Two Rejections and One Sign of Hope

Caption Action 2 was recently notified that two representatives would not support HR 3101. The ONLY way to get them to change their minds is IF enough people contact them.

And a special treat, a vlog from Kate Breen at the end of this post.

Rejection from Member of House Subcommittee

First, on December 7, 2009, Jamie received a rejection email from two staff members in Representative Mary Bono Mack's office. This one really hurt, because Mary Bono Mack (R-CA) is on the House Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet! That is the Subcommittee that has HR 3101, the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2009. The email came from Paul Cancienne (Paul.Cancienne@mail.house.gov) and Chris Foster (Chris.Foster@mail.house.gov). This email stated:

At this time, the Congresswoman will not be cosponsoring H.R. 3101.

But that doesn't have to be the final answer! If we, the deaf and hard of hearing community, can show Representative Bono Mack how much this bill means to us by bombarding those two men with emails, maybe we can get her to change her mind! Anyone can send an email to those two men because the Subcommittee represents the entire United States. However, it would be even better if people who live in Mary Bono Mack's district, the 45th district of California, would contact those two men! Check http://bono.house.gov/District/interactivemap.htm to see if you live in Mary Bono Mack's district, or if you know someone else who does!

Update: What the message above meant was that Bono Mack is not opposed to HR 3101, but neither will she support it. See the newer blog post HR 3101 Can't Move Without Boucher! Here's Proof! for an explanation.

A Form Letter = Rejection

After having talked with Jim Richardson (Jim.Richardson@mail.house.gov) in Representative Todd Tiahrt (R-KS)'s office, Caption Action 2 had high hopes because Richardson specializes in disability issues. Then yesterday, Caption Action 2 got a form letter from Tiahrt's office that said "While I do not sit on this committee, if this bill reaches the floor of the House, I will be sure to keep your concerns in mind." That translated into a rejection, because it essentially means "I am not going to cosponsor the bill, but if it somehow moves, I will remember what you said."

Deaf and hard of hearing people and families in Kansas' 4th District (check http://www.tiahrt.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=9&sectiontree=9 to see if you live in Kansas' 4th District or if you know someone who does) should send email to Jim Richardson telling them how important HR 3101 is to them and asking that Tiahrt change his mind about not cosponsoring HR 3101.

Any Hope Here? Maybe!

Today Caption Action 2 had a positive telephone conversation with Jordan Downs, a disability and ADA issues specialist in Representative Gregg Harper's (R-MS) office! Downs is eager to hear from deaf and hard of hearing people in Harper's district - the third district of Mississippi. Check http://harper.house.gov/district to see if you live in his district or if you know someone else who does! Downs can be contacted at Jordan.Downs@mail.house.gov.

Disability specialists like Downs could be key to the HR 3101 campaign. Who else would better understand our needs and be best able to convince the Representatives to cosponsor HR 3101?

Kate Breen Vlogs About HR 3101!

Today Kate Breen (breen315) uploaded a signed video to YouTube about HR 3101:

Update: Joseph Ponte alerted us to his HR-3101 Help the cause! post in his I'm Sorry, Say That Again... blog.

Join Caption Action 2!

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