[Art_beyond_sight_learning_tools] Action Needed to Save Vocational
Rehabilitation
David Andrews
dandrews at visi.com
Mon Feb 14 09:47:16 CST 2005
This is the greatest challenge
to the Vocational Rehabilitation program to occur since the CAREERS bill of
the mid 1990s' and we need to be very active with our response. Thank you
so much for sharing this with our lists.
Jim McCarthy
-----Original Message-----
Immediate Action Needed To Save Vocational
Rehabilitation
Fellow Federationists,
H.R. 27, the bill to reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act comes before
the House Committee on Education and the Workforce on February 16.
Indications are that this legislation will include a provision allowing
governors to seek permission to consolidate several employment and training
programs including the Vocational Rehabilitation program. Every one of us
must express opposition to this provision because its passage likely means
the end of separate and identifiable services for the blind in those states
that choose this option.
We all know there are significant costs necessary for good training prior to
employment. We all know the rehabilitation program including funding and
services must remain separate from other programs in order to preserve
accountability for the spending of those funds. The blind are a low
incidence disability and would suffer in the fierce competition for services
and funds expected under consolidation.
So what shall we do? Each of you with members from your state on the House
Committee on Education and the Workforce must call your Washington office
and urge your representatives to exclude the Vocational Rehabilitation
program from any consolidation plan. At this time, I do not have an
amendment sponsor, but I continue to aggressively pursue leads to find a
Republican committee member who will introduce an amendment. Let me know
immediately if you have a lead for me. An announcement will be promptly
posted when someone is found.
This provision is among the most serious threats ever faced by the
Vocational Rehabilitation program. While many of us have our share of bad
rehabilitation experiences, we are much better off with the program we have
than the one that would result if this provision becomes law. We have much
educating to do. Please spread the word widely seeking calls from all who
can do so. This threat to rehabilitation services is real and it demands
our very best efforts if we hope to prevail. I trust that we will. Below
you will find a list of members of the House Education and the Workforce
Committee with phone number included. For states without members, contact
either the office of John Boehner or the office of Buck McKeon to show your
concern about this provision.
James McCarthy
Director of Governmental Affairs
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
1800 Johnson Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21230
(410) 659-9314, ext. 2240
jmccarthy at nfb.org
COMMITTEE MEMBERS: House Committee on Education and the
Workforce
MEMBER
PHONE FAX
Rep. John A. Boehner (R-OH) (Chair) 202-225-6205
202-225-0704
Rep. Thomas E. Petri (R-WI) (Vice Chair) 202-225-2476
202-225-2356
Rep. George Miller (D-CA) (Ranking Minority Member) 202-225-2095
202-225-5609
Rep. Howard P. McKeon (R-CA) 202-225-1956
202-226-0683
Rep. Michael N. Castle
(R-DE) 202-225-4165 202-225-2291
Rep. Sam Johnson
(R-TX) 202-225-4201 202-225-1485
Rep. Charlie Norwood
(R-GA) 202-225-4101 202-225-0279
Rep. Vernon J. Ehlers (R-MI) 202-225-3831
202-225-5144
Rep. Judy Biggert
(R-IL) 202-225-3515 202-225-9420
Rep. Todd Platts
(R-PA) 202-225-5836 202-226-1000
Rep. Pat Tiberi
(R-OH) 202-225-5355 202-226-4527
Rep. Richard Anthony Keller (R-FL) 202-225-2176
202-225-0999
Rep. Tom Osborne
(R-NE) 202-225-6435 202-226-1385
Rep. Joe Wilson
(R-SC) 202-225-2452 202-225-2455
Rep. Jon Porter
(R-NV) 202-225-3252 202-225-2185
Rep. John Kline
(R-MN) 202-225-2271 202-225-2595
Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO) 202-225-4676
202-225-5870
Rep. Bob Inglis
(R-SC) 202-225-6030 202-225-1177
Rep. Cathy McMorris
(R-WA) 202-225-2006 202-225-3392
Rep. Kenny Marchant
(R-TX) 202-225-6605 202-225-0074
Rep. Tom Price
(R-GA) 202-225-4501 202-225-4656
Luis Fortuno
(R-PR) 202-225-2615 202-225-2154
Rep. Bobby Jindal
(R-LA) 202-225-3015 202-225-3015
Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA) 202-225-2031
202-225-5724
Rep. Virginia Foxx
(R-NC) 202-225-2071 202-225-2995
Rep. Thelma Drake
(R-VA) 202-225-4215 202-225-4218
Rep. John (Randy) Kuhl
(R-NY) 202-225-3161 202-226-6599
Rep. Mark Edward Souder
(R-IN) 202-225-4436 202-225-3479
Rep. Dale E. Kildee
(D-MI) 202-225-3611 202-225-6393
Rep. Major R. Owens
(D-NY) 202-225-6231 202-226-0112
Rep. Donald M. Payne (D-NJ) 202-225-3436
202-225-4160
Rep. Robert E. Andrews
(D-NJ) 202-225-6501 202-225-6583
Rep. Bobby C. Scott
(D-VA) 202-225-8351 202-225-8354
Rep. Lynn C. Woolsey (D-CA) 202-225-5161
202-225-5163
Rep. Ruben Hinojosa
(D-TX) 202-225-2531 202-225-5688
Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) 202-225-5516
202-225-5758
Rep. John Tierney
(D-MA) 202-225-8020 202-225-5915
Rep. Ron Kind
(D-WI) 202-225-5506 202-225-5739
Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich
(D-OH) 202-225-5871 202-225-5745
Rep. Rush Holt
(D-NJ) 202-225-5801 202-225-6025
Rep. David Wu
(D-OR) 202-225-0855 202-225-9497
Rep. Susan Davis
(D-CA) 202-225-2040 202-225-2948
Rep. Betty McCollum
(D-MN) 202-225-6631 202-225-1968
Rep. Danny Davis
(D-IL) 202-225-5006 202-225-5641
Rep. Raul Grijalva
(D-AZ) 202-225-2435 202-225-1541
Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) 202-225-5341
202-225-0375
Rep. Timothy J. Ryan (D-OH) 202-225-5261
202-225-3719
Rep. Timothy Bishop
(D-NY) 202-225-3826 202-225-3143
Rep. John Barrow
(D-GA) 202-225-2823 202-225-3377
Wanda Briggs
Assistant to the Director of Governmental Affairs
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
1800 Johnson Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21230
(410) 659-9314, ext. 2238
wbriggs at nfb.org
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