<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><br><br><div dir="ltr">Cindy Lou Ray<div>Sent from my iPhone</div></div><div dir="ltr"><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><b>From:</b> Cindy Ray <cindyray@gmail.com><br><b>Date:</b> February 23, 2023 at 9:52:47 AM CST<br><b>To:</b> tall-corn@nfbnet.org<br><b>Cc:</b> Cindy Ray <cindyray@gmail.com><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>Fwd: Updates</b><br><br></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">Note: our work is not done!<div><br><br><div dir="ltr">Cindy Lou Ray<div>Sent from my iPhone</div></div><div dir="ltr"><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><b>From:</b> Emily Wharton <Emily.Wharton@blind.state.ia.us><br><b>Date:</b> February 23, 2023 at 9:18:25 AM CST<br><b>Subject:</b> <b>Updates</b><br><br></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">Hello, you are receiving this email because you have shown interest in serving on the Iowa Commission for the Blind or related matters. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please let me know.
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">On February 22, the House State Government Subcommittee heard testimony on HF126. Several advocates spoke powerfully on behalf of the Commission retaining the power to hire and fire the IDB Director. After
the meeting Rep. David Young spoke with several advocates as did Committee Chair Rep. Bloomingdale and others from the subcommittee. There has been significant positive press coverage on both the House and Senate Subcommittee public testimony. Many advocates
have reported receiving positive responses to their emails from Democratic and Republican Senators and Representatives. . While the Senate version did pass committee yesterday with Division 13 in tact, the media was reporting that there is bi-partisan talk
among Senators regarding the need to fix the sections related to IDB and the Iowa School for the Deaf. There is definitely hope, but advocates will need to continue to educate the legislature and not become complacent. Below is a link that citizens may
use to share comments on HSB126.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color:#212121"> </span></span><span style="color:#212121">The page where you can add comments seem to be pretty buried, but once you get there it is a link and a form.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="color:#212121"><a href="https://www.legis.iowa.gov/committees/meetingPublicComment?meetingID=36577&action=viewCommitteePublicComments" title="https://www.legis.iowa.gov/committees/meetingPublicComment?meetingID=36577&action=viewCommitteePublicComments"><span style="color:#0078D7">https://www.legis.iowa.gov/committees/meetingPublicComment?meetingID=36577&action=viewCommitteePublicComments</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black">Sincerely, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black">Emily Wharton MFA CPM<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black">Director, Iowa Department for the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black">515.802.7313<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black"><a href="mailto:Emily.wharton@blind.state.ia.us"><span style="color:#0563C1">Emily.wharton@blind.state.ia.us</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black">Web: <a href="https://blind.iowa.gov"><span style="color:#0563C1">https://blind.iowa.gov</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black">"Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm." -- Abraham Lincoln<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;color:black">A proud partner in the America’s Job Center Network-- <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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