[Education and Welfare] Fw: O D C B V I FW: Urgent Alert: Portman Amendment Likely Headed to Senate Floor

[Denny Huff]

Good afternoon,

Earlier this afternoon the Senate voted 52 yeas to 44 nays not to move to a
vote on final passage of S. 1813 (60 votes are required on such a motion).

This means that the only feasible path forward on this must-pass bill is
through a unanimous consent agreement reached by Senate leadership on which
amendments will be allowed to be considered. As mentioned in an earlier
update, Majority and Minority Leaders Reid and McConnell continue to
negotiate the final package of amendments for consideration. Just before
today's vote, Senator McConnell made a unanimous consent request, laying out
the particular amendments that the Republicans want to get votes on. Portman
#1742 to commercialize rest areas was among those listed by McConnell. This
means that Republican leadership in the Senate will push for a vote on
Senator Portman's amendment as part of the ultimate agreement.

It is extremely likely that each and every United States Senator will be
asked to vote on whether or not to allow rest area commercialization when
amendments are considered; possibly as early as tomorrow (Wednesday), and
almost certainly this week.

I have once again attached a letter, written in non-lobbying terms, that
SLAs can send to their Senators. I have also attached a spreadsheet with the
transportation staffers in each Senate office to enable you to communicate
concerns directly to the appropriate individual in each office.

Please contact your Senators, and please pass this message along to your
elected committees of blind vendors and you state consumer organizations of
the blind and urge them to do the same.

It is absolutely vital that every U.S. Senator is aware of the devastating
impact on Randolph-Sheppard entrepreneurs, and the small family businesses
they manage, of highway rest area commercialization. The time to have our
voice heard on this issue is now!

All Senate offices can be reached via telephone through the Capitol
switchboard at (202) 225-3121.

Please let me know if you have any questions or require assistance.

And, as always, thank you all for your tireless work to preserve business
opportunities for the blind of America.

 Thank you,

Sean

Sean Whalen
Policy Associate
Linchpin Strategies, LLC
639 Massachusetts Ave NE
Washington, DC 20002
Phone:  (866) 443-0998
Fax:       (202) 318-8113