[Nfbnet-members-list] Legislative Alert

Tue Sep 5 23:19:01 UTC 2017

Dear Fellow Federationists:
After thirteen years of legislative and 
regulatory advocacy, as of Tuesday, September 5, 
2017, the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act and 
the associated regulations are now final. This is 
a tremendous accomplishment for all of us, and is 
a demonstration of our collective passion, 
tenacity, and determination. These regulations 
will help us live the safe and independent lives we want.

Having said that, Congress is back in session 
with the House scheduled for twelve legislative 
days in September, and the Senate scheduled for seventeen.

Our first call to action relates to the ADA 
Education and Reform Act. The House Judiciary 
Committee plans to vote on this bill (referred to 
as a markup) on Thursday, September 7. Please 
call Chairman Goodlatte and urge him to postpone 
this vote until the appropriate research can be 
done and a better solution proposed. For more 
information, read 
<https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/pdf/goodlatte_hr620_06142017.pdf>President 
Riccobono's letter to Chairman Goodlatte. 
Chairman Goodlatte can be reached at (202) 
225-5431. As written, this bill will 
significantly undermine our rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Our next most critical issue is the Access 
Technology Affordability Act (ATAA) (H.R. 1734/S. 
732). Both the President and Congress are putting 
substantial focus on tax reform, thereby 
increasing the likelihood that the ATAA has the 
potential to be included in any such overall tax 
reform. The best way for us to increase this 
potential is by building cosponsor support for 
both the House and Senate bills. As a result, 
please contact your representative and your two 
senators to urge them to cosponsor H.R. 1734 in 
the House and S. 732 in the Senate. We will be 
updating you on AIM HIGH, the Marrakesh Treaty, 
the TIME Act, Space Available, and the Self-Drive 
Act in subsequent legislative alerts.

A short summary of each bill is included below. I 
have also included a list of all the current 
cosponsors. The best way to contact your member 
of Congress is to call the Capitol Switchboard at 
(202) 224-3121 and ask for the office in 
question. Emailing your member of Congress is 
also a good idea. If you do so, please copy 
<mailto:JPare at nfb.org>JPare at nfb.org.

Thanks for all you do!

Warm regards,

John

John ParÃ©
(410) 659-9314 x 2218
National Federation of the Blind

Bill Summaries

Accessible Instructional Material in Higher Education Act, H.R. 1772 (AIM HIGH)
This bill will promote instructional technology 
and content that are accessible to the blind and 
other students with print disabilities. 
<https://nfb.org/aimhighfactsheet>Read the AIM HIGH fact sheet to learn more.

Access Technology Affordability Act of 2017, H.R. 1734 and S. 732 (ATAA)
These bills will facilitate the purchase of 
access technology for blind people by creating a 
refundable, per person tax credit. 
<https://nfb.org/access-technology-affordability-act>Read 
the Access Technology Affordability Act of 2017 fact sheet to learn more.

Transitioning to Integrated and Meaningful 
Employment Act of 2017, H.R. 1377 (TIME)
This bill will increase employment opportunities 
by removing stigmas and low expectations 
propagated by section 14(c) of the Fair Labor 
Standards Act. Note that the bill now phases out 
subminimum wages over a six year period 
corresponding to the recommendation of the 
National Council on Disability. 
<https://nfb.org/timefactsheet>Read the TIME Act fact sheet to learn more.

Current Cosponsors

Accessible Instructional Material in Higher 
Education Act, H.R. 1772 (AIM HIGH) Current Cosponsors
Rep. Roe, David P. [R-TN-1] - Sponsor
Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large]
Rep. Davis, Susan A. [D-CA-53]
Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-3]
Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-41]
Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2]
Rep. Lawson, Al, Jr. [D-FL-5]
Rep. Murphy, Stephanie N. [D-FL-7]
Rep. Ross, Dennis A. [R-FL-15]
Rep. Gabbard, Tulsi [D-HI-2]
Rep. Hanabusa, Colleen [D-HI-1]
Rep. Young, David [R-IA-3]
Rep. Kinzinger, Adam [R-IL-16]
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
Rep. Brooks, Susan W. [R-IN-5]
Rep. Visclosky, Peter J. [D-IN-1]
Rep. Yarmuth, John A. [D-KY-3]
Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
Rep. Nolan, Richard M. [D-MN-8]
Rep. Kildee, Daniel T. [D-MI-5]
Rep. Harper, Gregg [R-MS-3]
Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]
Rep. Lujan Grisham, Michelle [D-NM-1]
Rep. Amodei, Mark E. [R-NV-2]
Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21]
Rep. Price, David E. [D-NC-4]
Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7]
Rep. Ryan, Tim [D-OH-13]
Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-5]
Rep. Gonzalez-Colon, Jenniffer [R-PR-At Large]
Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1]
Rep. Green, Gene [D-TX-29]
Rep. Johnson, Eddie Bernice [D-TX-30]
Rep. Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [R-WI-5]

Access Technology Affordability Act of 2017, H.R. 
1734 and S. 732 (ATAA) Current Cosponsors
Rep. Young, David [R-IA-3] - Sponsor
Rep. Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D-CA-40]
Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]
Rep. Demings, Val Butler [D-FL-10]
Rep. Lawson, Al, Jr. [D-FL-5]
Rep. Hanabusa, Colleen [D-HI-1]
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
Rep. Ryan, Tim [D-OH-13]
Rep. Smucker, Lloyd [R-PA-16]
Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1]

Transitioning to Integrated and Meaningful 
Employment Act of 2017, H.R. 1377 (TIME) Current Cosponsors
Rep. Harper, Gregg [R-MS-3] – Sponsor
Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-42]
Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-15]
Rep. Murphy, Stephanie N. [D-FL-7]
Rep. Young, David [R-IA-3]
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]
Rep. Lujan Grisham, Michelle [D-NM-1]
Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9]
Rep. Gonzalez-Colon, Jenniffer [R-PR-At Large]
Rep. Rice, Tom [R-SC-7]
Rep. Johnson, Eddie Bernice [D-TX-30]
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