The official policies of the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania are established every year with annual resolutions adopted at the state convention.
The resolutions committee meets early during the convention. Each proposed resolution is read, spoken for by the authoring member, considered, and then ultimately withdrawn or recommended for passage or disapproval by the Convention.
Resolution 2021-01: Regarding Identifying & Assisting in Obtaining Legal Identification
WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines us or our futures, and every day we raise expectations of blind people; and
WHEREAS, low expectations of blind people create artificial barriers between us and our needs, our rights and our dreams; and
WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania is committed to promoting the general welfare of the blind and our members by advocating for equal rights and empowering the blind to actively participate in life to achieve these needs, rights and dreams; and
WHEREAS, current and legal forms of identification are necessary in order to pursue our needs, rights and dreams, including but not limited to health care, services from state agencies such as vocational rehabilitation, utilization of mass transit, interstate and intercontinental travel, services at financial institutions, institutions of higher learning, housing, home ownership, voter registration, and entry into certain government buildings; and
WHEREAS, as of October 31, 2021, the state of Pennsylvania maintains its own state identification card, but will be complying with Federal laws of the REAL ID, with or without Passport information, for travel, access into government facilities as well as other lawfully determined uses: Now, therefore,
BE It RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania in Convention assembled this fourteenth day of November, 2021 in the city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, that the chapters and divisions of our organization will strive to identify any of its members that lack current and legal identification necessary to live the lives they want; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization’s chapters and divisions will assist these members in obtaining the correct, current and legal identification in accordance with state and federal laws, as well as their individual needs.