PR-At Large]
Rep. Green, Gene [D-TX-29]
Rep. Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [R-WI-5]
Rep. Ryan, Tim [D-OH-13]
Rep. Johnson, Eddie Bernice [D-TX-30]
Rep. Grisham, Michelle Lujan [D-NM-1]
Rep. Lawson, Jr., Al [D-FL-5]
Rep. Yarmuth, John [D-KY-3]
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
Rep. Cicilline, David [D-RI-1]
Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7

Access Technology Affordability Act of 2017, H.R. 1734 and S. 732 (ATAA) Current Cosponsors
Rep. Young, David [R-IA-3] - Sponsor
Rep. Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D-CA-40]
Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]
Rep. Lawson, Al, Jr. [D-FL-5]
Rep. Hanabusa, Colleen [D-HI-1]
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
Rep. Ryan, Tim [D-OH-13]
Rep. Smucker, Lloyd [R-PA-16]

Transitioning to Integrated and Meaningful Employment Act of 2017, H.R. 1377 (TIME) Current Cosponsors
Rep. Harper, Gregg [R-MS-3] - Sponsor
Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-42]
Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-15]
Rep. Murphy, Stephanie N. [D-FL-7]
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]
Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]
Rep. Lujan Grisham, Michelle [D-NM-1]
Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9]
Rep. Gonzalez-Colon, Jenniffer [R-PR-At Large]
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]

Thank you for doing what is right for all West Virginians.

Charlene Smyth, President
National Federation of the Blind of West Virginia
HOME:  304-842-9654
CELL:  304-841-1111
401 East Olive Street
Apartment 1-A
Bridgeport, WV  26330

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