I'm sure I'll receive angry responses to this. But really, it's time for ACB
and NFB to join forces and figure out how to help blind people with no
government help.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: Acbny-l [mailto:acbny-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Miriam Vieni
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2017 10:18 PM
To: 'ACB of New York'
Subject: Re: [ACBNY-L] FW: [leadership] ACB Advocacy Alert - Contact Congress
on Feb. 28th
I find this announcement so incredibly ironic and frustrating. Everyone is
going through the appropriate motions and doing what a responsible advocacy
group should do, just as if our Democracy were still working as it should, just
as if all of our senators and congresspeople are responsive to the needs and
wishes of their constituents. Has ACB not noticed that all of the
president'snew appointments are people who are sworn to deconstruct the
departments which they are now heading and that the plan is to get rid of as
many federally funded programs as possible? Has no one noticed that the new
administration plans to increase our military budget by 10% while cutting all
positions at the federal level? Has ACB managed to ignore the fact that the
Republican majority in the House and Senate is determined to cut taxes for
wealthy people and cut all domesstic programs on which the rest of us depend?
Does ACB not know that if every Democrat voted for everything which it
advocates , the programs would not be voted in? And not every Democrat has
been voting along party lines. It seems to me that what our advocates should
be doing, is having meetings to figure out how the needs of all blind people
in America can best be met when government services are disappearing and the
private agencies for the blind that used to provide service independently 60
yeares ago, no longer do so because they have either become dependent on
government funds or have disappeared into thin air. This is a developing
terrible emergency for blind children, the elderly blind, and young people
needing rehab services. They're talking about privatizing Medicare while ACB is
fantasizing about this wonderful sounding demonstration project. Would
everybody please wake up?
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: Acbny-l [mailto:acbny-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Ann Chiappetta
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2017 9:32 PM
To: 'ACB of New York'
Subject: [ACBNY-L] FW: [leadership] ACB Advocacy Alert - Contact Congress on
Feb. 28th
From: Anthony Stephens via leadership [mailto:leadership@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2017 9:20 PM
To: leadership@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [leadership] ACB Advocacy Alert - Contact Congress on Feb. 28th
Greetings,
On February 28th, advocates from ACB affiliates across the country will be
heading up to Capitol Hill in Washington, DC to advocate on critical issues
facing Americans who are blind and visually impaired. This is a significant day
in Washington, as the President will be meeting before Congress that evening to
go over the White House’s proposed budget outline. It will begin the series of
hearings and debates that will guide Congress toward passage of a 2018 budget
and set the tone for the new Administration.
Our democracy does not end at the voting booth. Each citizen has an important
role in informing elected officials on the key issues that matter most to their
constituents. And it is our hope that every ACB member can find a way to help
amplify our voice as we head to Congress on Tuesday.
You can find out your member of Congress by visiting http://www.congress.gov
<http://mandrillapp.com/track/click/30489975/www.congress.gov?p=eyJzIjoiR0kwcW84eXNxUTZxREJONW9mYWxBM0ZJTExRIiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDQ4OTk3NSxcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwOlxcXC9cXFwvd3d3LmNvbmdyZXNzLmdvdlwiLFwiaWRcIjpcImZhNjRlZjM3MjdhNzQ5NzZhM2RjYzEyYTRkOTE5ZTlhXCIsXCJ1cmxfaWRzXCI6W1wiYjU4ODJmMjkwNDlmYmE1Y2EyMDY4YTlkMzc3NmY0ZmFhMTkwY2RlM1wiXX0ifQ>
. You can reach your congressional office by calling the U.S. Capitol
switchboard at: (202) 224-3121. Reports are coming in that the switchboard has
been quite busy, and Members of Congress are requesting that constituents also
reach out via their email, which can be found on each Member’s congressional
website accessed via either www.senate.gov
<http://mandrillapp.com/track/click/30489975/www.senate.gov?p=eyJzIjoic0lXbGtDcVFQenlCZlBpWENnVU1wcnl2RGJvIiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDQ4OTk3NSxcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwOlxcXC9cXFwvd3d3LnNlbmF0ZS5nb3ZcIixcImlkXCI6XCJmYTY0ZWYzNzI3YTc0OTc2YTNkY2MxMmE0ZDkxOWU5YVwiLFwidXJsX2lkc1wiOltcIjdhMDcyOTlkOTUxNjRjYWJjMmU3ODU0ODU0NjcwZDRmMjE4NzA5ZWRcIl19In0>
or www.house.gov
<http://mandrillapp.com/track/click/30489975/www.house.gov?p=eyJzIjoiYTVMZkZSanJSWmtVNzdHdE9hbDdtdUNmZDBNIiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDQ4OTk3NSxcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwOlxcXC9cXFwvd3d3LmhvdXNlLmdvdlwiLFwiaWRcIjpcImZhNjRlZjM3MjdhNzQ5NzZhM2RjYzEyYTRkOTE5ZTlhXCIsXCJ1cmxfaWRzXCI6W1wiMGM4ZjU3YWVhMjFhOTg1YTNhNzdiNGRmYjI4ZmNlZWNhNGMxN2I1MVwiXX0ifQ>
.
The issues we are currently focusing on this year include:
* Safeguarding services and programs for the blind and visually impaired
* Re-Introduction of the Medicare Demonstration on Coverage of Low Vision
Devices Act
* Passage of the Marrakesh Treaty for the Visually Impaired
Detailed descriptions can be heard during the final hour of the February 27th
ACB Radio broadcast of the ACB Legislative Seminar, rebroadcast at
www.acbradio.org
<http://mandrillapp.com/track/click/30489975/www.acbradio.org?p=eyJzIjoibmRQLUZQQnNUd00zZ1E2bmc5d1NRbXkyM2FnIiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDQ4OTk3NSxcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwOlxcXC9cXFwvd3d3LmFjYnJhZGlvLm9yZ1wiLFwiaWRcIjpcImZhNjRlZjM3MjdhNzQ5NzZhM2RjYzEyYTRkOTE5ZTlhXCIsXCJ1cmxfaWRzXCI6W1wiYjc5YTAwOTQ5YTY3NDQ0M2ZhZDk3ZjRjYmQyODZmNDQzMGIyMGU2NlwiXX0ifQ>
. The relevant background material and a two-page leave-behind document
intended for congressional staff is also attached to this message.
Each issue has a relevant congressional committee, whose members are key
players toward any positive action on these three legislative imperatives. It
is important to know if your Member of Congress sits on one of these
committees. Below are links to the relevant committee membership pages:
The Appropriations Committee is entrusted with authorizing funds for all
federal programs. Click here
<http://mandrillapp.com/track/click/30489975/www.appropriations.senate.gov?p=eyJzIjoiTFpiM2VyS0JOVHE3MUNiN0Eyazl4ZkRqU3hjIiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDQ4OTk3NSxcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwOlxcXC9cXFwvd3d3LmFwcHJvcHJpYXRpb25zLnNlbmF0ZS5nb3ZcXFwvYWJvdXRcXFwvbWVtYmVyc1wiLFwiaWRcIjpcImZhNjRlZjM3MjdhNzQ5NzZhM2RjYzEyYTRkOTE5ZTlhXCIsXCJ1cmxfaWRzXCI6W1wiMTQwZWViNjIwYmUwOGJhOWQxM2M3YmMzNzAzMDUyNTRiNWE2OWM0MFwiXX0ifQ>
for the list of Senate members, and click here
<http://mandrillapp.com/track/click/30489975/appropriations.house.gov?p=eyJzIjoiYWZzTTVad1ZNQjVWbS1hcGtiWGdHd1g5WWRvIiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDQ4OTk3NSxcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwOlxcXC9cXFwvYXBwcm9wcmlhdGlvbnMuaG91c2UuZ292XFxcL2Fib3V0XFxcL21lbWJlcnNcXFwvXCIsXCJpZFwiOlwiZmE2NGVmMzcyN2E3NDk3NmEzZGNjMTJhNGQ5MTllOWFcIixcInVybF9pZHNcIjpbXCI3MTEzZGYyODJmYzg1YWQ4NmQxNjI0YmNkYjQ0MDcyMDJkZWQyY2UzXCJdfSJ9>
for a list of House members.
Issues pertaining to Medicare are covered under the Senate Energy & Natural
Resources Committee and the House Energy & Commerce Committee. Click here
<http://mandrillapp.com/track/click/30489975/energycommerce.house.gov?p=eyJzIjoiLUxIcmNxcWZaVHB4Vm1oMTJWb24yRGxHYWNRIiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDQ4OTk3NSxcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwczpcXFwvXFxcL2VuZXJneWNvbW1lcmNlLmhvdXNlLmdvdlxcXC9hYm91dC1lY1xcXC9lbmVyZ3ktY29tbWVyY2UtY29tbWl0dGVlLW1lbWJlcnNcIixcImlkXCI6XCJmYTY0ZWYzNzI3YTc0OTc2YTNkY2MxMmE0ZDkxOWU5YVwiLFwidXJsX2lkc1wiOltcIjYwODE5YjRhN2EyNDdjOTNjYTQ4ZWU0ZGFjNDMxOGEzYmI4OGRmYjVcIl19In0>
for the list of House Commerce Committee members, and click here
<http://mandrillapp.com/track/click/30489975/www.energy.senate.gov?p=eyJzIjoiM1JzYUZ4YXNRTklyMGxCWnM2X3BnX25XMG04IiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDQ4OTk3NSxcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwczpcXFwvXFxcL3d3dy5lbmVyZ3kuc2VuYXRlLmdvdlxcXC9wdWJsaWNcXFwvaW5kZXguY2ZtXFxcL21lbWJlcnNcIixcImlkXCI6XCJmYTY0ZWYzNzI3YTc0OTc2YTNkY2MxMmE0ZDkxOWU5YVwiLFwidXJsX2lkc1wiOltcImYyMDc3NDAzNWUxNWU0N2ZlYzZhNTk4OGQwMGUzNjc3YWZkNzM2MTlcIl19In0>
for the list of Senate Commerce Committee members.
The Marrakesh Treaty for the Visually Impaired will fall under the Senate
Committee on Foreign Relations. It will also require the Senate and House
Judiciary Committees to make a necessary legislative update to current
copyright law pertaining to accessible media for individuals with print-reading
disabilities. Click here
<http://mandrillapp.com/track/click/30489975/www.foreign.senate.gov?p=eyJzIjoiVG00bUdfVW5tekdyLXZ0cHl4ckszY2hfd2hNIiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDQ4OTk3NSxcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwczpcXFwvXFxcL3d3dy5mb3JlaWduLnNlbmF0ZS5nb3ZcXFwvYWJvdXRcXFwvY29tbWl0dGVlLW1lbWJlcnNoaXBcIixcImlkXCI6XCJmYTY0ZWYzNzI3YTc0OTc2YTNkY2MxMmE0ZDkxOWU5YVwiLFwidXJsX2lkc1wiOltcImE0NDkwYTZkNjUyM2ZmNzk3MmE4NzJlNDhmYzVhYTU2OWQyZmQ2OGNcIl19In0>
for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee members. Click here
<http://mandrillapp.com/track/click/30489975/judiciary.house.gov?p=eyJzIjoiTVU2SGFjU0JhTTQwSE1TYUpzejZXS3Fpd3lRIiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDQ4OTk3NSxcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwczpcXFwvXFxcL2p1ZGljaWFyeS5ob3VzZS5nb3ZcXFwvc3ViY29tbWl0dGVlXFxcL2Z1bGwtY29tbWl0dGVlXFxcL1wiLFwiaWRcIjpcImZhNjRlZjM3MjdhNzQ5NzZhM2RjYzEyYTRkOTE5ZTlhXCIsXCJ1cmxfaWRzXCI6W1wiZGIxYzc5MjVmNDIyMTE3NTUzNzMwOWYwZTYyNThhYmMwZTRjOWU3ZFwiXX0ifQ>
for the House Judiciary member list, and click here
<http://mandrillapp.com/track/click/30489975/judiciary.senate.gov?p=eyJzIjoieWw1a3czcUFNVTlocktUNG90b1poRFZCOWlBIiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDQ4OTk3NSxcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwOlxcXC9cXFwvanVkaWNpYXJ5LnNlbmF0ZS5nb3ZcXFwvXCIsXCJpZFwiOlwiZmE2NGVmMzcyN2E3NDk3NmEzZGNjMTJhNGQ5MTllOWFcIixcInVybF9pZHNcIjpbXCIzMDU1MTM3MTZlYjhkMzdiYmJmYzNiMDE4MjdiZDQ5MTlkYTJmODI1XCJdfSJ9>
for the Senate Judiciary member list.
Finally, be sure to also leverage any social media, such as Facebook or
Twitter. You can follow ACB’s social media feeds, and be sure to use the
hash-tag: ACBMDY17.
Let your Member of Congress know that you support the 2017 American Council of
the blind legislative imperatives listed above. For questions or comments,
please contact Anthony Stephens, ACB’s Director of Advocacy & Governmental
Affairs: astephens@xxxxxxx <mailto:astephens@xxxxxxx> . We thank you for your
advocacy, and will forward along any breaking news regarding these legislative
imperatives for 2017.
Warmest Regards,
Tony
Anthony Stephens
Director of Advocacy & Governmental Affairs
American Council of the Blind
1703 N. Beauregard Street, STE 420
Alexandria, VA 22311
(T) 202.467.5081
(F) 703.465.5085
(E) astephens@xxxxxxx <mailto:astephens@xxxxxxx>
Learn more at www.acb.org
<http://mandrillapp.com/track/click/30489975/www.acb.org?p=eyJzIjoiVGV2aWc2MmdjUEJuU3c4cnd0ak9kOWphc0dVIiwidiI6MSwicCI6IntcInVcIjozMDQ4OTk3NSxcInZcIjoxLFwidXJsXCI6XCJodHRwOlxcXC9cXFwvd3d3LmFjYi5vcmdcIixcImlkXCI6XCJmYTY0ZWYzNzI3YTc0OTc2YTNkY2MxMmE0ZDkxOWU5YVwiLFwidXJsX2lkc1wiOltcImVlYTEyNmFlY2NiMjE0YjQ2Yzg0N2YwN2MyM2E0YTYzZDhlOGRhNGRcIl19In0>
Follow us on Twitter @ACBNational
Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/AmericanCouncilOfTheBlindOfficial
<http://www.facebook.com/AmericanCouncilOfTheBlindOfficial>
<http://mandrillapp.com/track/open.php?u=30489975&id=fa64ef3727a74976a3dcc12a4d919e9a>
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