From s_prows at hotmail.com  Fri May  2 23:11:44 2025
From: s_prows at hotmail.com (Susan Prows)
Date: Fri, 2 May 2025 23:11:44 +0000
Subject: [NFBWATlk] Fwd: [Nfbnet-members-list] Urgent Need to Contact Your
 Representative
 Regarding the Access Technology Affordability Act
In-Reply-To: 
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References: 
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 <CH3PR17MB6268E9F671C20D96D6367D63A88D2@CH3PR17MB6268.namprd17.prod.outlook.com>
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Message-ID: 
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Urgent action is necessary!
Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Pare, John via NFBNet-Members-List" <nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org>
Date: May 2, 2025 at 2:54:26 PM PDT
To: nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Nfbnet-members-list] Urgent Need to Contact Your Representative Regarding the Access Technology Affordability Act
Reply-To: "Pare, John" <JPare at nfb.org>


Dear Federation Family:

The House of Representatives is working on the tax package. They hope to have it completed in the next month or two. This is a golden opportunity to get the Access Technology Affordability Act enacted into law, but we need to move fast.

As a quick reminder, the Access Technology Affordability Act would create a $2,000 refundable tax credit for use over a three-year period for the purchase of access technology. This credit would help put more access technology in the hands of blind people thereby helping us learn, work, and live the lives we want.

Mathematica, a well respected economic forecasting company, has evaluated the bill and estimate it will save the federal government $315 million over a five-year period. This cost savings is achieved by the increased number of blind people who will be working thereby lowering the number of people collecting benefits and increasing the number of people paying federal and FICA taxes.

This is a beneficial all around. We get more of the access technology we need, more blind people are able to transition to work, the federal government saves money, and we contribute to the growth of the American economy.

Rep. Mike Kelly, the chair of the Ways and Means Committee, Subcommittee on Tax, is the sponsor of our bill. Rep. Mike Thompson, who is the ranking member of the same subcommittee is the lead cosponsor. We currently have nineteen cosponsors including several members of the full Ways and Means committee.

But, the competition to get into the tax package is fierce. We are not the only group that realizes what a great opportunity this is. One of the primary ways that bills will be evaluated for inclusion in the tax package is cosponsor support. That is where all of us come into play. If your Representative has not already cosponsored the Access Technology Affordability Act, H.R. 1529, (list of cosponsors is included below) then I urge you to email or call your Representative and urge them to cosponsor the bill. If you have already done this, but they have not yet cosponsored, then I urge you to contact them again. We need all hands on deck for this effort, so even if you’ve never called your member of Congress before, this is the perfect time to make your first call or send your first email. Remember, the best advocacy is polite, persuasive, and persistent.

When you email or call your Representative, you might say something like:

“My name is (your name) and I am a constituent of Representative (Representative’s name).Please cosponsor the Access Technology Affordability Act, H.R. 1529. This bill would help put more access technology in the hands of blind Americans. It does this by creating a $2,000 refundable tax credit for blind people for the purchase of specialized access technology. As a blind person myself, I know how important access technology is. As just one example, it could enable a blind person to search for a job, apply for a job, and then keep that job. In fact, Mathematica, a well-respected economic firm, has estimated that the bill will help more blind Americans work thereby saving the federal government $315 million over a five-year period. This bill will help your constituents, help the federal government save money, and help the American economy. I would be extremely appreciative if you would consider cosponsoring this bill.”

Attached is a list of each legislative director for each Representative sorted by state. The list includes the legislative director’s name and email address. I recommend you email that person, but you could also call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for the office in question.

If you email, please copy Jesse Shirek at jshirek at nfb.org<mailto:jshirek at nfb.org>. If you have questions regarding the legislative point of contact, please email Lindsey Walsh at lwalsh at nfb.org<mailto:lwalsh at nfb.org>.

If at all possible, please send your email on or before Friday, May 9.

Working together we will be successful!

Warm regards,
John

Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21]
Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]
Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38]
Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4]
Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22]
Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43]
Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6]
Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]
Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]
Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25]
Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12]
Rep. LaHood, Darin [R-IL-16]
Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3]
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15]
Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17]
Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33]
Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]
Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1]

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

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

                         [Facebook] <http://www.facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind>     [Twitter] <https://twitter.com/NFB_Voice>     [Youtube] <https://www.youtube.com/NationsBlind>

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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From humberto_avila.it104 at outlook.com  Sat May  3 01:41:10 2025
From: humberto_avila.it104 at outlook.com (Humberto Avila)
Date: Fri, 2 May 2025 18:41:10 -0700
Subject: [NFBWATlk] Invitation to the NFBW Greater Seattle Chapter Meeting
 for May 2025
Message-ID: 
 <SA1P220MB103385B4CE1FA7EE23FE71ABE88C2@SA1P220MB1033.NAMP220.PROD.OUTLOOK.COM>


  National Federation of the Blind of Washington - Greater Seattle
  Chapter Meeting


Mark your calendars! Join us for an exciting chapter gathering where 
we’ll connect, discuss important updates, and hear from a special guest 
speaker. Plus, there’ll be plenty of time to mix, mingle, and enjoy good 
company! So come as yourself, come as you are! All aboard and welcome!

------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Meeting Date and Time:

Saturday, May 10, 2025 from 11:00 A.M. through 1:10 P.M.


    Meeting Location:

Razzi's Pizzeria <http://www.razzispizza.com>

8523 Greenwood Avenue North, Seattle, WA  98103

Razzi's is an amazing restaurant and is on the Number 5 Bus Line. Great 
food!


An agenda is attached for your convenience and review. However, in 
summary, we have some great discussions planned with a lot of member input.

🎤 Guest Speaker: someone from Disability Works will be coming to talk 
to us about their services and programs. (or if time allows and / or 
speaker cancels we'll have a meaningful Philosophy discussion led by 
Humberto if needed!)

💬 Topics: Chapter updates, committee discussions, membership insights, 
the NFB Presidential Release, and upcoming events!
Whether you’re a member or simply curious to learn more, we’d love to 
have you there. Let’s build community and make an impact, and together, 
let's build the National Federation of the Blind!
💙 Spread the word and see you soon!

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yours Truly,

Humberto Avila

Secretary, NFBW Seattle chapter


From humberto_avila.it104 at outlook.com  Sat May  3 01:58:14 2025
From: humberto_avila.it104 at outlook.com (Humberto Avila)
Date: Fri, 2 May 2025 18:58:14 -0700
Subject: [NFBWATlk] Invitation to the NFBW Greater Seattle Chapter Meeting
 for May 2025
In-Reply-To: 
 <SA1P220MB103385B4CE1FA7EE23FE71ABE88C2@SA1P220MB1033.NAMP220.PROD.OUTLOOK.COM>
References: 
 <SA1P220MB103385B4CE1FA7EE23FE71ABE88C2@SA1P220MB1033.NAMP220.PROD.OUTLOOK.COM>
Message-ID: 
 <SA1P220MB103375C6467886A98E2C86DCE88C2@SA1P220MB1033.NAMP220.PROD.OUTLOOK.COM>

OOOOPS

Here is the attachment for the agenda. Sorry.


On 5/2/2025 6:41 PM, Humberto Avila via NFBWATlk wrote:
>
>  National Federation of the Blind of Washington - Greater Seattle
>  Chapter Meeting
>
>
> Mark your calendars! Join us for an exciting chapter gathering where 
> we’ll connect, discuss important updates, and hear from a special 
> guest speaker. Plus, there’ll be plenty of time to mix, mingle, and 
> enjoy good company! So come as yourself, come as you are! All aboard 
> and welcome!
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>    Meeting Date and Time:
>
> Saturday, May 10, 2025 from 11:00 A.M. through 1:10 P.M.
>
>
>    Meeting Location:
>
> Razzi's Pizzeria <http://www.razzispizza.com>
>
> 8523 Greenwood Avenue North, Seattle, WA  98103
>
> Razzi's is an amazing restaurant and is on the Number 5 Bus Line. 
> Great food!
>
>
> An agenda is attached for your convenience and review. However, in 
> summary, we have some great discussions planned with a lot of member 
> input.
>
> 🎤 Guest Speaker: someone from Disability Works will be coming to talk 
> to us about their services and programs. (or if time allows and / or 
> speaker cancels we'll have a meaningful Philosophy discussion led by 
> Humberto if needed!)
>
> 💬 Topics: Chapter updates, committee discussions, membership 
> insights, the NFB Presidential Release, and upcoming events!
> Whether you’re a member or simply curious to learn more, we’d love to 
> have you there. Let’s build community and make an impact, and 
> together, let's build the National Federation of the Blind!
> 💙 Spread the word and see you soon!
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Yours Truly,
>
> Humberto Avila
>
> Secretary, NFBW Seattle chapter
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> NFBWATlk mailing list
> NFBWATlk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbwatlk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> NFBWATlk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbwatlk_nfbnet.org/humberto_avila.it104%40outlook.com 
>
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From nikkirae83 at gmail.com  Tue May  6 14:39:13 2025
From: nikkirae83 at gmail.com (Nikki Palm)
Date: Tue, 6 May 2025 07:39:13 -0700
Subject: [NFBWATlk] May members at large chapter meeting
Message-ID: <40CE3BC4-2E1D-41E4-8CC3-B1550C49FC4C@gmail.com>

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