[Tn-talk] FW: [NFBAffiliatePresidents] House Subcommittee Vote Could End Booksfor the Blind

[Seay, Michael]

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbaffiliatepresidents-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbaffiliatepresidents-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of David Andrews
Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2007 9:28 PM
To: david.andrews at nfbnet.org; David.B.Andrews at state.mn.us; dtb-talk at nfbnet.org; diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org; nabs-l at nfbnet.org; blindtlk at nfbnet.org; nfb-announce at nfbnet.org; nfbmo at nfbnet.org; journalists at nfbnet.org; blindkid at nfbnet.org; napub at nfbnet.org; nabop at nfbnet.org; blparent at nfbnet.org; jobs at nfbnet.org; cabs-talk at nfbnet.org; nfb-river-city at nfbnet.org; nfbsf at nfbnet.org; nfbc-info at nfbnet.org; nfbofncp at nfbnet.org; nfb-talk at nfbnet.org; nopbc-board at nfbnet.org; nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org; nfb-idaho at nfbnet.org; mt-blind at nfbnet.org; cabs at nfbnet.org; colorado-talk at nfbnet.org; nfbaz-talk at nfbnet.org; mabs at nfbnet.org; oabs at nfbnet.org; greater-baltimore at nfbnet.org; nfbf-l at nfbnet.org; 4alabama at nfbnet.org; vabs at nfbnet.org; mn-abs at nfbnet.org; nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org; mi-abs at nfbnet.org; il-talk at nfbnet.org; iabs-talk at nfbnet.org; nebraska-students at nfbnet.org; tn-talk at nfbnet.org; vendtalk at nfbnet.org; nagdu at nfbnet.org; nyagdu at nfbnet.org; ag-eq at nfbnet.org; arizona-students at nfbnet.org; nfb-kzoo at nfbnet.org; nfb-db at nfbnet.org; nfbwv-talk at nfbnet.org; nfb-editors at nfbnet.org; humanser at nfbnet.org; rehab at nfbnet.org; nfbpnotk at nfbnet.org; nosb at nfbnet.org; stylist at nfbnet.org; nobe-l at nfbnet.org; teachvib at nfbnet.org; ccb-alumni at nfbnet.org; la-students at nfbnet.org; nfb-hi at nfbnet.org; nfbkabs at nfbnet.org; nfbkpbc at nfbnet.org; nfbofncp at nfbnet.org; tabs at nfbnet.org; njabs-talk at nfbnet.org; fabs at nfbnet.org; nfb-newsline-sponsors at nfbnet.org; nfb-science at nfbnet.org; blindlaw at nfbnet.org; nfbcs at nfbnet.org; gui-talk at nfbnet.org; electronics-talk at nfbnet.org; musictlk at nfbnet.org; nabentre at nfbnet.org; nfbj at nfbnet.org; perform-talk at nfbnet.org; ncme-mentoring at nfbnet.org; nfb-lions at nfbnet.org; lions-ed at nfbnet.org; faith-talk at nfbnet.org; blindkid at nfbnet.org; blparent at nfbnet.org; travelandtourism at nfbnet.org; nfb-fundraising at nfbnet.org; sportsandrec at nfbnet.org; rocketon at nfbnet.org; nfbaffiliatepresidents at nfbnet.org; tops-2005 at nfbnet.org; nfb-moderators at nfbnet.org; nfb-bdc at nfbnet.org; aebteam at nfbnet.org; artbeyondsightmuseums at nfbnet.org; art_beyond_sight_advocacy at nfbnet.org; art
art_beyond_sight_learning_tools at nfbnet.org; art_beyond_sight_theory_and_research at nfbnet.org; blindexplorers at nfbnet.org; gama-summit at nfbnet.org; mentoringexcellencestatecoordinators at nfbnet.org; nabs-presidents at nfgbnet.org; ndcbys at nfbnet.org; new-horizons at nfbnet.org; nfb-imagination-fund at nfbnet.org; nlbct at nfbnet.org; youth-outreach at nfbnet.org
Subject: [NFBAffiliatePresidents] House Subcommittee Vote Could End Booksfor 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  

_______________________________________________
NFBAffiliatePresidents mailing list
NFBAffiliatePresidents at nfbnet.org
http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbaffiliatepresidents