legislative action notice
FROM: James Gashel, Director of Governmental affairs,
National Federation of the Blind
DATE: July 24, 1997
RE: exciting possibility on NLS funding, but action is needed
Greetings to all:
Here is some good news from Washington: There is a very real
possibility that an increase of almost $3 million will be made in
the funds provided for the National Library Service for the Blind
and Physically Handicapped of the Library of Congress. Thiswill be
helpful to all of us if it occurs.
The current appropriation is $44,963,000. The House has voted
$45,936,000, and the Senate has approved $47,870,000.
As compared to the House, it is obvious that the Senate amount is
much better. If the increase is approved by a conference committee
consisting of House and Senate members, almost all of it will go to
upgrading the supply of cassette machines. About 40percent of the
existing machines in service are more than ten years old.
We would do ourselves and the library service a great deal of good
if we can get the conferees to agree to the Senate number. The
letter below, which is directed to the chairman of the House side,
sets forth the supporting position. Similar letters have been sent
to the other House conferees and the Senate conferees as well.
A list of the House members and the Senators who will serve as
conferees follows the letter to Chairman Walsh. Please do what you
can to spread the word on this and send/fax letters and/or make
phone calls as soon as possible.
The most important people to reach are Representative Walsh and
Senator Bennett. Since they are deciding this matter, affecting
the entire nation, contacts from anywhere are fair game. Obviously
New York contacts would be best for Mr. Walsh and Utah contacts
would be best for Senator Bennett.
In writing to any member of the House of Representatives, simply
put the members name together with the following address:
"United States House of Representatives,
Washington, D. C.. 20515."
In writing to any Senator, simply use the Senator's name together
with the following address:
"United States Senate,
Washington, D. C. 20510."
Please do whatever you can. Time is critical.
The letter to Chairman Walsh follows:
July 23, 1997
The Honorable James T. Walsh, Chairman
Legislative Subcommittee
Committee on Appropriations
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congressman Walsh:
I am writing in regard to the FY 1998 appropriations bill
for the legislative branch. The sum approved for the Library of
Congress, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped (NLS) program is obviously of central importance to
those of us who are blind. Therefore, as you negotiate with
members of the Senate to develop the final bill, we are asking
you to look with great favor on the amount approved for this item
by the Senate. That is $47,870,000.00 as compared to the House
amount of $45,936,000.00.
In reviewing this request, it is important to understand
that access to literature for blind people comes almost
exclusively through the NLS program. For this reason, most blind
adults are users of the NLS service. For blind people, libraries
are not just one of many alternative sources for obtaining
reading matter--they are essentially the only source.
Regarding the funds requested to upgrade the supply of
recorded cassette playback machines, these machines are really
the infrastructure of the NLS program. The machines are small
portable units that must be used with the NLS recorded reading
matter. Without them, the books and magazines produced in sound
recorded format are of no real value. At present about forty
percent of these machines now in service are being utilized
beyond their useful life of ten years.
The only alternative to eventual replacement of the playback
machines is discontinuation of service to blind and disabled
persons. Therefore, it is critical to initiate an orderly
replacement program as soon as possible. If the funds provided
in the Senate bill are approved in conference, the NLS will then
be able to acquire 10,000 new machines. This would be a good
(albeit small) beginning for the machine replacement effort.
Therefore, I hope you will give this need the highest priority
possible when you work with conferees from the Senate to shape
the final bill.
Very truly yours,
James Gashel
Director of Governmental Affairs
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
The list of the Senate conference committee members follows:
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
Robert F. Bennett, UT, Chairman
202-224-5444 - voice
202-224-4908 - fax
Christine Ciccone, STAFF ASST.
Ted Stevens, AK
202-224-3004 - voice
202-224-2354 - fax
Steven J. Cortese, STAFF ASST.
Larry E. Craig
202-224-2752 - voice
202-228-1067 - fax
Brooke M. Roberts - STAFF ASST.
MINORITY
Byron L. Dorgan, Ranking Minority Member
202-224-2551 - voice
202-224-1193 - fax
James H. English - STAFF ASST.
Barbara Boxer
202-224-3553 - voice
202-228-4056 - fax
Kate O'Malley - STAFF ASST.
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS
Ted Stevens, AK, full committee, Chairman
202-224-3004 - voice
202-224-2354 - fax
Steven J. Cortese, STAFF ASST.
Robert Byrd, WV, full committee, Ranking Minority Member
202-224-3954 - voice
202-224-8070 - fax
James H. English - STAFF ASST.
The list of the conference committee members from the House
follows:
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
James T. Walsh, Chairman
202-225-3701 - voice
202-225-4042 - fax
Ed Lombard - STAFF ASST.
C. W. Bill Young, FL
202-225-5961 - voice
202-225-9764 - fax
Douglas Gregory - STAFF ASST.
Randy (Duke) Cunningham, CA
202-225-5452 - voice
202-225-2558 - fax
Frank Purcell - STAFF ASST.
Zach Wamp, TN
202-225-3271 - voice
202-225-3494 - fax
Claire McVey - STAFF ASST.
Tom Latham, IA
202-225-5476 - voice
202-225-3301 - fax
Paul Zurawski- STAFF ASST.
MINORITY
Jose E. Serrano, NY, Ranking Minority Member
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.
Marcy Kaptur, OH
202-225-4146 - voice
202-225-7711 - fax
Susan Role - 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
Scott Lilly - STAFF ASST.
Thanks,
J. G.
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