Date: Wed, 23 Jul 1997 20:20:55 -0700 From: David Andrews Subject: NLS Funding, Need Immediate Action!!! 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.