The following are sample letters for you to use to advocate for the
removal of NJDVRS from HR 1617.  You can use it as it is, modify, or
write your own but please write your representatives on this matter if
you wish to retain Vocational Rehabilitation as a service in New Jersey.
Those of you in other states, your Vocational Rehab services are also in
jeopardy.  Please use these samples to advocate for yourselves.  The
addresses, fax numbers and e-mail addresses for New Jersey Federal
Representatives will follow.  If you wish, please reply to this message
with your letter of advocacy and I'll distribute if for you.  I will
happily send them out on all the formats above.
Tom Bengaff
Fax:      908/527/8774
Fidonet:  1:2604/305
Internet: tom.bengaff@f305.n2604.z1.fidonet.org
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Get the address information for your Representative from the
following messages of this topic.
     Cannon=Cannon Building              {HOUSE}
     LHOB=Longworth House Office Bulding
     RHOB=Rayburn House Office Building
     Address: Washington, D.C. 20515
     Capitol=Capitol Building            {SENATE}
     DSOB=Dirksen Senate Office Building
     HSOB=Hart Senate Office Building
     RSOB=Russell Senate Office Building
     Washington, D.C. 20510
     E-Mail correspondence may be limited to constituents.  Include your
     mailing address with your e-mail message if a reply is desired.
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Date
  (PRESIDENT, CONGRESSMAN/WOMAN)
The White House (PRESIDENT)
 {Cannon, LHOB, RHOB} Building (CONGRESS)
 Hart Senate Office Building (SENATE)
Washington, DC 
Dear  :
I oppose the cutting back of funds for the New Jersey Division of
Vocational Rehabilitation Services (NJDVR).  I advocate the removal of
NJDVRS from HR. 1617.
NJDVRS trains these people with disabilities for employment. These
clients want to work: they come to NJDVRS voluntarily.
Besides being the turning point in the people's lives it serves,
NJDVRS has a measurable, substantial track record of creating
taxpayers who would otherwise not be able to be independent and earn
their own income, funding for the NJDVRS makes fiscal sense.
Sincerely,

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Dear  :
I am writing to voice my opinion on the inclusion of the Vocational
Rehabilitation funding in the Careers Act, HR 1617.  I'm writing to
request that you vote to exclude VR funds from this consolidation.
Please understand that I fully support consolidation and
simplification in the service delivery system to all individuals.  I
am concerned, however, about the disabled population and their ability
to access services under the provisions of this Act.
The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services already exists as a
specialty one-stop shop for individuals with severe disabilities.  To
decimate this program and in its place create another with the same
objective, seems wasteful and does not indicate an assessment on your
part, of systems already in place that work.
Reference to availability of "core services" through this Act for
disabled persons, is confusing to me.  I am not clear on what you're
defining as "core services".  Your response to clarify this issue
would be appreciated.
Again, may I reiterate that the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Services is already here - and doing the job.  Please lend your
support to the continuation of these services under the administration
of this State program.
Sincerely,

 * OLX 2.2 TD * DEN BBS, Hackensack, NJ, 1:2604/305, 201/342/3273
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