[Nfb-fundraising] Urgent-Action Needed by 6 PM Today Regarding Accessible Textbooks

[David Andrews]

>From: Hartle, Jesse
>To: undisclosed-recipients:
>Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2007 12:59 PM
>Subject: Urgent-Action Needed by 6 PM Today Regarding Accessible Textbooks
>
>
>
>Fellow Federationists:
>
>
>
>             We have an urgent need to defeat 
> language proposed for a bill that goes to mark 
> up Wednesday, November 14, 2007.  The language is Section 766A in H.R. 4137.
>
>
>
>On Monday, November 5, 2007, we received 
>proposed bill language for a Commission designed 
>to study issues concerning the accessibility of 
>textbooks in higher education, and also charged 
>with developing a model project that would be 
>designed to support systems that were currently 
>in place.  We expressed concerns relating to the 
>composition of the Commission.  First 
>problem:  The membership as described by the 
>legislation involved minimal input from 
>consumers, while being more favorable to the 
>publishing community.  Second problem:  The 
>pilot program is scheduled to last a minimum of 
>one year longer than the Commission, and, worse 
>yet, could extend longer than one year if the 
>Secretary of Education chooses to extend the 
>pilot program.  This language, if included in 
>the bill, would continue to delay access to 
>information for blind students in institutions 
>of Higher Education, possibly for years to come.
>
>
>
>We submitted revised language to the Committee 
>asking that a majority of the Commission be 
>composed of individuals with print 
>disabilities.  We told them that if the 
>Commission was not consumer-driven, then little 
>significance would come from this 
>legislation.  We also urged the Committee to 
>strengthen the purpose of the Commission, from 
>merely studying the problem, to developing 
>legislation to be enacted by Congress.  When 
>bill H.R. 4137 was introduced, however, we 
>learned that none of our suggested changes to 
>improve this legislation for blind people were included.
>
>
>
>This bill is scheduled to be marked up tomorrow, 
>Wednesday, November 14, 2007 so you need to call immediately.
>
>
>
>We need you to make two calls:
>
>1.      Call Chairman George Miller's office at 
>(202) 225-2095.  He is the Chairman of the House 
>Committee on Education and Labor.  Tell him that 
>section 766A will not help blind college 
>students and urge him to have it removed.
>
>2.      If your Representative is on the below 
>list of Education and Labor Committee members, 
>you need to call him or her.  Tell your 
>representative that section 766A will not help 
>blind college students and urge him or her to vote to have it removed.
>
>
>
>
>
>I have included a list of the members of the 
>House Education and Labor Committee below with 
>their phone numbers.  You can also be connected 
>with Congressional offices by calling the 
>Capitol switchboard at (202) 225-3121.  Please 
>find your state in the lists below and call now, 
>then get your neighbors to call.  Ask relatives 
>and friends who live in other states to make these calls as well.
>
>
>
>Thank you all very much for your help on this 
>urgent matter.  If you have any questions, 
>please call me at (410) 659-9314, extension 
>2233, or e-mail me at jhartle at nfb.org.
>
>
>
>House Committee on Education and Labor
>
>Full Committee
>
>11/13/07
>
>
>
>Rep. George Miller (D CA-7), Chair
>
>
>
>Majority (27 D):
>
>
>
>Rep. George Miller (D CA-7) 202-225-2095
>
>Rep. Dale E. Kildee (D MI-5) 202-225-3611
>
>Rep. Donald M. Payne (D NJ-10) 202-225-3436
>
>Rep. Robert E. Andrews (D NJ-1) 202-225-6501
>
>Rep. Robert C. Scott (D VA-3) 202-225-8351
>
>Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D CA-6) 202-225-5161
>
>Rep. Rubén Hinojosa (D TX-15) 202-225-2531
>
>Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D NY-4) 202-225-5516
>
>Rep. John F. Tierney (D MA-6) 202-225-8020
>
>Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich (D OH-10) 202-225-5871
>
>Rep. David Wu (D OR-1) 202-225-0855
>
>Rep. Rush Holt (D NJ-12) 202-225-5801
>
>Rep. Susan Davis (D CA-53) 202-225-2040
>
>Rep. Danny K. Davis (D IL-7) 202-225-5006
>
>Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D AZ-7) 202-225-2435
>
>Rep. Timothy H. Bishop (D NY-1) 202-225-3826
>
>Rep. Linda Sánchez (D CA-39) 202-225-6676
>
>Rep. John P. Sarbanes (D MD-3) 202-225-4016
>
>Rep. Joe Sestak (D PA-7) 202-225-2011
>
>Rep. Dave Loebsack (D IA-2) 202-225-6576
>
>Rep. Mazie K. Hirono (D HI-2) 202-225-4906
>
>Rep. Jason Altmire (D PA-4) 202-225-2565
>
>Rep. John Yarmuth (D KY-3) 202-225-5401
>
>Rep. Phil Hare (D IL-17) 202-225-5905
>
>Rep. Yvette Clarke (D NY-11) 202-225-6231
>
>Rep. Joe Courtney (D CT-2) 202-225-2076
>
>Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D NH-1) 202-225-5456
>
>
>
>Minority (22 R):
>
>
>
>Rep. Howard P. Buck McKeon (R CA-25) 202-225-1956
>
>Rep. Thomas E. Petri (R WI-6) 202-225-2476
>
>Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R MI-2) 202-225-4401
>
>Rep. Michael N. Castle (R DE-At Large) 202-225-4165
>
>Rep. Mark Souder (R IN-3) 202-225-4436
>
>Rep. Vernon J. Ehlers (R MI-3) 202-225-3831
>
>Rep. Judy Biggert (R IL-13) 202-225-3515
>
>Rep. Todd Russell Platts (R PA-19) 202-225-5836
>
>Rep. Ric Keller (R FL-8) 202-225-2176
>
>Rep. Joe Wilson (R SC-2) 202-225-2452
>
>Rep. John Kline (R MN-2) 202-225-2271
>
>Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R WA-5) 202-225-2006
>
>Rep. Kenny Marchant (R TX-24) 202-225-6605
>
>Rep. Tom Price (R GA-6) 202-225-4501
>
>Res. Comm. Luis G. Fortuño (R ) 202-225-2615
>
>Rep. Charles Boustany Jr. (R LA-7) 202-225-2031
>
>Rep. Virginia Foxx (R NC-5) 202-225-2071
>
>Rep. Randy Kuhl (R NY-29) 202-225-3161
>
>Rep. Rob Bishop (R UT-1) 202-225-0453
>
>Rep. David Davis (R TN-1) 202-225-6356
>
>Rep. Tim Walberg (R MI-7) 202-225-6276
>
>Rep. Dean Heller (R NV-2) 202-225-6155
>
>
>
>Question:  "How do you eat an elephant?"
>
>
>
>Answer:  "One bite at a time."
>
>--A little philosophy from Dr. Kenneth Jernigan
>
>
>
>
>

David Andrews and white cane Harry.
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