[Nfbnet-members-list] Legislative Alert - May 17, 2021
Pare, John
JPare at nfb.org
Mon May 17 19:24:36 UTC 2021
Dear Federation Family:
The National Federation of the Blind has been working with Senator John Thune on an amendment to the Endless Frontier Act. This amendment relates to fully automated vehicles and contains two provisions that would benefit blind people.
The first provision would create an exemption classification for manufacturers who "provide transportation access for individuals with disabilities (as defined in section 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12102)), including non-visual access for individuals who are blind or visually impaired," as long as the vehicle was equivalently safe to a non-exempt vehicle. The second would prohibit a state from issuing a "motor vehicle operator's license for the operation or use of a highly automated vehicle in a manner that discriminates on the basis of disability."
Despite support from both automobile manufacturers and disability advocates, Senator Thune reluctantly withdrew his amendment on May 12 due to a lack of support from other senators on the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee over safety and liability concerns. President Riccobono wrote a letter to Chair Cantwell and Ranking Member Wicker<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements/letter-chair-cantwell-thune-amendment-endless-frontier-act> regarding this topic expressing our support and endorsement of the Thune amendment on May 11.
The Endless Frontier Act has been moved to the Senate floor for debate this week and Senator Thune plans to bring his amendment forward for a full Senate vote.
Please contact your senators and ask them to support this important amendment. When you call or email your senators, you might say something like:
"Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME], and I am a constituent of [SENATOR NAME]. I live in [CITY, STATE]. I would like to urge [SENATOR NAME] to support Senator Thune's automated vehicles amendment to the Endless Frontier Act. The amendment contains two provisions that would benefit blind people. The first would create an exemption classification for manufacturers who provide transportation access for individuals with disabilities as long as the vehicle was equivalently safe to a non-exempt vehicle. The second would prohibit a state from issuing an operator's license for the use of a highly automated vehicle in a manner that discriminates on the basis of disability. Together, these two amendments will ensure that blind Americans are able to reap the rewards of highly automated vehicles.
Thanks."
You can contact your senators by calling the Capitol Switchboard and asking for the office in question. The number is 202-224-3121. If you email your senators, please copy Jeff Kaloc at jkaloc at nfb.org<mailto:jkaloc at nfb.org>. Your calls and emails do make a difference.
Pasted below are the 87 Senate offices (listed alphabetically by state) that have a specific staff member dedicated to transportation. If your senator is not listed, please email Jesa Medders at jmedders at nfb.org<mailto:jmedders at nfb.org> and she will research another appropriate staff member to contact.
Scott Leathard Sen. Daniel Sullivan AK scott_leathard at sullivan.senate.gov<mailto:scott_leathard at sullivan.senate.gov>
Anne McInerney Sen. Lisa Murkowski AK anne_mcinerney at murkowski.senate.gov<mailto:anne_mcinerney at murkowski.senate.gov>
Mike Albares Sen. Thomas Hawley Tuberville AL michael_albares at tuberville.senate.gov<mailto:michael_albares at tuberville.senate.gov>
Brennan Johnson Sen. Richard Shelby AL brennan_johnson at shelby.senate.gov<mailto:brennan_johnson at shelby.senate.gov>
Joe Brown Sen. John Boozman AR joe_brown at boozman.senate.gov<mailto:joe_brown at boozman.senate.gov>
Vu Ritchie Sen. Thomas Cotton AR vu_ritchie at cotton.senate.gov<mailto:vu_ritchie at cotton.senate.gov>
Joe Russell Sen. Mark Kelly AZ joe_russell at kelly.senate.gov<mailto:joe_russell at kelly.senate.gov>
Daniel Winkler Sen. Kyrsten Sinema AZ daniel_winkler at sinema.senate.gov<mailto:daniel_winkler at sinema.senate.gov>
Zac Commins Sen. Alejandro Padilla CA zac_commins at padilla.senate.gov<mailto:zac_commins at padilla.senate.gov>
Rishi Sahgal Sen. Dianne Feinstein CA rishi_sahgal at feinstein.senate.gov<mailto:rishi_sahgal at feinstein.senate.gov>
Grishma Pradhan Sen. Michael Bennet CO grishma_pradhan at bennet.senate.gov<mailto:grishma_pradhan at bennet.senate.gov>
Edgar Rivas Sen. John Hickenlooper CO edgar_rivas at hickenlooper.senate.gov<mailto:edgar_rivas at hickenlooper.senate.gov>
Emma Cimino Sen. Christopher Murphy CT emma_cimino at murphy.senate.gov<mailto:emma_cimino at murphy.senate.gov>
Thomas Story Sen. Richard Blumenthal CT thomas_story at blumenthal.senate.gov<mailto:thomas_story at blumenthal.senate.gov>
David Brown Sen. Christopher Coons DE david_brown at coons.senate.gov<mailto:david_brown at coons.senate.gov>
Collin Lomagistro Sen. Richard Scott FL collin_lomagistro at rickscott.senate.gov<mailto:collin_lomagistro at rickscott.senate.gov>
Mara Stark-Alcala Sen. Raphael Warnock GA mara_stark at warnock.senate.gov<mailto:mara_stark at warnock.senate.gov>
Jed D'Ercole Sen. Mazie Hirono HI jed_dercole at hirono.senate.gov<mailto:jed_dercole at hirono.senate.gov>
Trey Reffett Sen. Brian Schatz HI trey_reffett at schatz.senate.gov<mailto:trey_reffett at schatz.senate.gov>
Sherry Kuntz Sen. Chuck Grassley IA sherry_kuntz at grassley.senate.gov<mailto:sherry_kuntz at grassley.senate.gov>
Mary Kate Munro Sen. Joni Ernst IA marykate_munro at ernst.senate.gov<mailto:marykate_munro at ernst.senate.gov>
Charles Adams Sen. James Risch ID charles_adams at risch.senate.gov<mailto:charles_adams at risch.senate.gov>
Kristen Siegele Sen. Michael Crapo ID kristen_siegele at crapo.senate.gov<mailto:kristen_siegele at crapo.senate.gov>
Mark Copeland Sen. Ladda Duckworth IL mark_copeland at duckworth.senate.gov<mailto:mark_copeland at duckworth.senate.gov>
Kevin Lefeber Sen. Richard Durbin IL kevin_lefeber at durbin.senate.gov<mailto:kevin_lefeber at durbin.senate.gov>
Dan Cheever Sen. Todd Young IN dan_cheever at young.senate.gov<mailto:dan_cheever at young.senate.gov>
Payne Griffin Sen. Mike Braun IN payne_griffin at braun.senate.gov<mailto:payne_griffin at braun.senate.gov>
Tom Bush Sen. Jerry Moran KS tom_bush at moran.senate.gov<mailto:tom_bush at moran.senate.gov>
Katie Moore Sen. Roger Marshall KS katie_moore at marshall.senate.gov<mailto:katie_moore at marshall.senate.gov>
John Maniscalco Sen. Randal Paul KY john_maniscalco at paul.senate.gov<mailto:john_maniscalco at paul.senate.gov>
Amy Nabozny Sen. Addison McConnell KY amy_nabozny at mcconnell.senate.gov<mailto:amy_nabozny at mcconnell.senate.gov>
Bubba Gesser Sen. John Kennedy LA herman_gesser at kennedy.senate.gov<mailto:herman_gesser at kennedy.senate.gov>
Owen Morgan Sen. William Cassidy LA owen_morgan at cassidy.senate.gov<mailto:owen_morgan at cassidy.senate.gov>
Bruno Freitas Sen. Elizabeth Warren MA bruno_freitas at warren.senate.gov<mailto:bruno_freitas at warren.senate.gov>
Eric Kashdan Sen. Edward Markey MA eric_kashdan at markey.senate.gov<mailto:eric_kashdan at markey.senate.gov>
Shannon Frede Sen. Benjamin Cardin MD shannon_frede at cardin.senate.gov<mailto:shannon_frede at cardin.senate.gov>
Deborah Haynie Sen. Christopher Van Hollen MD deborah_haynie at vanhollen.senate.gov<mailto:deborah_haynie at vanhollen.senate.gov>
Cameron O'Brien Sen. Susan Collins ME cameron_o'brien at collins.senate.gov
Nathan Paxton Sen. Angus King ME nathan_paxton at king.senate.gov<mailto:nathan_paxton at king.senate.gov>
Catherine Barrett Sen. Gary Peters MI catherine_barrett at peters.senate.gov<mailto:catherine_barrett at peters.senate.gov>
Lot Kwarteng Sen. Deborah Stabenow MI lot_kwarteng at stabenow.senate.gov<mailto:lot_kwarteng at stabenow.senate.gov>
Caroline Hunsicker Sen. Tina Smith MN caroline_hunsicker at smith.senate.gov<mailto:caroline_hunsicker at smith.senate.gov>
April Jones Sen. Amy Klobuchar MN april_jones at klobuchar.senate.gov<mailto:april_jones at klobuchar.senate.gov>
Andy Lock Sen. Roy Blunt MO andrew_lock at blunt.senate.gov<mailto:andrew_lock at blunt.senate.gov>
Josh MacGregor Sen. Joshua Hawley MO joshua_macgregor at hawley.senate.gov<mailto:joshua_macgregor at hawley.senate.gov>
Chloe Cantor Sen. Roger Wicker MS chloe_cantor at wicker.senate.gov<mailto:chloe_cantor at wicker.senate.gov>
Shane Waller Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith MS shane_waller at hydesmith.senate.gov<mailto:shane_waller at hydesmith.senate.gov>
Corey Sellers Sen. Steven Daines MT corey_sellers at daines.senate.gov<mailto:corey_sellers at daines.senate.gov>
Sam Lupas Sen. Thomas Tillis NC sam_lupas at tillis.senate.gov<mailto:sam_lupas at tillis.senate.gov>
John McDonald Sen. Richard Burr NC john_mcdonald at burr.senate.gov<mailto:john_mcdonald at burr.senate.gov>
Micah Chambers Sen. Kevin Cramer ND micah_chambers at cramer.senate.gov<mailto:micah_chambers at cramer.senate.gov>
Tyler Hardy Sen. John Hoeven ND tyler_hardy at hoeven.senate.gov<mailto:tyler_hardy at hoeven.senate.gov>
Katherine Duveneck Sen. Benjamin Sasse NE katherine_duveneck at sasse.senate.gov<mailto:katherine_duveneck at sasse.senate.gov>
Paul Wasik Sen. Debra Fischer NE paul_wasik at fischer.senate.gov<mailto:paul_wasik at fischer.senate.gov>
Nick Malatesta Sen. Margaret Hassan NH nicholas_malatesta at hassan.senate.gov<mailto:nicholas_malatesta at hassan.senate.gov>
Josh Sanders Sen. Robert Menendez NJ josh_sanders at menendez.senate.gov<mailto:josh_sanders at menendez.senate.gov>
Matt Thomson Sen. Cory Booker NJ matt_thomson at booker.senate.gov<mailto:matt_thomson at booker.senate.gov>
Jared Henderson Sen. Ben Ray Lujan NM jared_henderson at lujan.senate.gov<mailto:jared_henderson at lujan.senate.gov>
Dominic Saavedra Sen. Martin Heinrich NM dominic_saavedra at heinrich.senate.gov<mailto:dominic_saavedra at heinrich.senate.gov>
Alex De Bianchi Sen. Jacky Rosen NV alexandrine_debianchi at rosen.senate.gov<mailto:alexandrine_debianchi at rosen.senate.gov>
Trevor Dean Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto NV trevor_dean at cortezmasto.senate.gov<mailto:trevor_dean at cortezmasto.senate.gov>
Jessica Hernandez Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand NY jessica_hernandez at gillibrand.senate.gov<mailto:jessica_hernandez at gillibrand.senate.gov>
Leah Hill Sen. Sherrod Brown OH leah_hill at brown.senate.gov<mailto:leah_hill at brown.senate.gov>
Avery Pierson Sen. Robert Portman OH avery_pierson at portman.senate.gov<mailto:avery_pierson at portman.senate.gov>
Victor Sarmiento Sen. James Inhofe OK victor_sarmiento at inhofe.senate.gov<mailto:victor_sarmiento at inhofe.senate.gov>
Amy Vanderveer Sen. James Lankford OK amy_vanderveer at lankford.senate.gov<mailto:amy_vanderveer at lankford.senate.gov>
Richard Parker Sen. Jeffrey Merkley OR richard_parker at merkley.senate.gov<mailto:richard_parker at merkley.senate.gov>
Sara-Paige Silvestro Sen. Robert Casey PA sara-paige_silvestro at casey.senate.gov<mailto:sara-paige_silvestro at casey.senate.gov>
Steve Keenan Sen. John Reed RI steve_keenan at reed.senate.gov<mailto:steve_keenan at reed.senate.gov>
Meghan Dorn Sen. Lindsey Graham SC meghan_dorn at lgraham.senate.gov<mailto:meghan_dorn at lgraham.senate.gov>
Chance Costello Sen. John Thune SD chance_costello at thune.senate.gov<mailto:chance_costello at thune.senate.gov>
Andrew Hogin Sen. William Hagerty TN andrew_hogin at hagerty.senate.gov<mailto:andrew_hogin at hagerty.senate.gov>
Jonathan Iwaskiw Sen. Rafael Cruz TX jonathan_iwaskiw at cruz.senate.gov<mailto:jonathan_iwaskiw at cruz.senate.gov>
Jacob Smith Sen. John Cornyn TX jacob_smith at cornyn.senate.gov<mailto:jacob_smith at cornyn.senate.gov>
Alex Vargo Sen. Willard Romney UT alex_vargo at romney.senate.gov<mailto:alex_vargo at romney.senate.gov>
Joel Wellum Sen. Michael Lee UT joel_wellum at lee.senate.gov<mailto:joel_wellum at lee.senate.gov>
Stephanie Doherty Sen. Mark Warner VA stephanie_doherty at warner.senate.gov<mailto:stephanie_doherty at warner.senate.gov>
Evan McWalters Sen. Timothy Kaine VA evan_mcwalters at kaine.senate.gov<mailto:evan_mcwalters at kaine.senate.gov>
Jeff Van Oot Sen. Patrick Leahy VT jeff_van_oot at leahy.senate.gov<mailto:jeff_van_oot at leahy.senate.gov>
Zach Mallove Sen. Patricia Murray WA zach_mallove at murray.senate.gov<mailto:zach_mallove at murray.senate.gov>
David Marten Sen. Maria Cantwell WA david_marten at cantwell.senate.gov<mailto:david_marten at cantwell.senate.gov>
Annie Chestnut Sen. Ronald Johnson WI annie_chestnut at ronjohnson.senate.gov<mailto:annie_chestnut at ronjohnson.senate.gov>
Meghan Ladwig Sen. Tammy Baldwin WI meghan_ladwig at baldwin.senate.gov<mailto:meghan_ladwig at baldwin.senate.gov>
Brendan Dailey Sen. Shelley Capito WV brendan_dailey at capito.senate.gov<mailto:brendan_dailey at capito.senate.gov>
Seth Gainer Sen. Joseph Manchin WV seth_gainer at manchin.senate.gov<mailto:seth_gainer at manchin.senate.gov>
Holt Edwards Sen. Cynthia Lummis WY holt_edwards at lummis.senate.gov<mailto:holt_edwards at lummis.senate.gov>
Charles Ziegler Sen. John Barrasso WY charles_ziegler at barrasso.senate.gov<mailto:charles_ziegler at barrasso.senate.gov>
Warm regards,
John
John G. Paré Jr.
Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy
National Federation of the Blind
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