[Iabs-talk] Legislative Alert: Social Security

[AZNOR99 at aol.com]

Dear All,
 
Please find a message from Jim McCarthy from the National Federation of the  
Blind below concerning legislation on Social Security for the Blind.   
Illinois has two Representatives on the Ways and Means committee.  They are  Rep. 
Rahm Emanual and Rep. Jerry Weller.  You can contact them through the  Hill 
Switchboard at 202-225-3121
 
We need as many contacts as possible to get this bill through  Committee.  
Therefore, it is critical that we contact these Representatives  to tell them we 
want them to support the Blind Persons Earnings Fairness  Act.
 
Regards,
Ronza Othman
 
Fellow Federationists:
Congress is about to begin a two-week  Thanksgiving recess with Friday, 
November 16th,
probably their last day in  Washington.
Therefore, it is critical that we reach out to members of the  House of 
Representatives
urging them to sign on to H.R. 3834, the Blind  Persons Earnings Fairness Act 
of 2007.
I must regretfully inform you that so  far we are not doing well getting 
sponsors
for this vital  legislation.
However, I have absolute faith that we can grow the snowball of  sponsors 
that we
so crucially need to pass this legislation to empower blind  Social Security 
beneficiaries.
To do this will take all of our combined  commitment.
Time is running out on the First Session of Congress, but we  still have the 
Second
Session to succeed in passing this bill.
I challenge  us to get 60 cosponsors on this bill before the First Session 
ends, with
at  least 20 coming from the House Ways and Means Committee, which is the  
committee
that considers this bill.
To meet this challenge we have much  work ahead, but I know that members of 
the National
Federation of the Blind  do not avoid hard work!
Passage of the Blind Persons Earnings Fairness Act  will insure that work is 
a profitable
endeavor for blind men and  women.
Once the terms of the bill are fully realized five years after  passage, a 
blind person
will be able to earn approximately $40,000 before  losing Social Security 
Disability
benefits.
With earnings greater than  $40,000, it becomes much more possible to meet 
family
expenses without  financial support from Social Security benefits.
The reasons that the  unemployment rates are so high for blind people are 
numerous
and complex, but  perhaps the most important reason is that for too many 
blind people
work does  not pay.
The result is that far too many blind people are trapped by poverty  and are 
denied
the many social benefits that work would provide.
To  achieve the equality Federationists know is our right, blind people need 
to  go
to work and the barriers erected by this system must be torn  down.
Passage of this legislation would be a major step toward those  objectives so 
we must
dedicate ourselves to making it happen!
Below, you  will first see the list of all representatives on the House Ways 
and  Means
Committee.
The next list is the subcommittee on Social Security of  the Ways and Means 
Committee.
Therefore, those on the Social Security  Subcommittee will be listed twice.
Make an extra effort for anyone on these  lists, but do not forget our 
congressional
friends either.
We need to  begin the snowball rolling like we did for the coin.
Everyone loves a winner  and if you all meet my challenge, they will begin to 
see
that we have  one.
I realize that recently we have kept you busy with the higher education  
issue and
your work on that was certainly pride-worthy.
No one believes,  though, that there is anything wrong with a little activity.
Let us once  again prove to all that we are the organization that gets things 
done.
After  all, no one does that better than we do.
Please give the commitment that I  have come to expect from you and together 
we will
succeed once  again.
James McCarthy
Government Programs Specialist
national  federation of the blind
Committee on Ways and Means:
Majority  Democrats
Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D NY–15), Chair
Rep. Pete Stark (D  CA–13)
Rep. Sander M. Levin (D MI–12)
Rep. Jim McDermott (D WA–7)
Rep.  John Lewis (D GA–5)
Rep. Richard E. Neal (D MA–2)
Rep. Michael R. McNulty  (D NY–21)
Rep. John S. Tanner (D TN–8)
Rep. Xavier Becerra (D  CA–31)
Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D TX–25)
Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D ND–At  Large)
Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D OH–11)
Rep. Mike Thompson (D  CA–1)
Rep. John B. Larson (D CT–1)
Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D IL–5)
Rep. Earl  Blumenauer (D OR–3)
Rep. Ron Kind (D WI–3)
Rep. William J. Pascrell Jr. (D  NJ–8)
Rep. Shelley Berkley (D NV–1)
Rep. Joseph Crowley (D NY–7)
Rep.  Chris Van Hollen (D MD–8)
Rep. Kendrick B. Meek (D FL–17)
Rep. Allyson Y.  Schwartz (D PA–13)
Rep. Artur Davis (D AL–7)
Minority Republicans
Rep.  Jim McCrery (R LA–4)
Rep. Wally Herger (R CA–2)
Rep. Dave Camp (R  MI–4)
Rep. Jim Ramstad (R MN–3)
Rep. Sam Johnson (R TX–3)
Rep. Phil  English (R PA–3)
Rep. Jerry Weller (R IL–11)
Rep. Kenny Hulshof (R  MO–9)
Rep. Ron Lewis (R KY–2)
Rep. Kevin Brady (R TX–8)
Rep. Thomas M.  Reynolds (R NY–26)
Rep. Paul D. Ryan (R WI–1)
Rep. Eric Cantor (R  VA–7)
Rep. John Linder (R GA–7)
Rep. Devin Nunes (R CA–21)
Rep. Patrick  J. Tiberi (R OH–12)
Rep. Jon Porter (R NV–3)
Social Security  Subcommittee:
Majority Democrats
Rep. Michael R. McNulty (D NY–21),  Chair
Rep. Sander M. Levin (D MI–12)
Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D ND–At  Large)
Rep. Allyson Y. Schwartz (D PA–13)
Rep. Artur Davis (D  AL–7)
Rep. Xavier Becerra (D CA–31)
Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D TX–25)
Rep.  Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D OH–11)
Minority Republicans
Rep. Sam Johnson (R  TX–3)
Rep. Ron Lewis (R KY–2)
Rep. Kevin Brady (R TX–8)
Rep. Paul D.  Ryan (R WI–1)
Rep. Devin Nunes (R  CA–21)
(





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Dear All,
 
Please find a message from Jim McCarthy from the National Federation of the Blind below concerning legislation on Social Security for the Blind.  Illinois has two Representatives on the Ways and Means committee.  They are Rep. Rahm Emanual and Rep. Jerry Weller.  You can contact them through the Hill Switchboard at 202-225-3121
 
We need as many contacts as possible to get this bill through Committee.  Therefore, it is critical that we contact these Representatives to tell them we want them to support the Blind Persons Earnings Fairness Act.
 
Regards,
Ronza Othman
 
Fellow Federationists:
Congress is about to begin a two-week Thanksgiving recess with Friday, November 16th,
probably their last day in Washington.
Therefore, it is critical that we reach out to members of the House of Representatives
urging them to sign on to H.R. 3834, the Blind Persons Earnings Fairness Act of 2007.
I must regretfully inform you that so far we are not doing well getting sponsors
for this vital legislation.
However, I have absolute faith that we can grow the snowball of sponsors that we
so crucially need to pass this legislation to empower blind Social Security beneficiaries.
To do this will take all of our combined commitment.
Time is running out on the First Session of Congress, but we still have the Second
Session to succeed in passing this bill.
I challenge us to get 60 cosponsors on this bill before the First Session ends, with
at least 20 coming from the House Ways and Means Committee, which is the committee
that considers this bill.
To meet this challenge we have much work ahead, but I know that members of the National
Federation of the Blind do not avoid hard work!
Passage of the Blind Persons Earnings Fairness Act will insure that work is a profitable
endeavor for blind men and women.
Once the terms of the bill are fully realized five years after passage, a blind person
will be able to earn approximately $40,000 before losing Social Security Disability
benefits.
With earnings greater than $40,000, it becomes much more possible to meet family
expenses without financial support from Social Security benefits.
The reasons that the unemployment rates are so high for blind people are numerous
and complex, but perhaps the most important reason is that for too many blind people
work does not pay.
The result is that far too many blind people are trapped by poverty and are denied
the many social benefits that work would provide.
To achieve the equality Federationists know is our right, blind people need to go
to work and the barriers erected by this system must be torn down.
Passage of this legislation would be a major step toward those objectives so we must
dedicate ourselves to making it happen!
Below, you will first see the list of all representatives on the House Ways and Means
Committee.
The next list is the subcommittee on Social Security of the Ways and Means Committee.
Therefore, those on the Social Security Subcommittee will be listed twice.
Make an extra effort for anyone on these lists, but do not forget our congressional
friends either.
We need to begin the snowball rolling like we did for the coin.
Everyone loves a winner and if you all meet my challenge, they will begin to see
that we have one.
I realize that recently we have kept you busy with the higher education issue and
your work on that was certainly pride-worthy.
No one believes, though, that there is anything wrong with a little activity.
Let us once again prove to all that we are the organization that gets things done.
After all, no one does that better than we do.
Please give the commitment that I have come to expect from you and together we will
succeed once again.
James McCarthy
Government Programs Specialist
national federation of the blind
Committee on Ways and Means:
Majority Democrats
Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D NY–15), Chair
Rep. Pete Stark (D CA–13)
Rep. Sander M. Levin (D MI–12)
Rep. Jim McDermott (D WA–7)
Rep. John Lewis (D GA–5)
Rep. Richard E. Neal (D MA–2)
Rep. Michael R. McNulty (D NY–21)
Rep. John S. Tanner (D TN–8)
Rep. Xavier Becerra (D CA–31)
Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D TX–25)
Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D ND–At Large)
Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D OH–11)
Rep. Mike Thompson (D CA–1)
Rep. John B. Larson (D CT–1)
Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D IL–5)
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D OR–3)
Rep. Ron Kind (D WI–3)
Rep. William J. Pascrell Jr. (D NJ–8)
Rep. Shelley Berkley (D NV–1)
Rep. Joseph Crowley (D NY–7)
Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D MD–8)
Rep. Kendrick B. Meek (D FL–17)
Rep. Allyson Y. Schwartz (D PA–13)
Rep. Artur Davis (D AL–7)
Minority Republicans
Rep. Jim McCrery (R LA–4)
Rep. Wally Herger (R CA–2)
Rep. Dave Camp (R MI–4)
Rep. Jim Ramstad (R MN–3)
Rep. Sam Johnson (R TX–3)
Rep. Phil English (R PA–3)
Rep. Jerry Weller (R IL–11)
Rep. Kenny Hulshof (R MO–9)
Rep. Ron Lewis (R KY–2)
Rep. Kevin Brady (R TX–8)
Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds (R NY–26)
Rep. Paul D. Ryan (R WI–1)
Rep. Eric Cantor (R VA–7)
Rep. John Linder (R GA–7)
Rep. Devin Nunes (R CA–21)
Rep. Patrick J. Tiberi (R OH–12)
Rep. Jon Porter (R NV–3)
Social Security Subcommittee:
Majority Democrats
Rep. Michael R. McNulty (D NY–21), Chair
Rep. Sander M. Levin (D MI–12)
Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D ND–At Large)
Rep. Allyson Y. Schwartz (D PA–13)
Rep. Artur Davis (D AL–7)
Rep. Xavier Becerra (D CA–31)
Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D TX–25)
Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D OH–11)
Minority Republicans
Rep. Sam Johnson (R TX–3)
Rep. Ron Lewis (R KY–2)
Rep. Kevin Brady (R TX–8)
Rep. Paul D. Ryan (R WI–1)
Rep. Devin Nunes (R CA–21)
(
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