The National Federation of the Blind, the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans, urges both the House and Senate to pass the National Museum of the Blind People’s Movement Act, H.R. 6467/S. 3371.

One of the greatest problems we face is the misunderstanding of blind people by society. Addressing this issue is one of our top priorities. Museums represent an opportunity to share our real and authentic stories with a massive audience.

Museums foster change, spark dialogue, and create shared understanding of social issues. Several trusted sources on museum stats show that more people in the United States annually attend museums than all sporting events and amusement parks combined.

A 2025 survey found that 33 percent of all adults in the United States reported visiting a museum in the past year, and the majority of adults in the United States support and seek out museums featuring diverse, inclusive content.

The Museum of the Blind People’s Movement, which will be the first museum to be owned and operated by the blind and will be located at the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute building in Baltimore, will accelerate our public education efforts, motivate the creation of new educational content for youth and adults, and encourage positive conversations about the blind in society.

On December 4, Representative Kweisi Mfume (D-MD-7) and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced legislation to designate the Museum of the Blind People’s Movement as the National Museum of the Blind People’s Movement.

Through the National Museum of the Blind People’s Movement, we will grow the movement, develop allies, and create:

• A shift in the public perception of the capacity of blind people
• A celebration of the voices and experiences of blind people in our journey to take ownership of our stories, lives, and aspirations
• A meaningful place in society for our stories and a stronger infrastructure for collecting and sharing those stories into the future
• A motivation to act against systemic barriers that are harmful to blind people
• An enduring legacy of respect, inclusion, and innovation

Currently, the National Museum of the Blind People’s Movement Act has five cosponsors in the House of Representatives and one in the Senate. A full list of the cosponsors in both chambers is below. We need your help to ensure that the word gets out and that this bill receives immense cosponsor support so that it can ultimately be signed into law and our museum can receive the national recognition that it deserves. 

House cosponsors of H.R. 6467:
Rep. Kweisi Mfume [D-MD-7] SPONSOR
Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2]
Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]    
Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3]

Senate cosponsors of S. 3371:
Sen. Chris Van Hollen [D-MD] SPONSOR
Sen. Angela Alsobrooks [D-MD]

Sample Script

When you call or email you might say:

“My name is [YOUR NAME] and I want to urge [REPRESENTATIVE/SENATOR NAME] to support the National Museum of the Blind People’s Movement Act, [H.R. 6467/S. 3371]. This bill will officially designate the museum to be located at the National Federation of the Blind headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland and designed to spark action, awaken understanding, and challenge the expectation of the blind in America as the National Museum of the Blind People’s Movement. Please cosponsor the National Museum of the Blind People’s Movement Act.”

We suggest a subject like: Importance of Telling Blind People’s Stories at the Museum H.R. 6467/S. 3371

To find the contact information for your specific senators’ or representative’s office, please download the Senate spreadsheet or the House spreadsheet. They are organized alphabetically by state. You can also call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for the office in question.

If you are having trouble finding the contact information for your members of Congress, please contact Lindsey Walsh at [email protected]. 

If you email, please copy Justin Young at [email protected].

The National Federation of the Blind, the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans, urges the House to pass the Blind Americans Return to Work Act, H.R. 1175. This bill will help eliminate the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) earnings cliff by instituting a two-for-one phase out of benefits where every two dollars earned over the substantial gainful activity threshold will cause a one-dollar reduction in a beneficiary’s monthly payment. We are hoping with a strong surge in cosponsor support on this legislation, we can better position it to start the new year off strong!

How Members Can Help

The SSDI benefits program contains an earnings cliff that hinders blind individuals from achieving the American dream. This is, in effect, a penalty imposed on blind Americans when they work. Under current law, if a blind worker earns more than the substantial gainful activity threshold, even by just one dollar, they are not entitled to any benefits. This causes blind employees to sometimes choose to remain unemployed, refuse promotions, or limit the number of hours we work to prevent the loss of our benefits. The Blind Americans Return to Work Act, H.R. 1175, will solve this problem by creating a gradual phaseout where employees would effectively give back one dollar of our benefits for every two dollars we earn over the substantial gainful activity threshold. 

As of right now, we have 22 cosponsors in the House:
Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17] – SPONSOR 
Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6]
Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]
Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]
Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22]
Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6]
Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]
Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large]
Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6]
Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6]
Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2]
Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7]
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3]
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8]    
Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19]
Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]    
Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5]    
Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16]
Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]    
Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]    
Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]

Sample Script

We are asking that you call or email your Representative and ask them to cosponsor the Blind Americans Return to Work Act. When you call or email you might say:

“My name is [YOUR NAME] and I want to urge [REPRESENTATIVE NAME] to support the Blind Americans Return to Work Act, H.R. 1175. This bill will eliminate the SSDI earnings cliff and incentivize more blind Americans to work in higher-paying, more productive jobs. This will in turn result in those blind employees contributing more in federal income and FICA taxes. Please cosponsor the Blind Americans Return to Work Act, H.R. 1175.”

We suggest a subject like: “Help get more blind Americans back to work by cosponsoring H.R. 1175.”

To find the contact information for your specific representative’s office, please download the spreadsheet. They are organized alphabetically by state. You can also call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for the office in question.  

If you are having trouble finding the contact information for your members of Congress, please contact Lindsey Walsh at [email protected]. 

If you email, please copy Jesse Shirek at [email protected].

About the National Federation of the Blind

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more. Founded in 1940, the NFB is the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans with affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at nfb.org.

Government Affairs Contact

Jesse Shirek 
Governmental Affairs Specialist
National Federation of the Blind
410-659-9314, extension 2348
[email protected]

The National Federation of the Blind, the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans, urges both the House and Senate to pass the Access Technology Affordability Act, H.R. 1529/S. 1918. This bill will help blind Americans afford the high cost of qualified access technology by creating a refundable tax credit of $2,000 for use over a three-year period.

Before we get into the legislative action for the Access Technology Affordability Act, we wanted to give a quick update on the situation at the Department of Education. As we mentioned in our Legislative Update email dated November 19, our advocacy has resulted in the withdrawal of the reduction in force notices that were issued during the most recent government shutdown. We continue to monitor this situation closely. However, given these developments, we are no longer asking you to contact your members of Congress regarding the reduction in force notices. 

Access Technology Affordability Act

Since 2017, the National Federation of the Blind has been working to get a tax credit for the purchase of qualified access technology for the blind passed into law. We believe that this would help blind Americans to better handle the high cost of access technology that we need in order to be able to search for, apply for, and maintain steady and fulfilling employment.

In turn, with more of us working, we would actually be paying more into the federal government through income and payroll taxes and be less dependent on government benefits. Over time, this increased employment and reduced dependence will save the federal government approximately $315 million dollars over the course of five years according to an analysis by Mathematica. 

As of right now, we have 37 cosponsors in the House and four in the Senate. Lists for both of those are as follows:
House:
Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16] – SPONSOR 
Rep. Begich, Nicholas J. [R-AK-At Large]
Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21]
Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]
Rep. Kiley, Kevin [R-CA-3]    
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. Crank, Jeff [R-CO-5]
Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6]
Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16]
Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]
Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5]
Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]
Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25]
Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1]
Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12]
Rep. LaHood, Darin [R-IL-16]
Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]
Rep. Huizenga, Bill [R-MI-4]
Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8]
Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3]
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25]
Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24]
Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15]
Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3]
Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17]
Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33]    
Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4]
Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]
Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1]
Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]

Senate:
Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR] – SPONSOR 
Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]
Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND]

We are hoping that a large surge of cosponsor support at the end of 2025 will give the bill a significant amount of momentum to start 2026, but we need your help to spread that message of independence and savings to all members of Congress who have not yet signed on to the bill. We are asking that you call or email both of your Senators and your Representative and ask them to cosponsor the Access Technology Affordability Act.

Sample Script

When you call or email you might say:

“My name is [YOUR NAME] and I want to urge [REPRESENTATIVE/SENATOR NAME] to support the Access Technology Affordability Act, [H.R. 1529/S 1918]. This bill will save the federal government an estimated 315 million dollars over the span of five years according to Mathematica, a well-respected economic firm. It will do this by creating a 2,000 dollar refundable tax credit for blind people for the purchase of specialized access technology. This technology will help blind people search for a job, apply for a job, and then keep that job, which in turn increases the number of blind Americans who are working and paying into programs like Social Security and decreases the number of blind Americans who receive government benefits. Please cosponsor the Access Technology Affordability Act.”

We suggest a subject like: “Mathematica estimates H.R. 1529/S. 1918 would save the federal government 315 million dollars over five years.”

To find the contact information for your specific senators’ or representative’s office, please download the Senate or the House spreadsheet. They are organized alphabetically by state. You can also call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for the office in question.

If you are having trouble finding the contact information for your members of Congress, please contact Lindsey Walsh at [email protected]. 

If you email, please copy Jesse Shirek at [email protected].

About the National Federation of the Blind

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more. Founded in 1940, the NFB is the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans with affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at nfb.org.

Government Affairs Contact

Jesse Shirek 
Governmental Affairs Specialist
National Federation of the Blind
410-659-9314, extension 2348
[email protected]

The National Federation of the Blind, the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans, urges the House to pass the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act, H.R. 5605. This bill was just introduced on Friday, September 26, and will require Class II and Class III medical devices (such as glucose monitors, insulin pumps, CPAP machines, etc.) with digital user interfaces to meet a designated nonvisual accessibility standard ensuring that blind Americans are able to safely and independently administer our in-home medical care.

How Members Can Help

Advanced digital interfaces create barriers that prevent blind individuals from independently and safely operating home-use medical devices that are essential to our daily healthcare needs.

The Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act will end unequal access to home-use medical devices for blind Americans by requiring manufacturers of Class II and Class III medical devices to make their products nonvisually accessible.

We are asking that you call or email your Representative and ask them to cosponsor the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act.

Sample Script

When you call or email you might say:

“My name is [YOUR NAME] and I want to urge [REPRESENTATIVE NAME] to support the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act, H.R. 5605. This bill will create new nonvisual access standards for Class II and Class III medical devices with digital user interfaces, such as continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps, that manufacturers will be required to meet. Also note that this legislation will only apply to new applications. Please cosponsor the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act, H.R. 5605.”

We suggest a subject like: “Ensure blind Americans can safely and independently monitor their health by cosponsoring H.R. 5605”

As of right now, we have twelve cosponsors in the House:
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] - SPONSOR
Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5]
Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2]
Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6]
Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]
Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17]
Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9]
Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]

To find the contact information for your specific representative’s office, please download the spreadsheet. They are organized alphabetically by state. You can also call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for the office in question.

If you are having trouble finding the contact information for your members of Congress, please contact Lindsey Walsh at [email protected]. 

If you email, please copy Justin Young at [email protected].

About the National Federation of the Blind

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more.

Founded in 1940, the NFB is the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans with affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at nfb.org.

Government Affairs Contact

Justin Young
Governmental Affairs Specialist
National Federation of the Blind
410-659-9314, extension 2210
[email protected]

The National Federation of the Blind, the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans, urges the House to pass the Blind Americans Return to Work Act, H.R. 1175. This bill will help eliminate the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) earnings cliff by instituting a two-for-one phase out of benefits where every two dollars earned over the substantial gainful activity threshold will cause a one-dollar reduction in a beneficiary’s monthly payment.

How Members Can Help

The SSDI benefits program contains an earnings cliff that hinders blind individuals from achieving the American dream. This is, in effect, a penalty imposed on blind Americans when they work. Under current law, if a blind worker earns more than the substantial gainful activity threshold, even by just one dollar, they are not entitled to any benefits. This causes blind employees to sometimes choose to remain unemployed, refuse promotions, or limit the number of hours we work to prevent the loss of our benefits.

The Blind Americans Return to Work Act, H.R. 1175 will solve this problem by creating a gradual phaseout where employees would effectively give back one dollar of our benefits for every two dollars we earn over the substantial gainful activity threshold. 

Earlier this month, the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security and the Subcommittee on Work and Welfare held a joint hearing on removing barriers to work and supporting opportunity for individuals with disabilities. That means this is a hot topic right now and it’s a perfect time for us to strike while the iron is hot to get the Blind Americans Return to Work Act, H.R. 1175, passed!

As of right now, we have 20 cosponsors in the House:
Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17] – SPONSOR 
Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6]
Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]
Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22]
Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6]
Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]
Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large]
Rep. Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6]
Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6]
Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7]
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3]
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8]
Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19]
Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]
Rep. Bice, Stephanie I. [R-OK-5]
Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16]
Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]
Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]

We are asking that you call or email your Representative and ask them to cosponsor the Blind Americans Return to Work Act.

Sample Script

When you call or email you might say:

“My name is [YOUR NAME] and I want to urge [REPRESENTATIVE NAME] to support the Blind Americans Return to Work Act, H.R. 1175. This bill will eliminate the SSDI earnings cliff and incentivize more blind Americans to work in higher-paying and more productive jobs. Please cosponsor the Blind Americans Return to Work Act, H.R. 1175.”

We suggest a subject like: “Help get more blind Americans back to work by cosponsoring H.R. 1175.”

To find the contact information for your specific representative’s office, please download the spreadsheet. They are organized alphabetically by state. You can also call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for the office in question. 

If you are having trouble finding the contact information for your members of Congress, please contact Lindsey Walsh at [email protected]. 

If you email, please copy Jesse Shirek at [email protected].

About the National Federation of the Blind

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more.

Founded in 1940, the NFB is the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans with affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at nfb.org.

Government Affairs Contact

Jesse Shirek 
Governmental Affairs Specialist
National Federation of the Blind
410-659-9314, extension 2348
[email protected]

This is the fourth of six legislative advocacy alerts. There will be two more in the coming weeks. 

The National Federation of the Blind, the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans, urges both the House and Senate to pass the Access Technology Affordability Act, H.R. 1529/S. 1918. This bill will help blind Americans to be able to afford the high cost of qualified access technology by creating a refundable tax credit of 2,000 dollars for use over a three-year period.

How Members Can Help

Since 2017, the National Federation of the Blind has been working to get a tax credit for the purchase of qualified access technology for the blind passed into law. We believe that this would help blind Americans to better handle the high cost of access technology that we need in order to be able to search for, apply for, and maintain steady and fulfilling employment.

In turn, with more of us working, we would actually be paying more into the federal government through income and payroll taxes and be less dependent on government benefits. Over time, this increased employment and reduced dependence will save the federal government approximately $315 million dollars over the course of five years according to an analysis by Mathematica. 

As of right now, we have 32 cosponsors in the House and three in the Senate. Lists for both of those are as follows:

House

Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16] – SPONSOR 
Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21]
Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]
Rep. Kiley, Kevin [R-CA-3]
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. Crank, Jeff [R-CO-5]
Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6]
Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]
Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5]
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. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8]
Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3]
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25]
Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24]
Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15]
Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3]
Rep. Sessions, Pete [R-TX-17]
Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33]
Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4]
Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]
Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1]
Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]

Senate

Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR] – SPONSOR 
Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND]

We need your help to spread that message of independence and savings to all members of Congress who have not yet signed onto the bill. We are asking that you call or email both of your Senators and your Representative and ask them to cosponsor the Access Technology Affordability Act.

Sample Script

When you call or email you might say:

“My name is [YOUR NAME] and I want to urge [REPRESENTATIVE/SENATOR NAME] to support the Access Technology Affordability Act, [H.R. 1529/S 1918]. This bill will save the federal government an estimated 315 million dollars over the span of five years according to Mathematica, a well-respected economic firm. It will do this by creating a 2,000 dollar refundable tax credit for blind people for the purchase of specialized access technology.

This technology will help blind people search for a job, apply for a job, and then keep that job, which in turn increase the number of blind Americans who are working and paying into programs like Social Security and decrease the number of blind Americans who receive government benefits. Please support the Access Technology Affordability Act today.”

We suggest a subject like: “Mathematica estimates H.R. 1529/S. 1918 would save the federal government 315 million dollars over five years.”

To find the contact information for your specific senators’ or representative’s office, please download the Senate or the House spreadsheet. They are organized alphabetically by state. You can also call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for the office in question. 

If you are having trouble finding the contact information for your members of Congress, please contact Lindsey Walsh at [email protected]. 

If you email, please copy Jesse Shirek at [email protected].

About the National Federation of the Blind

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more.

Founded in 1940, the NFB is the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans with affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at nfb.org.

Government Affairs Contact

Jesse Shirek 
Governmental Affairs Specialist
National Federation of the Blind
410-659-9314, extension 2348
[email protected]

Earlier this week, the National Federation of the Blind learned that the US Department of Education was canceling funding for twenty-five competitive grants that fall under Part D of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and nine grants that are distributed by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA).

Critically, of the programs being cut under the RSA is funding for 235E grants, which are specifically tailored to train educators of blind students to be more fluent in Braille.

The National Federation of the Blind instigated the creation of these Braille demonstration program grants nearly thirty years ago and they have had a tremendous positive outcome on Braille literacy in that time. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the grants that were cut also included federal funding for four technical assistance centers for families of deafblind children.

How Members Can Help

We know that Braille literacy in our youth often leads to better performance in school, the ability to obtain and keep employment as an adult, and the freedom to live a life of independence. That all begins with educators who understand and can teach Braille themselves.

Additionally, we know that our deafblind brothers and sisters and their families truly benefit from the opportunity to utilize training centers across the country and that any decrease in funding will be detrimental to living independently.

We need to flood the US Department of Education with calls and emails and urge them to maintain these important funding grants. That’s where you come in.

We are asking that you call or email the US Department of Education and urge them to reinstate this critical funding to support Braille literacy and independence. If you are emailing, please send your messages to [email protected] and [email protected]. If you are calling, please call 202-245-7468.

Sample Script

When you call or email you might say: “My name is [YOUR NAME] and I want to urge Secretary McMahon to reinstate the grant funding for IDEA Part D programs as well as the RSA 235E grants. This funding is critical to support increased Braille literacy for teachers of blind students and the blind youth of America.

Studies have shown that students who can read Braille go on to have better education outcomes and better employment outcomes later in life. Additionally, I’m also asking that you reinstate funding for the four deafblind technical assistance centers in Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts. Please allow today’s blind and deafblind students to have an opportunity to better themselves for a brighter future for all of us.”

We suggest a subject like: "Please Reinstate Critical Funding for Blind and Deafblind Students".

If you email, please copy Justin Young at [email protected].

About the National Federation of the Blind

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more.

Founded in 1940, the NFB is the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans with affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at nfb.org.

Government Affairs Contact

Justin Young
Governmental Affairs Specialist
National Federation of the Blind
410-659-9314, extension 2210
[email protected]

The National Federation of the Blind, the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans, urges the members of the House of Representatives to support and pass the CONNECT for Health Act, H.R. 4206.

This bill will make permanent the expanded Medicare telehealth coverages that were first introduced in 2020 and have been temporarily extended over the past couple of years, with the most recent extension set to expire on September 30. Just a couple of months ago at our national convention, we passed Resolution 2025-07 on this very topic.

How Members Can Help

Earlier this year, on March 5, President Riccobono wrote a letter to all members of Congress urging them to pass legislation that would make the expanded Medicare telehealth benefits permanent. Then in April, Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii introduced the CONNECT for Health Act in the Senate with nearly sixty originating cosponsors.

Just a couple of months later in June, Representative Mike Thompson of California introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives, which at the time of this writing has only nineteen cosponsors.

Those nineteen cosponsors are: David Schweikert [AZ-1], Nanette Diaz Barragan [CA-44], Young Kim [CA-40], Doris O. Matsui [CA-7], Sarah McBride [DE-At Large], Eleanor Holmes Norton [DC-At Large], Ed Case [HI-1], Jill N. Tokuda [HI-2], Nikki Budzinski [IL-13], Raja Krishnamoorthi [IL-8], Don Bacon [NE-2], Josh Gottheimer [NJ-5], Yvette D. Clarke [NY-9], Ritchie Torres [NY-15], Troy Balderson [OH-12], Greg Landsman [OH-1], Steve Cohen [TN-9], Jennifer L. McClellan [VA-4], Suhas Subramanyam [VA-10].

Given that the Senate version of the bill already has significant cosponsor support, including from Majority Leader Thune, we are going to focus our advocacy on increasing support in the House by asking you to call or email your Representative if they do not appear on the above list.

Sample Script

When you call or email you might say: "My name is [YOUR NAME] and I want to urge [REPRESENTATIVE NAME] to support the CONNECT for Health Act, H.R. 4206. This bill will make permanent Medicare telehealth benefits that have been temporarily extended numerous times since 2020.

Making these telehealth benefits permanent will significantly reduce the travel burden on blind Americans who live in rural areas and may have difficulty securing reliable transportation for regular physician visits. Please cosponsor H.R. 4206. Thank you."

We suggest a subject like: "Please Cosponsor the CONNECT for Health Act, H.R. 4206"

To find the contact information for your specific representative’s office, please download the spreadsheet. It is organized alphabetically by state. You can also call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for the office in question.

If you are having trouble finding the contact information for your member of Congress, please contact Lindsey Walsh at [email protected]. If you email, please copy Justin Young at [email protected].

About the National Federation of the Blind

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more.

Founded in 1940, the NFB is the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans with affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at nfb.org.

Government Affairs Contact

Justin Young
Governmental Affairs Specialist
National Federation of the Blind
410-659-9314, extension 2210
[email protected]

The National Federation of the Blind, the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans, urges the House Appropriations Committee to include critical funding for programs that benefit the blind into the upcoming appropriations package.

Those programs include the Institute of Museum and Library Services (which plays a large part in helping to fund libraries for the blind across the country), special education programs, vocational rehabilitation programs, Independent Living Services for Older Individuals who are Blind (OIB), and the American Printing House for the Blind.

These programs are funded through the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriation Bill each fiscal year. Frequently, we will refer to this as the “Labor H Appropriations Bill.”

How Members Can Help

On July 28, President Riccobono wrote letters to the chairs and ranking members of both the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies.

He urged them to appropriate funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services, special education programs, and vocational rehabilitation programs at the fiscal year 2024 level plus a 5 percent cost of living adjustment over the last two fiscal years.

He also urged them to appropriate 254.7 million dollars for the OIB program, which is currently woefully underfunded, and 53.4 million dollars for the American Printing House for the Blind to help facilitate the distribution of the Monarch, an innovative multi-line Braille and tactile graphics technology that is revolutionizing access to education for blind students.

He also asked that the annual 9 million dollar grant for Bookshare be maintained. Later that week the full Senate Appropriations Committee voted in favor of a version of the Labor H Appropriations Bill that funded all of the above programs at the Fiscal Year 2024 level, which is less than what we were hoping for. In some cases, much less.

Fortunately, the House version of the bill has not yet been finalized. This is where you come in. We need everyone to contact Representative Robert Aderholt, the Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, as well as your own representative in the House and urge them to fund these important programs for all blind Americans.

Sample Script

When you call or email you might say: “My name is [YOUR NAME] and I want to urge [REPRESENTATIVE NAME] to ensure that critical funding for crucial programs for blind Americans will be included in the Labor H Appropriations Bill. Specifically, I would like to urge a five percent increase over the Fiscal Year 2024 funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services, special education programs, and vocational rehabilitation programs (including the client assistance program and protection and advocacy program).

I would also like to urge that the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals who are Blind program receives a significant funding increase up to 254.7 million dollars, and that the American Printing House for the Blind receives an increase in funding up to 53.4 million dollars. Finally, I would like to ask that the annual 9 million dollar grant for Bookshare is maintained.

This funding would help ensure that blind Americans are able to get proper education, maximize our employment potential, and live independent lives. Thank you.”

We suggest a subject like: “Please Ensure that Critical Funding for Blind Americans Remains in the Labor H Appropriations Bill”

For Chairman Aderholt’s office, please contact Megan Medley at [email protected], or by calling 202-225-4876.

To find the contact information for your specific representative’s office, please download the spreadsheet. It is organized alphabetically by state.

If you are having trouble finding the contact information for your member of Congress, please contact Lindsey Walsh at [email protected]. If you email, please copy Jesse Shirek at [email protected].

About the National Federation of the Blind

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more.

Founded in 1940, the NFB is the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans with affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at nfb.org.

Government Affairs Contact

Jesse Shirek
Governmental Affairs Specialist
National Federation of the Blind
410-659-9314, extension 2348
[email protected]