LEGISLATIVE ACTION NOTICE
ACTION NEEDED
DATE: July 19, 1996
FROM: James Gashel
RE: NLS update and copyright amendments
(1) NLS: Congratulations to everyone who has worked on the
effort to protect the specified line-item spending level for our
library service from NLS. When the Senate Appropriations
Committee approved its bill for the legislative branch, the
section on transferring funds was different from the version
passed by the House. For one thing, the Books for the Blind and
Physically Handicapped program will be protected. Letters of
appreciation and support for this position should be sent to your
own Senators and to Senator Connie Mack, Chairman of the Senate
Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch. For the
address, simply use the following:
The Honorable (insert name)
United States Senate
Washington, D. C. 20510
The Senate action means that a difference will exist between
the House and Senate versions of the Legislative Branch
Appropriations bill. After the bill passes the Senate, this and
all other differences will be reconciled by a conference
committee composed of members from the Appropriations Committee
in both the House and the Senate. In this case, the conferees
will be the Legislative Branch Subcommittee members from each
body.
Each member of Congress (House or Senate) can help by
expressing support for the Senate position on the transfer
authority provision, section 208 of the legislative branch
appropriations bill. House members should be asked to urge the
House conferees to accept the Senate position. Senators should
be asked to urge the Senate conferees to stand firm in
negotiations with the House.
The Appropriations, Legislative Branch Subcommittee members
(House and Senate) are listed at the end of this notice. Staff
contacts plus telephone and fax numbers are provided.
(2) COPYRIGHT AMENDMENTS: Senator John Chafee of Rhode Island
has announced that he will soon introduce a bill to enact as part
of the copyright law the agreement which the National Federation
of the Blind and the Association of American Publishers reached
in January, 1996. The legislation will remove existing
requirements for approval by publishers before a copyrighted work
can be reproduced or distributed in Braille, sound, or digital
formats.
All Senators should be asked to cosponsor Senator Chafee's
bill to make copyright amendments for the blind. This
description--copyright amendments for the blind--can be used at
present in place of a bill number. A "Dear Colleague" letter has
been sent from Senator Chafee to each Senate office. Staff
members who indicate that they have not seen the letter should
contact Barbara Riehle on Senator Chafee's staff. Her telephone
number is 202-224-2921. The text of the letter appears at the
end of this message. Many Senators will undoubtedly become
cosponsors of this bill, but it is our job to let them know about
it.
The bill which Senator Chafee is introducing will very
likely be presented as an amendment to other relevant legislation
that has a high probability of becoming law quite soon.
Therefore, a sizable list of Senate cosponsors will help this
effort along. It is possible that the amendment may be attached
to the Legislative Branch Appropriations bill. The Senate will
almost certainly consider and pass that bill before the end of
July.
A list of all Senators with telephone and fax numbers can be
found immediately before the text of the "Dear Colleague" letter
below. The list is also on the National Federation of the Blind
web site under the heading of "Legislation: Current and
Proposed." The list can also be faxed to you upon request. At
this point we must make a maximum effort to obtain a sizable list
of Senate cosponsors.
Note: The documents in this notice can also be found on the
National Federation of the Blind web site under "Legislation:
Current and Proposed." The address for the NFB web site is:
http://www.nfb.org. Information which develops on these issues
as the process in Congress continues will also be posted there.
COMMITTEE LISTS:
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
UNITED STATES SENATE
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH SUBCOMMITTEE
Note: The Senators on the list below appear in order of their
subcommittee ranking. The chairman and ranking minority member
of the full committee are ex-officio members of all
subcommittees. Therefore, they are shown as such on this list.
Their position on the full committee can significantly influence
subcommittee action in many circumstances.
MAJORITY
Connie Mack, FL, Chairman
202-224-1326 - voice
202-228-3196 - fax
Larry Harris - STAFF ASST.
Robert F. Bennett, UT
202-224-5444 - voice
202-224-4908 - fax
Corine Larson - STAFF ASST.
Ben Nighthorse Campbell, CO
202-224-5852 - voice
202-224-1933 - fax
Tammy Perrin - STAFF ASST.
MINORITY
Patty Murray, WA, Ranking Minority Member
202-224-2621 - voice
202-224-0238 - fax
Greg Williamson - STAFF ASST.
Barbara Mikulski, MD
202-224-4654 - voice
202-224-8858 - fax
Lisa Kinard - STAFF ASST.
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS
Mark O. Hatfield, OR, full committee, Chairman
202-224-3753 - voice
202-224-0276 - fax
Mark Yerby - STAFF ASST.
Robert Byrd, WV, full committee, Ranking Minority Member
202-224-3954 - voice
202-228-0002 - fax
Kathy McNally - STAFF ASST.
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH SUBCOMMITTEE
Note: The members of the House on the list below appear in order
of their subcommittee ranking. The chairman and ranking minority
member of the full committee are ex-officio members of all
subcommittees. Therefore, they are shown as such on this list.
Their position on the full committee can significantly influence
subcommittee action in many circumstances.
MAJORITY
Ron Packard, CA, Chairman
202-225-3906 - voice
202-225-0134 - fax
Ed Lombard - STAFF ASST.
C. W. Bill Young, FL
202-225-5961 - voice
202-225-9764 - fax
Douglas Gregory - STAFF ASST.
Charles H. Taylor, NC
202-225-6401 - voice
202-226-6405 - fax
Roger France - STAFF ASST.
Dan Miller, FL
202-225-5015 - voice
202-226-0828 - fax
Danielle Doane - STAFF ASST.
Roger F. Wicker, MS
202-225-4306 - voice
202-225-3549 - fax
Spence Flatgard - STAFF ASST.
MINORITY
Ray Thornton, AR, Ranking Minority Member
202-225-2506 - voice
202-225-9273 - fax
Lauren Gaddy - STAFF ASST.
Jos E. Serrano, NY
202-225-4361 - voice
202-225-6001 - fax
Lucy Hand - STAFF ASST.
Vic Fazio, CA
202-225-5716 - voice
202-225-5141 - fax
Don DeArmon - STAFF ASST
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS
Bob Livingston, LA, full committee, Chairman
202-225-3015 - voice
202-225-0739 - fax
Ed Lombard - STAFF ASST.
David Obey, WI, full committee, Ranking Minority Member
202-225-3365 - voice
202-225-9476 - fax
Gregory Dahlberg - STAFF ASST.
U. S. SENATE LIST
Telephone prefix 202-22
ALL ADDRESSES ARE WASHINGTON, DC 20510
ST SENATOR ADDRESS
PHONE FAX NO.
AK Frank H. Murkowski 706 Hart SOB
4-6665 202-224-5301
AK Ted Stevens 522 Hart SOB
4-3004 202-224-2354
AL Howell Heflin 728 Hart SOB
4-4124 202-224-3149
AL Richard Shelby 110 Hart SOB
4-5744 202-224-3416
AR Dale Bumpers 229 Dirksen SOB
4-4843 202-224-6435
AR David Pryor 267 Russell SOB
4-2353 202-228-3973
AZ Jon Kyl 702 Hart SOB
4-4521 202-228-1239
AZ John McCain 241 Russell SOB
4-2235 202-228-2862
CA Barbara Boxer 112 Hart SOB
4-3553 415-956-6701
CA Dianne Feinstein 331 Hart SOB
4-3841 202-228-3954
CO Hank Brown 716 Hart SOB
4-5941 202-224-6471
CO Ben Nighthorse Campbell 380 Russell SOB
4-5852 202-224-1933
CT Christopher Dodd 444 Russell SOB
4-2823 202-224-1083
CT Joseph I. Lieberman 316 Hart SOB
4-4041 202-224-9750
DE Joseph R. Biden, Jr. 221 Russell SOB
4-5042 202-224-0139
DE William Roth, Jr. 104 Hart SOB
4-2441 202-228-0354
FL Bob Graham 524 Hart SOB
4-3041 202-224-2237
FL Connie Mack 517 Hart SOB
4-5274 202-224-8022
GA Paul Coverdell 200 Russell SOB
4-3643 202-228-3783
GA Sam Nunn 303 Dirksen SOB
4-3521 202-224-0072
HI Daniel K. Akaka 720 Hart SOB
4-6361 202-224-2126
HI Daniel Inouye 722 Hart SOB
4-3934 202-224-6747
IA Charles Grassley 135 Hart SOB
4-3744 202-224-6020
IA Tom Harkin 531 Hart SOB
4-3254 202-224-9369
ID Larry E. Craig 313 Hart SOB
4-2752 202-224-2573
ID Dirk Kempthorne 367 Dirksen SOB
4-6142 202-224-5893
IL Carol Moseley-Braun 320 Hart SOB
4-2854 202-228-1318
IL Paul Simon 462 Dirksen SOB
4-2152 202-224-0868
IN Daniel R. Coats 404 Russell SOB
4-5623 202-228-4137
IN Richard G. Lugar 306 Hart SOB
4-4814 202-228-0360
KS Sheila Frahm 141 Hart SOB
4-6521 202-228-1245
KS Nancy L. Kassebaum 302 Russell SOB
4-4774 202-224-3514
KY Wendell Ford 173A Russell SOB
4-4343 202-224-0046
KY Mitch McConnell 361A Russell SOB
4-2541 202-224-2499
LA John B. Breaux 516 Hart SOB
4-4623 202-224-4268
LA J. Bennett Johnston 136 Hart SOB
4-5824 202-224-2952
MA Edward M. Kennedy 315 Russell SOB
4-4543 202-224-2417
MA John F. Kerry 421 Russell SOB
4-2742 202-224-8525
MD Barbara Mikulski 709 Hart SOB
4-4654 202-224-8858
MD Paul S. Sarbanes 309 Hart SOB
4-4524 202-224-1651
ME William S. Cohen 322 Hart SOB
4-2523 202-224-2693
ME Olympia J. Snowe 495 Russell SOB
4-5344 202-224-1946
MI Spencer Abraham 245 Dirksen SOB
4-4822 202-224-8834
MI Carl Levin 459 Russell SOB
4-6221 202-224-1388
MN Rod Grams 261 Dirksen SOB
4-3244 202-228-0956
MN Paul Wellstone 717 Hart SOB
4-5641 202-224-8438
MO John Ashcroft 170 Russell SOB
4-6154 202-228-0998
MO Christopher S. Bond 293 Russell SOB
4-5721 202-224-8149
MS Thad Cochran 326 Russell SOB
4-5054 202-224-9450
MS Trent Lott 487 Russell SOB
4-6253 202-224-2262
MT Max Baucus 511 Hart SOB
4-2651 202-228-3687
MT Conrad Burns 187 Dirksen SOB
4-2644 202-224-8594
NC Lauch Faircloth 317 Hart SOB
4-3154 202-224-7406
NC Jesse Helms 403 Dirksen SOB
4-6342 202-228-1339
ND Kent Conrad 724 Hart SOB
4-2043 202-224-7776
ND Byron L. Dorgan 713 Hart SOB
4-2551 202-224-1193
NE Jim Exon 528 Hart SOB
4-4224 202-224-5213
NE J. Robert Kerrey 303 Hart SOB
4-6551 202-224-7645
NH Judd Gregg 393 Russell SOB
4-3324 202-224-4952
NH Robert C. Smith 332 Dirksen SOB
4-2841 202-224-1353
NJ Bill Bradley 731 Hart SOB
4-3224 202-224-8567
NJ Frank R. Lautenberg 506 Hart SOB
4-4744 202-224-9707
NM Jeff Bingaman 703 Hart SOB
4-5521 202-224-2852
NM Pete V. Domenici 328 Hart SOB
4-6621 202-224-7371
NV Richard H. Bryan 364 Russell SOB
4-6244 202-224-1867
NV Harry Reid 324 Hart SOB
4-3542 202-224-7327
NY Alfonse D'Amato 520 Hart SOB
4-6542 202-224-5871
NY Daniel Patrick Moynihan 464 Russell SOB
4-4451 no public fax #
OH Mike DeWine 140 Russell SOB
4-2315 202-224-6519
OH John Glenn 503 Hart SOB
4-3353 202-224-7983
OK James M. Inhofe 453 Russell SOB
4-4721 202-2DUd•_p28-0380
OK Don Nickles 133 Hart SOB
4-5754 202-224-6008
OR Mark O. Hatfield 711 Hart SOB
4-3753 202-224-0276
OR Ron Wyden 259 Russell SOB
4-5244 202-228-2717
PA Rick Santorum 120 Russell SOB
4-6324 202-228-4991
PA Arlen Specter 530 Hart SOB
4-4254 202-228-1229
RI John H. Chafee 505 Dirksen SOB
4-2921 unpublished
RI Claiborne Pell 335 Russell SOB
4-4642 202-224-4680
SC Ernest Hollings 125 Russell SOB
4-6121 202-224-4293
SC Strom Thurmond 217 Russell SOB
4-5972 202-224-1300
SD Thomas Daschle 509 Hart SOB
4-2321 202-224-2047
SD Larry Pressler 243 Russell SOB
4-5842 202-228-0368
TN Bill Frist 565 Dirksen SOB
4-3344 202-228-1264
TN Fred Thompson 523 Dirksen SOB
4-4944 202-228-3679
TX Phil Gramm 370 Russell SOB
4-2934 202-228-2856
TX Kay Bailey Hutchison 283 Russell SOB
4-5922 202-224-0776
UT Robert F. Bennett 431 Dirksen SOB
4-5444 202-224-4908
UT Orrin Hatch 131 Russell SOB
4-5251 202-224-6331
VA Charles S. Robb 154 Russell SOB
4-4024 202-224-8689
VA John W. Warner 225 Russell SOB
4-2023 202-224-6295
VT James M. Jeffords 513 Hart SOB
4-5141 202-228-1967
VT Patrick J. Leahy 433 Russell SOB
4-4242 202-224-3595
WA Slade Gorton 730 Hart SOB
4-3441 202-224-9393
WA Patty Murray 111 Russell SOB
4-2621 202-224-0238
WI Russell D. Feingold, Jr. 502 Hart SOB
4-5323 202-224-2725
WI Herbert Kohl 330 Hart SOB
4-5653 414-297-4455
WV Robert Byrd 311 Hart SOB
4-3954 202-224-8070
WV John D. Rockefeller IV 109 Hart SOB
4-6472 202-224-7665
WY Alan K. Simpson 105 Dirksen SOB
4-3424 202-224-1315
WY Craig Thomas 302 Hart SOB
4-6441 202-224-1724
"DEAR COLLEAGUE" LETTER
July 18, 1996
Dear Colleague:
Most of us take for granted our ability to browse through
the neighborhood library or a corner bookstore, searching for
titles from Bestseller lists. For an estimated two million
Americans with blindness or visual impairments this sort of
activity is impossible.
The Library of Congress operates a small program that makes
an enormous difference in the lives of blind and disabled
Americans. This program, known as National Library Service for
the Blind and Physically Handicapped, provides full length books
and magazines in Braille and "Talking Book" formats to
individuals who would otherwise be cut off from published
material.
NLS selects, produces, and makes available to eligible
individuals a wide range of published material. Current law
requires NLS, and a handful of organizations with a similar
mission, to receive permission from either the publisher or the
author before production can begin. Regrettably, this process is
often lengthy and cumbersome, delaying production for up to a
year. James Gashel, the Director of Governmental Affairs for the
National Federation of the Blind, put it this way:
"In a society whose members increasingly depend upon access
to information for successful living, blind people cannot
afford to endure a growing gap in access to knowledge."
We plan to introduce legislation endorsed by the National
Federation of the Blind, the Association of American Publishers
and the U.S. Copyright Office that would amend the Copyright Act
to solve this problem. A copy of the proposed legislation is
enclosed. You may be pleased to know that this proposal has no
budgetary impact, and we believe it is completely non-
controversial.
We hope to introduce this bill next week and would
appreciate your cosponsorship. If you have questions about the
bill or would like to be listed as a cosponsor, please contact
Barbara Riehle at 224-2921.
Sincerely,
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