[Nfbnet-members-list] Legislative Update - December 19, 2017

[Pare, John]

Dear Fellow Federationists:

The House of Representatives passed the 
conferenced version of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act 
this afternoon. The Senate is expected to pass it 
this evening. President Trump is expected to sign 
it into law by the end of the week.

The good news is the additional standard 
deduction for the blind was included in the bill. 
This means that a blind person filing single or 
head of household will get an additional $1,550 
deduction. A blind person filing married will get 
an additional $1,250 deduction, and two blind 
spouses filing jointly will get an additional $2,500 deduction.

This provision would not have been preserved if 
it had not been for your advocacy. Thanks to 
everyone for sending emails and making phone calls.

While we had hoped the Access Technology 
Affordability Act would be merged into the Tax 
Cuts and Jobs Act, our bill sponsors are still 
fully committed to passage of our legislation. We 
need to continue to build cosponsors on the House 
and Senate bills (H.R. 1734 and S. 732).

As far as the impact the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act 
will have on the federal deficit, there is still 
great concern. Some analysts predict an 
additional $1.5 trillion of federal debt, while 
others believe that increased economic activity 
will offset any additional debt. Our concern is 
that increased federal debt could lead to 
automatic spending cuts mandated by the Budget 
Control Act of 2011. We will need to keep a close 
watch and be ready to advocate against any cuts 
to vocational rehabilitation, IDEA, Medicaid, Medicare, or SSDI.

For those attending Washington Seminar, please 
remember we are only fourteen days away from the 
deadline to make hotel reservations at the 
Holiday Inn Capitol. That means that we are only 
forty-one days away from the Great Gathering-In 
and the official start of the 2018 Washington 
Seminar. You can make your reservations online by 
visiting the 
<http://ichotelsgroup.com/redirect?path=rates&brandCode=HI&regionCode=1&localeCode=en&GPC=FB8&hotelCode=WASSM&_PMID=99801505>Holiday 
Inn Capitol’s reservations portal which will 
already include our group code, or by calling the 
Holiday Inn Capitol directly. The telephone 
number to call is 1 877-572-6951, and the booking 
code to reference is FB8. The 2018 room rate is 
$192.00 per night. This rate does not include DC 
sales tax, currently 14.8%. The last day to make 
your room reservations is Tuesday, January 2, 
2018, so please make your reservations as soon as possible.

More information regarding our 2018 legislative 
priorities, fact sheets, and FAQs is forthcoming. 
Please don't hesitate to let us know if you have any questions.

Warm regards,
John

John G. Paré Jr.
Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy
200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
(410) 659-9314, extension 2218 | <mailto:jpare at nfb.org>jpare at nfb.org


<https://nfb.org/>
National Federation of the Blind


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The National Federation of the Blind is a 
community of members and friends who believe in 
the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every 
day we work together to help blind people live the lives they want.



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