[Arizona-students] Legislative Alert: Cosponsors Needed for Braille Coin Legislation

[David Andrews]

>From: McCarthy, Jim <mailto:JMcCarthy at NFB.ORG>
>To: undisclosed-recipients:
>Sent: Wednesday, July 13, 2005 5:21 PM
>Subject: Legislative Alert: Cosponsors Needed for Braille Coin
>Legislation
>
>Fellow Federationists:
>
>
>
>             This is a critical time to get cosponsors for H.R. 2872, the
>Louis Braille Bicentennial--Braille Literacy Commemorative Coin Act,
>presently in the House of Representatives.  Recall that we need two
>thirds of House members or 290 cosponsors in order to pass this
>legislation.  So far, several of you worked with Mr. Chad Allen, but he
>is returning to California on Saturday after a job well done.
>Therefore, Mr. Hartle (who helped Mr. Allen) and I are the contacts on
>this initiative, especially Mr. Hartle.
>
>
>
>Steady progress is being made, but we must quicken the pace in order to
>meet our goal of House passage before the end of the present session.
>At this time, there are approximately 50 cosponsors--less than 20% of
>the total support we need.  The proposed date for the end of the session
>is September 30, and although I doubt it will end that soon, I would not
>be surprised if the session ends by the middle of October.  Once the
>spending bills are passed, there is little reason for Congress to remain
>in Washington.
>
>
>
>             Everyone of us must reach out to members of Congress and
>urge them to sign on to this critical legislation.  Congress will be in
>Washington for the month of July, and you should contact the offices of
>your representatives to get them to join as cosponsors.  To reach the
>Capitol switchboard, call (202) 225-3121 and ask for the office of your
>representative.  For the entire month of August, members of Congress
>will be away from Washington either in their districts or doing other
>activities.  Today is a great time for making appointments to meet your
>representatives in their districts during August.  You should do so as
>promptly as possible because their calendars will fill quickly.  You
>should also see this effort as a relationship-building opportunity
>because as your representatives get to know you personally from efforts
>like this one, they are more likely to support other activities of our
>organization.
>
>
>
>             Let us shoot for 100 percent of the representatives from
>each affiliate as cosponsors.  I know that Delaware and Wyoming have a
>much easier time meeting this goal than California, New York, or Texas,
>but we need a means of measure for our friendly competition.  Below, I
>will provide you a list of the states with the number of representatives
>that have signed on so that you can gage your progress.  Only
>twenty-four of the fifty states are represented right now, and this must
>improve quickly.  This list shows that some states are doing well, but
>that others of you must ramp up your collective energy in a significant
>way to achieve our goal.
>
>
>
>             Our Braille coin legislation is extremely important.  It
>will provide a great opportunity to promote Braille reading and to make
>the public aware of our need for more Braille.  Proceeds from the sale
>of coins will support a campaign to improve literacy for the blind.  As
>we in the Federation understand, literacy for the blind means the
>ability to read and write Braille.  When determining the success of a
>nation or group of individuals, the literacy rate is a commonly cited
>indicator.  The higher the percentage, the more successful the group.
>To achieve the first class citizenship we demand will therefore require
>us to improve our number of persons who can read and write Braille, and
>enacting this legislation is a vital part of our effort.
>
>
>
>             Let us use the positive energy generated by our wonderfully
>motivational convention last week to propel this effort forward.  Make
>your calls to the offices and meet the members when they come home for
>the month of August.  We have a lot of work in front of us, but
>Federationists do not shy away from work.  I expect to achieve our goal
>of 290 cosponsors.  Together we will make this happen.  Thank you all
>for your hard work!
>
>
>
>State Cosponsor Totals
>
>Ohio 7
>
>Maryland 4
>
>Minnesota 4
>
>Texas 3
>
>California 2
>
>Florida 2
>
>Georgia 2
>
>Iowa 2
>
>New York 2
>
>Pennsylvania 2
>
>Arizona 1
>
>Delaware 1 (100% of membership in house)
>
>Illinois 1
>
>Indiana 1
>
>Louisiana 1
>
>Maine 1
>
>Massachusetts 1
>
>Michigan 1
>
>Missouri 1
>
>New Jersey 1
>
>North Carolina 1
>
>South Carolina 1
>
>Tennessee 1
>
>Washington 1
>
>Virgin Islands 1 (100% of members in House)
>
>Total number of cosponsors 45
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