[VAGDU] Fwd: Urgent: FAA Reauthorization

[David Andrews]

>Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2018 20:02:08 -0500
>To: david.andrews at nfbnet.org
>From: Marion Gwizdala via NAGDU <nagdu at nfbnet.org> (by way of David 
>Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>)
>Subject: Urgent: FAA Reauthorization
>
>Dear Fellow Federationists,
>
>Please see the letter below from President Riccobono to members of
>Congress regarding the FAA Reauthorization and feel free to disseminate
>this as widely as appropriate.
>
>Please call your representative in the House and urge them to either
>remove Section 437 from H.R. 302 in its entirety, or align the language
>with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. 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.
>
>Fraternally Yours,
>Marion Gwizdala
>NAGDU President
>president at nagdu.org
>
>September 25, 2018
>
>Re: Section 437 of FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018
>
>Dear Chairman Thune, Ranking Member Nelson, Chairman Shuster, and Ranking
>Member DeFazio:
>
>The National Federation of the Blind and its special interest division,
>the National Association of Guide Dog Users, strongly oppose Section 437
>of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (H.R. 302). The proposed measures
>detailed in this section infringe upon the civil rights of the blind by
>imposing unnecessary and burdensome restrictions upon those of us who use
>trained guide dogs, including people who train their own guide dogs. The
>purpose of this letter is to address some of our main concerns with the
>proposed language. We would welcome the opportunity to work with Congress
>to seek a solution that is satisfactory to all stakeholders.
>
>One concern we have with the bill is requiring guide dog users to produce
>photographic identification of our guide dogs. This would only serve to
>enhance the sham cottage industry of fraudulent service animal
>certifications. Such restrictions would do nothing to curb those
>counterfeiters who attempt to take advantage of our civil rights in order
>to avoid legitimate fees charged by air carriers for the carriage of pets.
>
>In addition, requiring guide dog users to obtain immunization records
>prior to traveling on an aircraft restricts the freedom of movement for
>the blind to travel for emergencies or simply take a spontaneous trip.
>This requirement is therefore discriminatory by creating a separate and
>unequal encumbrance on the blind not imposed upon our sighted peers.
>
>We urge that Section 437 is either eliminated in its entirety or amended
>to align with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which provides
>sufficient protections for entities by allowing for the exclusion of any
>animal exhibiting disruptive behavior. We further urge the implementation
>of legal sanctions for the fraudulent misrepresentation of an animal as a
>service animal rather than imposing undue burdens on those of us who use
>legitimate specifically trained service animals.
>
>We appreciate your immediate attention to this matter and we are available
>to meet to discuss this further. I can be reached by phone at
>410-659-9314, or by email at officeofthepresident at nfb.org.
>
>Sincerely,
>Mark A. Riccobono, President
>National Federation of the Blind