[Tall-Corn] Fwd: [Nfbnet-members-list] Legislative Alert - Blind Americans Return to Work Act

[Helen Mejia]

Good morning All,

Now is the time for every member to help by reaching out to your federal representative requesting they support H.R. 1175. Please see the information below. A couple other points of note that you might find helpful if you draft your own message.
This bill removes trial work periods, which increases government efficiency. 
By making the process for earnings the same for SSI and SSDI, it increases efficiency and cuts down on confusion by SSA staff and benefit recipients.
Making the loss of benefits more gradual will enable many blind Americans to earn more money, lessening their benefit amounts and saving the government money. 
If you have any questions, please ask.

Thank you all for your help,
Helen


Helen Mejia, President
National Federation of the Blind of Iowa
hmejia at nfbi.org
(570) 983-7867

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Shirek, Jesse via NFBNet-Members-List" <nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org>
Subject: [Nfbnet-members-list] Legislative Alert - Blind Americans Return to Work Act
Date: February 25, 2025 at 7:49:05 AM CST
To: "nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org" <nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org>
Reply-To: "Shirek, Jesse" <jshirek at nfb.org>

Dear Federation Family:
 
The Blind Americans Return to Work Act has been introduced in the 119th Congress in the House of Representatives with the bill number H.R. 1175. As a quick reminder, the Blind Americans Return to Work Act will eliminate the SSDI earnings cliff by instituting a two-for-one phase out of benefits for any income earned above the substantial gainful activity threshold. The bill was introduced by Congressman Pete Sessions of Texas and has Congressman Kweisi Mfume of Maryland as the lead cosponsor. 
  
It is essential that we reach out to every member of the House of Representatives to build cosponsor support for this legislation, and show our enthusiasm for this priority that has the potential to change the employment futures for thousands of blind Americans. 
 
When you call or email, you might say the following:
"Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME], and I am a constituent of [REPRESENTATIVE NAME]. I live in [CITY, STATE]. I would like to urge [REPRESENTATIVE NAME] to cosponsor the Blind Americans Return to Work Act, H.R. 1175. This legislation will eliminate the SSDI earnings cliff by instituting a two-for-one phase out of benefits for any income earned above the substantial gainful activity threshold for blind Americans. This will create a true work incentive for all blind Americans currently on SSDI.
Thanks."
 
You can contact your member of Congress by calling the Capitol Switchboard and asking for the office in question. The number is 202-224-3121. We have also attached a contact list of House offices, sorted by state, to this email, but if you have any questions on office contacts, please contact Lindsey Walsh at lwalsh at nfb.org <mailto:lwalsh at nfb.org>. If you contact your representative via email, please copy me at jshirek at nfb.org <mailto:jshirek at nfb.org>. Your calls and emails are important feedback for our members of Congress to receive and truly do make a difference.
 
Thank you for your energy and propelling this priority forward,
 
Jesse Shirek
Governmental Affairs Specialist
200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
410-659-9314, extension 2348 | jshirek at nfb.org <mailto:jshirek at nfb.org>
 
 <https://nfb.org/>
 
                          <http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind>     <https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice>     <https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind>
 
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.
 
 
Jesse Shirek
Governmental Affairs Specialist
200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
410-659-9314, extension 2348 | jshirek at nfb.org <mailto:jshirek at nfb.org>
 
 <https://nfb.org/>
 
                          <http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind>     <https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice>     <https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind>
 
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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