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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Good Morninng:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I have sent the below out to the general assembly in response to the Senate’s passage of the reorganization bill. Hopefully we can get the house to offer an amendment to strike section XIII and get this back to a conference committee. Thanks all for your work on this. Let’s continue to press our legislators to get the job done! We’re not done yet!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><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">Email</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.nfbi.org/"><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>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'>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'>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></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> Scott Van Gorp <svangorp@nfbi.org> <br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, March 8, 2023 7:50 AM<br><b>Subject:</b> Section XIII of HSB 126 and SF 514 re: Government Realignment and response from the National Federation of the Blind of Iowa<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dear Representatives and Senators:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>As president of the National Federation of the Blind of Iowa, and on behalf of blind Iowans in all 99 of Iowa’s counties, I am writing today in response to the Senate’s passage of Senate file 514 and the expected debate of HSB 126 regarding the reorganization of state government in Iowa. The National Federation of the Blind of Iowa has previously sent a letter to all of you regarding our position on section XIII of this bill in regards to the Iowa Department for the Blind, and I have again attached a copy of the letter for your reference. It is our sincere hope that the Iowa House of Representatives will pass an amendment that would strike section XIII and preserve the rights of the Blind of Iowa to continue to have a say in the hiring/firing of the director of the Iowa Department for the Blind. The history of the Iowa Department for the blind and its services to blind Iowans is well documented, and the blind of Iowa must continue to have the quality of services that we have come to expect from our state agency. The Iowa Department for the Blind has been a world-class agency for many years, and our fear is that, through this bill, services will be greatly impacted in the long run by directors who may not have the interests of the blind at heart. The reason services have been successful in Iowa is due in large part to the stability of directors throughout several administrations. If the governor is allow to appoint the agency director whenever he or she wishes, this could lead to disastrous consequences to services Iowans need to live full and productive lives, gain employment, and take advantage of educational opportunities. We appreciate the legislature’s time and efforts at the subcommittee and committee levels and the opportunity to address particularly the subcommittees on this issue, and we look forward to working with the legislature on amendments to this bill and on future bills to continue to enhance the quality of life for blind Iowans. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need more information.<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">Email</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.nfbi.org/"><i><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>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'>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'>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>