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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Good Afternoon Fellow Federationists:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>As we ramp up for the 2020 Washington Seminar, below, you’ll find links to the fact sheets and the summaries of each of our legislative priorities. I have also included critical information as appropriate.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><a href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/legislative-agenda/access-technology-affordability">Access Technology Affordability Act (ATAA) (H.R. 2086/S. 815)</a><br>The cost of critically needed access technology is out of reach for most blind Americans. By providing a refundable tax credit for qualifying purchases, Congress will stimulate individual procurement of this technology and promote affordability of these tools.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Senator Chuck Grassley is a key stakeholder in getting this legislation through in the senate as he is chare of the Senate Finance committee where this bill needs to go through before it hits the Senate floor. He is also a key ally of the Trump administration, so if it gets through the Senate an to the White House, it will be largely due to his work. We will be focusing on him to get this through, but please contact all of our members of Congress about this important legislation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><a href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/legislative-agenda/greater-access-independence-nonvisual-access-technology">Greater Access and Independence through Nonvisual Access Technology (GAIN) Act (H.R. 3929)<span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:blue'><br></span></a>Advanced digital interfaces create barriers that prevent blind individuals from independently operating essential devices that enhance quality of life. Congress must end the digital divide that threatens the independence of blind Americans by developing minimum accessibility requirements for such devices. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This is an important piece of legislation to contact all of our members of Congress on.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><a href="https://www.nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/legislative-agenda/accessible-instructional-materials-higher-education">Accessible Instructional Materials in Higher Education (AIM HIGH) Act (H.R. 5312/S. 3095)</a><br>Until a market-driven solution for accessible instructional materials is achieved, blind college students are denied access to critical course content. The AIM HIGH Act will remove these barriers to equality in the classroom by creating a set of guidelines that clearly define accessible instructional materials.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We are thrilled to see Senator Ernst as a cosponsor on the Senate side, but we need Senator Grassley and all of our Congressional reps on board to make this one successful and finally a reality!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>As you can see we have a lot of work to do, but we all know that collective action works. Please begin your calls, emails, and letters as soon as possible. The four of us going to Washington cannot do it alone! Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions I will send updates as we progress through our seminar preparations.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Scott Van Gorp, President<br>National Federation of the Blind of Iowa<br>Phone: 515-720-5282<br></span><a href="mailto:svangorp@nfbi.org"><span style='color:#0563C1'>Email</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.nfbi.org/"><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1'>Website</span></i></a><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> <br></span></i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/National-Federation-Of-the-Blind-Of-Iowa-372681823082570/posts"><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1'>Facebook</span></i></a><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> <br></span></i><a href="https://twitter.com/nfb_iowa"><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1'>Twitter</span></i></a><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'> <br>Live the life you want.<br></span></i><br>The National Federation of the Blind of Iowa 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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>