[Nfbnet-members-list] Legislative Alert - Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act - 10/7/2022

[Pare, John]

Dear Federation Family:

Since the 2021 Washington Seminar, one of our premier legislative priorities has been a website and application accessibility bill. On Wednesday, September 28, the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act (S. 4998/H.R. 9021) was introduced in both the Senate the House of Representatives. The Senate bill was introduced by Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, and the House bill was introduced by Representative John Sarbanes of Maryland. You can read more about the introduction of the bill in Senator Duckworth's official press release<https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-sarbanes-introduce-bicameral-legislation-to-help-make-websites-and-software-applications-accessible-for-americans-with-disabilities>, which contains helpful links for a section-by-section analysis of the bill<https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/22.09.27%20SxS%20-%20Websites%20and%20Software%20Applications%20Accessibility%20Act%20FINAL.pdf>, a one-pager that briefly explains the bill<https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/22.09.28%20ONE%20PAGER%20-%20Websites%20and%20Software%20Applications%20Accessibility%20Act%20-%20FINAL.pdf>, and a set of frequently asked questions<https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/22.09.29%20FAQ%20-%20Websites%20and%20Software%20Applications%20Accessibility%20Act%20FINAL.pdf>.

After nearly two full years of advocacy, we are proud to have champions like Senator Duckworth and Representative Sarbanes, but the real challenge has only just begun. Now we have to shift our focus toward building support for the legislation in order to get it through the committees, onto the floor of the Senate and the House, and ultimately passed by both Chambers to the desk of the president. This is where your advocacy, as blind constituents from every state in the Union who will benefit from the requirements of this legislation, is more important than ever. Please call and email your senators and representative and ask them to cosponsor the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act today!

When you call or email you might say something like:

"Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME], and I am a constituent of [SENATOR/REPRESENTATIVE NAME]. I live in [CITY, STATE]. I would like to urge [SENATOR/REPRESENTATIVE NAME] to cosponsor the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act, [S. 4998/H.R. 9021]. This legislation would ensure that blind and disabled Americans can have the same opportunity to independently access websites and applications as our non-disabled peers.
Thanks."

You can contact your member of Congress by calling the Capitol Switchboard and asking for the office in question. The number is 202-224-3121. We have also attached a contact list for Senate and House offices to this email. The lists are organized alphabetically by state, followed by the name of the member of Congress, then the staff member name, then the staff member contact email. If you contact your senator or representative via email, please copy Jeff Kaloc at jkaloc at nfb.org<mailto:jkaloc at nfb.org>. Your calls and emails do make a difference.

Inaccessible websites and applications are a barrier and prevent us from living the lives we want. They prevent us from getting the education, employment, and independence that we desire. This is why our advocacy for this bill is so important.

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 | Jpare at nfb.org<mailto:Jpare at nfb.org>


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