[Colorado-talk] Fw: House Subcommittee Vote Could End Books for the Blind

Fri Jun 8 11:57:23 CDT 2007

The below is of paramount importance.  We have a real threat on our hands.
Scott C. LaBarre, Esq.

LaBarre Law Offices P.C.
1660 South Albion Street, Ste. 918
Denver, Colorado 80222
303 504-5979 (voice)
303 757-3640 (fax)
slabarre at labarrelaw.com (e-mail)
www.labarrelaw.com (website)

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This message may contain confidential and privileged information. If you are not the designated recipient, you may not read, copy, distribute or retain this message. If you received this message
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----- Original Message ----- 
From: Wilson, Joanne 
To: Alfonse DeLucia - Connecticut ; Alice Herbert (per J. Michael Jones request) ; Alpidio Rolon - Puerto Rico ; Amy Buresh - Nebraska ; Anil Lewis - Georgia ; Arthur Schreiber - New Mexico ; Barbara Pierce - Ohio ; Bob Brown - South Dakota ; Bob Kresmer - Arizona ; Carl Jacobsen - New York ; Cathy Jackson - Kentucky ; Charlene Smyth - West Virginia ; Charlene Smyth 2 - West Virgina ; Charlene Smyth 3 - West Virginia ; Chris McKenzie - Arkansas ; Dan Burke - Montana ; Dan Burke 2 - Montana ; David Ticchi - Massachusetts ; David Ticchi 2 - Massachusetts ; Debbie Briddell - Delaware ; Debbie Briddell 2 - Delaware ; Donald Galloway - District of Columbia ; Donna Wood - Kansas ; Elizabeth Rousseau-Rooney - Oregon ; Elsie Lamp - Idaho ; Eric Duffy ; Franklin Shiner - Vermont ; Fred Wurtzel - Michigan ; Fredric K. Schroeder ; Fredric K. Schroeder - Virginia ; Gary Wunder - Missouri ; J. Michael Jones - Alabama ; James Antonacci - Pennsylvania ; Jennelle Bichler - North Dakota ; Jerry Moreno ; Joe Ruffalo - New Jersey ; John Fritz - Wisconsin ; Joie Stuart ; Joyce Scanlan - Minnesota ; Kathy Davis - Florida ; Kevan Worley ; Lisa Bonderson ; Marie Johnson - New Hampshire ; Matt Lyles (per Chris McKenzie's request) ; Melissa Williamson (per J. Michael Jones) ; Michael Barber - Iowa ; Michael Freeman - Washington ; Michael Gosse - Maryland ; Michael Huckaby ; Michael Seay- Tennessee ; Mike Klimisch ; Nani Fife - Hawaii ; Pam Dubel Allen - Louisiana ; Parnell Diggs - South Carolina ; Patti Gregory-Chang - Illinois ; Paula Achter ; Ramona Walhof (Idaho) ; Richard A Gaffney - Rhode Island ; Richard Gaffney - Rhode Island ; Robert Stigile - Californnia ; Ron Brown - Indiana ; Ron Gardner - Utah ; Sam Gleese - Mississippi ; Scott LaBarre - Colorado ; Selena Sundling-Crawford - Oklahoma ; Sharon Maneki ; Sharon Newton ; Sheila Wright ; Steven Priddle - Alaska ; Tim Jones - North Carolina ; Tom Page (per Suzie Stanzel's request) ; Tommy Craig - Texas 
Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2007 3:12 PM
Subject: House Subcommittee Vote Could End Books for the Blind

House Subcommittee Vote Could End Books for the Blind
Blind Americans Urge Congress to Restore Funds

Baltimore, Maryland (June 7, 2007): On Wednesday, June 6, the House of Representatives Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee voted to substantially underfund the Books for the Blind program of the Library of Congress. 

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: "Since 1931, Congress has consistently supported on a bipartisan basis a national program of audio and Braille books for the blind, operated by the Library of Congress.  The blind of America are shocked and disappointed that a House subcommittee has callously disregarded our literacy needs since literacy leads to independence.  By appropriating only $7.5 million of the $19.1 million needed for transition from antiquated analog cassette tape technology to digital technology, the subcommittee has effectively voted to shut down the only public library available to blind Americans.  The audio books produced by the Library of Congress will be useless unless the digital playback technology is provided for readers.  The Talking Book program is at a crossroads because the analog tape used for the past thirty-six years has become obsolete and must be replaced for the program to continue.  Virtually, all government programs, except Books for the Blind, have converted to state-of-the-art digital communication technology at a cost of billions of dollars to the taxpayers.  Leaving the Books for the Blind program behind is unconscionable.  Since it is early in the appropriations process, however, Congress still has time to correct this grievous error.  We therefore urgently appeal to the full House Appropriations Committee, the members of the House of Representatives, and the United States Senate to provide the full $19.1 million requested by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped of the Library of Congress to begin production of digital talking books and players."

The Talking Book program serves over 750,000 blind Americans, including blind children and an ever-increasing number of older Americans who are losing vision.  The incidence of blindness is expected to increase as the baby boom generation reaches retirement age.  Therefore, the need for this essential program will only increase.

John G. Paré Jr. 
Director of Public Relations 
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND 
1800 Johnson Street 
Baltimore, Maryland  21230 
Telephone:  (410) 659-9314, ext. 2371 
Cell phone:  (410) 913-3912 
Fax:  (410) 685-5653 
Email:  jpare at nfb.org 

-------------- next part --------------
The below is of paramount importance.  We have a real threat on our hands.
Scott C. LaBarre, Esq.

LaBarre Law Offices P.C.
1660 South Albion Street, Ste. 918
Denver, Colorado 80222
303 504-5979 (voice)
303 757-3640 (fax)
mailto:slabarre at labarrelaw.com slabarre at labarrelaw.com
(e-mail)
http://www.labarrelaw.com www.labarrelaw.com
(website)

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This message may contain confidential and privileged information. If you are not the designated recipient, you may not read, copy, distribute or retain this message. If you received this message
in error, please notify the sender at 303) 504-5979 or mailto:slabarre at labarrelaw.com slabarre at labarrelaw.com
, and destroy and delete it from your system. This message and any attachments are covered by the Electronic
Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 2510-2521.
----- Original Message -----
From:
mailto:jwilson at nfb.org Wilson, Joanne
To:
mailto:aldelucia at nfbct.org Alfonse DeLucia - Connecticut
; mailto:KcCajun at att.net Alice Herbert (per J. Michael Jones request)
; mailto:arguza at attglobal.net Alpidio Rolon - Puerto Rico
; mailto:aburesh at neb.rr.com Amy Buresh - Nebraska
; mailto:alewis at nfbga.org Anil Lewis - Georgia
; mailto:blindart at myfreedombox.com Arthur Schreiber - New Mexico
; mailto:bbpierce at pobox.com Barbara Pierce - Ohio
; mailto:b2228 at gwtc.net Bob Brown - South Dakota
; mailto:krezguy at cox.net Bob Kresmer - Arizona
; mailto:office at nfbny.org Carl Jacobsen - New York
; mailto:cathyj at iglou.com Cathy Jackson - Kentucky
; mailto:twinac at verizon.net Charlene Smyth - West Virginia
; mailto:Charlene.Smyth at wvdrs.org Charlene Smyth 2 - West Virgina
; mailto:cs.nfbwv at verizon.net Charlene Smyth 3 - West Virginia
; mailto:cmckenzie07 at comcast.net Chris McKenzie - Arkansas
; mailto:burkemt at onewest.net Dan Burke - Montana
; mailto:burke.dall at gmail.com Dan Burke 2 - Montana
; mailto:nfbmass at verizon.net David Ticchi - Massachusetts
; mailto:dticchi at comcast.net David Ticchi 2 - Massachusetts
; mailto:deborahb at internetspeech.com Debbie Briddell - Delaware
; mailto:dbriddell at dabdel.org Debbie Briddell 2 - Delaware
; mailto:donald.galloway at dc.gov Donald Galloway - District of Columbia
; mailto:princessdj92 at cox.net Donna Wood - Kansas
; mailto:elizabeth at cavenet.com Elizabeth Rousseau-Rooney - Oregon
; mailto:elsielamp at yahoo.com Elsie Lamp - Idaho
; mailto:eduffy at pobox.com Eric Duffy
; mailto:fshiner at verizon.net Franklin Shiner - Vermont
; mailto:f.wurtzel at comcast.net Fred Wurtzel - Michigan
; mailto:schroede at interwork.sdsu.edu Fredric K. Schroeder
; mailto:fschroeder at sks.com Fredric K. Schroeder - Virginia
; mailto:gwunder at earthlink.net Gary Wunder - Missouri
; mailto:blindmike at charter.net J. Michael Jones - Alabama
; mailto:nfbofpa at att.net James Antonacci - Pennsylvania
; mailto:jcbichler at msn.com Jennelle Bichler - North Dakota
; mailto:nfbnj at comcast.net Jerry Moreno
; mailto:nfbnj at yahoo.com Joe Ruffalo - New Jersey
; mailto:johnfritz at centurytel.net John Fritz - Wisconsin
; mailto:joiestuart at verizon.net Joie Stuart
; mailto:joyce.scanlan at earthlink.net Joyce Scanlan - Minnesota
; mailto:kdavisnfbf at cfl.rr.com Kathy Davis - Florida
; mailto:kevanworley at blindmerchants.org Kevan Worley
; mailto:lbonderson at cocenter.org Lisa Bonderson
; mailto:jomar2000 at comcast.net Marie Johnson - New Hampshire
; mailto:lyles_j at sbcglobal.net Matt Lyles (per Chris McKenzie's request)
; mailto:mlwilliamson at centurytel.net Melissa Williamson (per J. Michael Jones)
; mailto:m.barber at mchsi.com Michael Barber - Iowa
; mailto:k7uij at panix.com Michael Freeman - Washington
; mailto:mgosse at nfb.org Michael Gosse - Maryland
; mailto:president at nfbwis.org Michael Huckaby
; mailto:michael.seay at ssa.gov Michael Seay- Tennessee
; mailto:mjklimisch at hotmail.com Mike Klimisch
; mailto:nanifife at aol.com Nani Fife - Hawaii
; mailto:pallen at lcb-ruston.com Pam Dubel Allen - Louisiana
; mailto:parnell at sccoast.net Parnell Diggs - South Carolina
; mailto:pattisgregory at comcast.net Patti Gregory-Chang - Illinois
; mailto:pbachter at msn.com Paula Achter
; mailto:rwnfbi at qwest.net Ramona Walhof (Idaho)
; mailto:Richard.Gaffney at nfbri.org Richard A Gaffney - Rhode Island
; mailto:rcgaff at cox.net Richard Gaffney - Rhode Island
; mailto:nfbcal at sbcglobal.net Robert Stigile - Californnia
; mailto:rb15 at iquest.net Ron Brown - Indiana
; mailto:president at nfbutah.org Ron Gardner - Utah
; mailto:samgleese at earthlink.net Sam Gleese - Mississippi
; mailto:slabarre at labarrelaw.com Scott LaBarre - Colorado
; mailto:selena.j.sundling at irs.gov Selena Sundling-Crawford - Oklahoma
; mailto:nfbmd at earthlink.net Sharon Maneki
; mailto:sharon.newton at prodigy.net Sharon Newton
; mailto:sbwright95 at earthlink.net Sheila Wright
; mailto:priddle at gci.net Steven Priddle - Alaska
; mailto:tjnc2 at carolina.rr.com Tim Jones - North Carolina
; mailto:topage at swbell.net Tom Page (per Suzie Stanzel's request)
; mailto:tecraig at earthlink.net Tommy Craig - Texas
Sent:
Thursday, June 07, 2007 3:12 PM
Subject:
House Subcommittee Vote Could End Books for the Blind
House Subcommittee Vote Could End Books for the Blind
Blind Americans Urge Congress to Restore Funds

Baltimore, Maryland (June 7, 2007):
On Wednesday, June 6, the House of Representatives Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee voted to substantially underfund the Books for the Blind program of the Library of Congress.

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: “Since 1931, Congress has consistently supported on a bipartisan basis a national program of audio and Braille books for the blind, operated by the Library of Congress.

The blind of America are shocked and disappointed that a House subcommittee has callously disregarded our literacy needs since literacy leads to independence.

By appropriating only $7.5 million of the $19.1 million needed for transition from antiquated analog cassette tape technology to digital technology, the subcommittee has effectively voted to shut down the only public library available to blind Americans.

The audio books produced by the Library of Congress will be useless unless the digital playback technology is provided for readers.

The Talking Book program is at a crossroads because the analog tape used for the past thirty-six years has become obsolete and must be replaced for the program to continue.

Virtually, all government programs, except Books for the Blind, have converted to state-of-the-art digital communication technology at a cost of billions of dollars to the taxpayers.

Leaving the Books for the Blind program behind is unconscionable.

Since it is early in the appropriations process, however, Congress still has time to correct this grievous error.

We therefore urgently appeal to the full House Appropriations Committee, the members of the House of Representatives, and the United States Senate to provide the full $19.1 million requested by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped of the Library of Congress to begin production of digital talking books and players.”

The Talking Book program serves over 750,000 blind Americans, including blind children and an ever-increasing number of older Americans who are losing vision.

The incidence of blindness is expected to increase as the baby boom generation reaches retirement age.

Therefore, the need for this essential program will only increase.

John G. Paré Jr.
Director of Public Relations
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
1800 Johnson Street
Baltimore, Maryland  21230
Telephone:  (410) 659-9314, ext. 2371
Cell phone:  (410) 913-3912
Fax:  (410) 685-5653
Email:  mailto:jpare at nfb.org jpare at nfb.org