[Nfbnet-members-list] FW: National Federation of the Blind of Texas Commends Congressman Thornberry for Support of Veterans with Disabilities

[Morey, Kristian]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Chris Danielsen
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
<mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org

National Federation of the Blind of Texas Commends Congressman 
Thornberry for Support of Veterans with Disabilities

Alvin, Texas (August 29, 2016): The National Federation of the Blind 
of Texas commented today on the inclusion of language that would 
allow more veterans with disabilities to participate in the Space 
Available program in the House version of the National Defense 
Authorization Act (NDAA) by Congressman Mac Thornberry, chairman of 
the House Committee on Armed Services. Currently only medically 
discharged veterans injured on or after September 23, 1996, can 
participate in the program, while those injured prior to that date 
while defending the United States cannot.

Norma Crosby, president of the National Federation of the Blind of 
Texas, said: "Blind Texans are extremely grateful to Congressman 
Thornberry for recognizing that the eligibility of veterans with 
disabilities for the Space Available program should not arbitrarily 
depend on when their disabilities were acquired and resulted in the 
end of their military service. We support the language that 
Congressman Thornberry has included in the House NDAA and urge that 
it be adopted when the House and Senate versions of the legislation 
are reconciled in conference this fall."

Shelly Alongi, of Burkburnett, Texas, said: "I'm very happy that my 
representative, Mac Thornberry, supports this long-overdue correction 
to the exclusion of some veterans with disabilities from this 
program. Benefits for those who have made sacrifices in defending our 
country should be available to all of them, regardless of when they 
made their sacrifice."

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About the National Federation of the Blind

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the 
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise 
the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create 
obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life 
you want; blindness is not what holds you back.



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