Dear NABM Member:  

​As you know, the COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on our blind entrepreneurs.  Approximately 75% of our blind entrepreneurs have seen their businesses either shut completely down or seriously curtailed.  Congress has provided some relief for small businesses but the Randolph-Sheppard Program is unique.  We need to let Congress know that more needs to be done to assist our hard working men and women who feed our government employees every day.  

​Please click on the link below and send letters to the President, both of your U.S. Senators, and your Member in the House of Representatives.  The Randolph-Sheppard Act authorizes Congress to appropriate funds for the Randolph-Sheppard Program.  It never has.  We are asking Congress for the first time to appropriate dollars that can be used to provide relief for our displaced blind entrepreneurs and emergency funding to the states so they can meet their responsibilities as the state licensing agencies.  

Go to: https://blindmerchantsspeakout.org/alert/-urge_congress_to_appropriate_funds_to_help_blind_vendors/message/congress/write?style=webform

It is simple.  Just put in your name and address, click on “Preview Message” and then hit “Submit” and your letters will be sent.  Act now and let the collective voices of the blind be heard.  

Sincerely, 

Nicky Gacos, President

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.