[vendtalk] Fw: [BEP State Directors] Urgent Action Required: Commercialization Amendment to S. 1813

[Colleen McFadden]

From: bep_state_directors-owner at ncsab.org [mailto:bep_state_directors-owner at ncsab.org] On Behalf Of Sean Whalen
Sent: Friday, March 02, 2012 8:46 AM
To: bep_state_directors at ncsab.org; 'Catriona Macdonald'; 'Michael Jones'; Barbara.J.Madrigal at dars.state.tx.us; Bettye.Odem-Davis at illinois.gov; bfinn at ed.state.nh.us; Bgibson at utah.gov; Brian.sigman at ct.gov; ddenotaris at pa.gov; Greg.Trapp at state.nm.us; jxavier at dor.ca.gov; Karen.Keninger at blind.state.ia.us; Katy.Morris at arkansas.gov; lgrupen at dhs.hawaii.gov; Linda.mock at state.or.us; loudurand at dsb.wa.gov; cannonp at Michigan.gov; Pearl.vanzandt at nebraska.gov; Ray.Hopkins at dbvi.virginia.gov; rita.houston at rehab.alabama.gov; Robert.Doyle at state.de.us; sschaffer at dors.state.md.us; vito.desantis at dhs.state.nj.us; fschroeder at sks.com; Eddie.weaver at dhhs.nc.gov
Subject: [BEP State Directors] Urgent Action Required: Commercialization Amendment to S. 1813

 

Good morning NCSAB members:

 

We have learned that the plan on the surface transportation reauthorization bill is for the Senate to move S. 1813 first, and then for the House to take up the Senate bill. Senator Portman of Ohio continues to push hard for the opportunity to offer his commercialization amendment - amendment number 1742 to S. 1813 - which would threaten business opportunities for blind entrepreneurs along federal highways and have a devastating impact on Randolph-Sheppard programs across the country.

 

The Senate is poised to move quickly on S. 1813, and it is absolutely vital that all United States Senators hear from blind vendors, SLAs, and anybody who cares about the future of business opportunities for the blind as soon as possible. Please call your Senators today to register your concerns with Portman amendment 1742 to S. 1813, and pass this message along to your elected committees and consumer organizations so that they can do the same. Again, we are working in a very tight timeframe, so contacts will be most effective if made today.

 

You can reach your Senators' offices by calling the Capitol switchboard at (202) 225-3121.

 

Thank you for your continued efforts to preserve business opportunities for blind entrepreneurs!

 

Take care,

 

Sean

 

Sean Whalen

Policy Associate

Linchpin Strategies, LLC

 

639 Massachusetts Ave NE

Washington, DC 20002

Phone:  (866) 443-0998

Fax:       (202) 318-8113