[Mabs] Update on NLS Funding Efforts for Digital Books

[David Andrews]

From: Hartle, Jesse
Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 2:44 PM
Subject: Legislative Alert - Latest News on the Books for the Blind
Program



Greetings, Fellow Federationists:



I am writing to advise you of the latest developments regarding the
Talking Book program of the Library of Congress.  We have learned that
the full House of Representatives passed the Legislative Branch
appropriations bill with $12.5 million to fund the transition from
cassette books to digital Talking Books for fiscal year 2008.  The
Senate Appropriations Committee has approved the same amount.  I want to
thank each and every one of you for your hard work to see that the
funding for this critically important project was increased in the House
bill.  It is only due to the efforts of all of you that the funding for
the Talking Book program was substantially increased, and you deserve
all the credit for this victory.  While the Talking Book program still
did not receive the full $19.1 million requested by the Library of
Congress, the $12.5 million appropriated is significantly better than
the $7.5 million originally put into the bill and represents a victory
for blind Americans.



At this point, Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA), who chairs the Senate
appropriations subcommittee that handled the Library of Congress
request, has indicated that she will attempt to find the additional $6.6
million that would make up the difference between the amount currently
approved and the full fiscal year 2008 request of the Library of
Congress.  If Senator Landrieu is able to identify funding for the
Talking Book program, she is willing to introduce an amendment when the
appropriations bill is considered on the floor of the Senate in order to
provide the full $19.1 million appropriation requested.  I am asking you
to do two things: First, call Senator Landrieu's office and thank her
for continuing to work to find funding for the Talking Books program,
and at the same time continue to let her office know how important the
program is to the Blind.  Secondly, you should call your own senators
and ask them to support a floor amendment to increase funding for the
Talking Book program if Senator Landrieu introduces such an amendment.



You may reach Senator Landrieu's office and the offices of the senators
representing your state by calling the Capitol Switchboard at (202)
225-3121.



Thanks again for your great work thus far and for your continued
assistance to ensure that this critically important program is fully
funded.





Jesse Hartle

National Federation of the Blind

Government Programs Specialist

Phone: 410-659-9314 Ext. 2233

Email: jhartle at nfb.org <mailto:jhartle at nfb.org>



JH/wmb