Subject: Upcoming action on NLS funds
ACTION ALERT
FROM: James Gashel, Director of Governmental Affairs
National Federation of the Blind
DATE: 9-2-97
RE: upcoming action on funds for the NLS program
This is a reminder on the pending matter of the FY 1998
appropriation of funds for the National Library Service for the
Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) program. This program is
funded through the Legislative Branch Appropriations bill, H. R.
2209. Different versions have passed both the House and the
Senate, and a conference committee will meet quite soon to
resolve the differences.
The amount approved by the Senate for NLS is $47,870,000. The
amount approved by the House is $45,936,000. This is a
difference of $1,934,000. If the Senate amount is agreed to by
the conference committee, it will be by far the largest increase
in the NLS appropriation in many years. Considering inflation,
the program has been losing ground for several years.
Even at $47,870,000, the funding of library services for the
blind would still be far below the amount that is needed.
Therefore, everyone who cares about improving the library service
as much as possible should contact the conferees to express
support for the increase.
Contact information for the Senate and House conferees is shown
on the lists that follow:
The list of the conference committee members from the Senate
follows:
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
UNITED STATES SENATE
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH SUBCOMMITTEE
Note: The Senators on the list below appear in order of their
subcommittee ranking. In addition to the members of the
Legislative Branch Subcommittee, who serve as conferees on the
annual appropriations bill, there are two ex-officio members--one
representing the majority, and one representing the minority--who
also serve as conferees. The ex-officio members are the chairman
and ranking minority members of the full committee unless one of
them is already a conferee by virtue of serving on the
subcommittee by membership designation. 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
Thad Cochran, MS,
202-224-5054 - voice
202-224-9450 - fax
no staff member specified
Robert C. Byrd, WV
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.
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Sun Dec 02 2012 - 01:30:04 PST