<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div>Good morning All,</div><div><br></div><div>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.</div><div>This bill removes trial work periods, which increases government efficiency. </div><div>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.</div><div>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. </div><div>If you have any questions, please ask.</div><div><br></div><div>Thank you all for your help,</div><div>Helen</div><div><br></div><br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfMessage"><div>
<meta charset="UTF-8"><div dir="auto" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;"><div>Helen Mejia, President</div>National Federation of the Blind<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>of Iowa<br>hmejia@nfbi.org<br>(570) 983-7867</div>
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<div><br><div>Begin forwarded message:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);"><b>From: </b></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Shirek, Jesse via NFBNet-Members-List" <nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org><br></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);"><b>Subject: </b></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>[Nfbnet-members-list] Legislative Alert - Blind Americans Return to Work Act</b><br></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);"><b>Date: </b></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;">February 25, 2025 at 7:49:05 AM CST<br></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);"><b>To: </b></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org" <nfbnet-members-list@nfbnet.org><br></span></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif; color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 1.0);"><b>Reply-To: </b></span><span style="font-family: -webkit-system-font, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Shirek, Jesse" <jshirek@nfb.org><br></span></div><br><div><meta charset="UTF-8"><div class="WordSection1" style="page: WordSection1; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">Dear Federation Family:<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">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. <o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">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.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">When you call or email, you might say the following:<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">"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.<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">Thanks."<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">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<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:lwalsh@nfb.org" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline;">lwalsh@nfb.org</a>. If you contact your representative via email, please copy me at<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:jshirek@nfb.org" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline;">jshirek@nfb.org</a>. Your calls and emails are important feedback for our members of Congress to receive and truly do make a difference.<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;">Thank you for your energy and propelling this priority forward,<o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span>Jesse Shirek<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span>Governmental Affairs Specialist<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span>200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span>410-659-9314, extension 2348 |<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:jshirek@nfb.org" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline;">jshirek@nfb.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><a href="https://nfb.org/" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193); text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" width="210" height="76" id="_x0000_i1032" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/nfblogo.png" alt="National Federation of the Blind" style="width: 2.1833in; height: 0.7916in;"></span></a><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193); text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" width="24" height="24" id="_x0000_i1031" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/facebook.png" alt="Facebook" style="width: 0.25in; height: 0.25in;"></span></a><span> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193); text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" width="24" height="24" id="_x0000_i1030" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/twitter.png" alt="Twitter" style="width: 0.25in; height: 0.25in;"></span></a><span> </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193); text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" width="24" height="24" id="_x0000_i1029" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/youtube.png" alt="Youtube" style="width: 0.25in; height: 0.25in;"></span></a><span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span>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.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Jesse Shirek<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Governmental Affairs Specialist<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">410-659-9314, extension 2348 |<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="mailto:jshirek@nfb.org" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline;">jshirek@nfb.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><a href="https://nfb.org/" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(5, 99, 193); text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" width="210" height="76" id="_x0000_i1028" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/nfblogo.png" alt="National Federation of the Blind" style="width: 2.1833in; height: 0.7916in;"></span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(5, 99, 193); text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" width="24" height="24" id="_x0000_i1027" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/facebook.png" alt="Facebook" style="width: 0.25in; height: 0.25in;"></span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(5, 99, 193); text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" width="24" height="24" id="_x0000_i1026" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/twitter.png" alt="Twitter" style="width: 0.25in; height: 0.25in;"></span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134); text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(5, 99, 193); text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" width="24" height="24" id="_x0000_i1025" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/email/2/youtube.png" alt="Youtube" style="width: 0.25in; height: 0.25in;"></span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span>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.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></div></div></div></div></body></html>