[NFBWV-Talk] Legislative Alert from National

Tue Aug 4 18:15:53 UTC 2020

Thank you Charlene!
On Tue, Aug 4, 2020 at 2:13 PM Smyth, Charlene R via NFBWV-Talk <
nfbwv-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> You are welcome.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFBWV-Talk <nfbwv-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Karen
> McDonald via NFBWV-Talk
> Sent: Tuesday, August 4, 2020 12:17 PM
> To: NFB of West Virginia Discussion List <nfbwv-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Karen McDonald <karen at eioproductions.com>
> Subject: Re: [NFBWV-Talk] Legislative Alert from National
>
> Thank you, Charlene.
>
> Peace
> Karen
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFBWV-Talk <nfbwv-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Smyth,
> Charlene R via NFBWV-Talk
> Sent: Tuesday, August 4, 2020 9:25 AM
> To: NFB of West Virginia Discussion List (nfbwv-talk at nfbnet.org) <
> nfbwv-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Smyth, Charlene R <Charlene.R.Smyth at wv.gov>
> Subject: [NFBWV-Talk] Legislative Alert from National
>
> In a separate message, I will provide you with all of the contact
> information you need to contact West Virginia's members of congress.
>
> Charlene
>
> Dear Federation Family:
>
> I wanted to share some truly great news. We are up to 121 cosponsors on
> the Access Technology Affordability Act in the House and 24 in the Senate.
> This would not be possible without your calls, emails, and social media.
>
> While we still need to build cosponsor support for the Access Technology
> Affordability Act, there are two new issues which need our immediate
> attention. Last week, on Wednesday, July 29, the House passed Sami's Law
> (H.R. 4686) without objection. This legislation will increase the safety of
> ridesharing apps and will ensure that these safety measures are nonvisually
> accessible. The National Federation of the Blind has worked closely with
> the sponsor of the bill, Representative Chris Smith of New Jersey, to make
> sure that blind rideshare users will not be excluded from the bill's
> additional safety measures. The bill has now been transmitted to the Senate
> for consideration, and we need to call or email every member of the Senate
> and urge them to pass H.R. 4686, Sami's Law.
>
> The second urgent matter is one of the newly proposed COVID-19 relief
> bills in the Senate. The SAFE TO WORK Act, S. 4317 contains a section that
> would eliminate critical protections established in Titles I and III of the
> Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Please contact your senators and
> urge them to amend this harmful language out of S. 4317.
>
> When you call or email your senators you might say something like:
>
> "Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME], and I am a constituent of [SENATOR NAME].
> I live in [CITY, STATE]. The House recently passed H.R. 4686, Sami's Law.
> This bill will make it safer for all people, including blind people, to use
> rideshare companies, and I urge you to vote in favor of this legislation
> when it is considered in the Senate. Additionally, I would strongly urge
> you to propose an amendment to strike Section 181(a)(1)(G) and Section
> 181(b) from S. 4317, the SAFE TO WORK Act. The language currently contained
> in Section 181 critically weakens the protections for disabled Americans
> set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Please ensure
> that the protections of the ADA are maintained by amending this
> legislation. Thank you."
>
> It is critical that you contact your two senators on these two pieces of
> legislation as soon as possible, as the Senate is scheduled to enter its
> traditional August recess starting Friday, August 7. We don't want to miss
> the opportunity to get meaningful legislation passed and to prevent harmful
> legislation from becoming law.
>
> You can contact your senators by calling the Capitol Switchboard and
> asking for the office in question. The number is 202-224-3121. If you email
> your senators, please copy Jeff Kaloc at jkaloc at nfb.org<mailto:
> jkaloc at nfb.org>. Your calls and emails do make a difference.
>
> We recommend you call or email the legislative director in your senator's
> office. If you need the name and email of the appropriate staff person for
> any Senate or House office, please email Jesa Medders at jmedders at nfb.org
> <mailto:jmedders at nfb.org>.
>
> Thank you.
>
> John G. Paré Jr.
> Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy National Federation of the Blind
> 200 East Wells Street
> Baltimore, MD 21230
> Telephone: (410) 659-9314, extension 2218 Cell phone: (410) 917-1965
> Email: jpare at nfb.org<mailto:jpare at nfb.org>
>
> The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends
> who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. Every day we
> work together to help blind people live the lives they want.
>
>
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> immediately and permanently delete the original and any copy or printout.
>
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-- 
Sheri Koch, President
National Federation of the Blind of West Virginia
304-993-5103