[Jobs] Fwd: National Federation of the Blind Praises Bill to

Wed Oct 17 15:26:42 CDT 2007

I have to agree with you. I have not talked to anyone yet about this issue.
Who have you talked to about this in the past. Give me a call at my office
and I would like to make a game plan to talk to my representatives.

-----Original Message-----
From: jobs-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:jobs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Angela Marciniak
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 3:14 PM
To: Jobs for the Blind
Subject: Re: [Jobs] Fwd: National Federation of the Blind Praises Bill to

I think this bill is great, but I have one question/comment. Why does this
bill only concentrate on those who have SSDI? Personally speaking from being
an SSI beneficiary, I find it frustrating that we are not including. I have
spoken with many people who would love to become self-sufficient through
employment, but cannot simply transition with so many limitations. 
I would like to hear other's opinions on this. 
Best Regards, Angela 
> Date: Tue, 16 Oct 2007 20:32:38 -0500> To: nfb-talk at nfbnet.org; 
> blindtlk at nfbnet.org; jobs at nfbnet.org; nabs-l at nfbnet.org; 
> blindlaw at nfbnet.org> From: dandrews at visi.com> Subject: [Jobs] Fwd: 
> National Federation of the Blind Praises Bill to> > > >> > >>> "Pare, 
> John" <JPare at NFB.ORG> 10/16/2007 3:31 PM >>>> >> >National Federation 
> of the Blind Praises Bill to> >> >Create Work Incentives and 
> Opportunity> >> >> >> >> >Blind Persons Earnings Fairness Act> >> >> 
> >Introduced by Congressman Lewis> >> >> >> >Washington, D.C. (October 
> 16, > >2007): Congressman John Lewis (D-GA) has > >introduced 
> legislation designed to help blind > >persons receiving Social 
> Security Disability > >Insurance (SSDI) to return to work. The Blind > 
> >Persons Earnings Fairness Act of 2007 (H.R. > >3834), which has 
> already drawn bipartisan > >support, will eliminate penalties that 
> prevent > >blind persons from reentering the workforce and > >will 
> facilitate their transition to employment.> >> >> >> >Dr. Marc Maurer, 
> President of the National > >Federation of the Blind, which has long > 
> >advocated this change in policy, said: "This > >proposal will allow 
> thousands of blind people to > >rejoin the workforce and become 
> productive, > >tax-paying citizens. Many blind people are > 
> >understandably reluctant to take entry-level > >jobs because they are 
> penalized by an immediate > >loss of SSDI benefits, and their work 
> income > >rarely compensates for that loss. This > >legislation will 
> allow blind persons to make a > >smooth transition from dependence to 
> > >opportunity. We will work with Congressman > >Lewis to ensure the 
> swift passage of this landmark legislation."> >> >> >> >Congressman 
> Lewis said: "Americans who are blind > >deserve the same opportunities 
> as all other > >Americans. Their blindness does not prevent > >them 
> from making valuable contributions to our > >society, as evidenced by 
> the many successful > >blind people I have personally met over the > 
> >years. The gifts and opportunities of these > >citizens should not be 
> hindered by policies that > >discourage them from entering the > 
> >workforce. That is why I am proud to stand with > >my blind brothers 
> and sisters and introduce this much-needed legislation."> >> >> >> 
> >The legislation will increase the amount of > >monthly income that a 
> blind person can earn > >while still receiving SSDI benefits. The > 
> >earnings limit will gradually rise from its > >current level of 
> $1,500 per month to $2,850 per > >month in 2011. In 2012, the earnings 
> limit for > >blind people will be tied to that applicable to > >senior 
> citizens in the year they attain full retirement age.> >> >> >> >John 
> G. Paré Jr.> >Executive Director for Strategic Initiatives> >NATIONAL 
> FEDERATION OF THE BLIND> >1800 Johnson Street> >Baltimore, Maryland 
> 21230> >Telephone: (410) 659-9314, ext. 2227> >Cell phone: (410) 
> 913-3912> >Fax: (410) 685-5653> >Email: jpare at nfb.org> > 
> _______________________________________________> Jobs mailing list> 
> Jobs at nfbnet.org> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/jobs
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