[Vendorsmi] Fw: [nfbmi-talk] nfb and restaurant assoc pr

[Joe Sontag]

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From: "joe harcz Comcast" <joeharcz at comcast.net>
To: <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: <Vendorsmi at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, March 05, 2012 10:59
Subject: [nfbmi-talk] nfb and restaurant assoc pr


National Federation of the Blind and National Restaurant Association Urge 
Congress to Reject Commercializing Rest Stops



WASHINGTON -- The

National Federation of the Blind,

the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind Americans, and the 
National Restaurant Association, the largest organization of restaurant 
owners,

today urged the United States Congress to reject legislation that would 
allow the commercialization of highway rest stops. Currently, the only 
commercial

activity permitted at such rest stops is the operation of vending machines 
by blind entrepreneurs under the Randolph-Sheppard Act. Commercializing rest

stops would also jeopardize the business of restaurants and convenience 
stores that operate at highway exits.



Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: 
“This legislation would threaten the livelihoods of hundreds of blind 
entrepreneurs

in the United States who depend on revenue from rest-stop vending machines. 
With an unemployment rate among blind Americans that exceeds 70 percent, 
such

a move is deeply irresponsible, since these entrepreneurs will lose their 
businesses and be forced to rely on public assistance. We urge Congress to 
reject

this ill-considered and reckless proposal.”



Brendan Flanagan, a spokesperson for the National Restaurant Association, 
said: “This legislation threatens private businesses of all sizes and their 
employees

who rely on drivers exiting the highway in order to purchase food and 
conveniences. It is an attempt to take money away from these businesses to 
fill state

coffers. It is anti-competitive and will kill jobs.”

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Annette Lutz, who operates a vending facility at an interstate rest area on 
I-75 in Auglaize County, Ohio, said: “I do not know how I will contribute to

supporting my family if this legislation passes, since I rely on the income 
from the vending machines that I’m permitted to operate to pay our bills and

raise my child. My vending machines can’t compete with state-financed 
full-service food operations, so my business will disappear. My blind 
daughter is

also interested in becoming an entrepreneur but if this legislation passes 
that opportunity will not be there for her. I hope Congress will remember 
people

like us and shut down this effort to take money away from entrepreneurs and 
give it to the state government.”



The legislation, which is part of a transportation bill being considered in 
both houses of Congress, has been put forward by Senator Rob Portman (R-OH)

and Congressman Steve LaTourette (R-OH). The legislation is also opposed by 
the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind, the National 
Association

of Convenience Stores (NACS), and the National Association of Truck Stop 
Operators (NATSO), among others.



About the National Federation of the Blind



With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is the 
largest and most influential membership organization of blind people in the 
United

States. The NFB improves blind people’s lives through advocacy, education, 
research, technology, and programs encouraging independence and 
self-confidence.

It is the leading force in the blindness field today and the voice of the 
nation's blind. In January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of 
the

Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in the 
United States for the blind led by the blind.


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