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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Freeh, Jessica [mailto:JFreeh@nfb.org] <br><b>Sent:</b> Monday, March 12, 2012 4:02 PM<br><b>To:</b> Alpidio Rolon; Amy Buresh; Art Schreiber; Beth Rival; Bill Packee; Bob Kresmer; Carl Jacobsen; Cassandra McNabb; Cathy Jackson; Charlene Smyth; Christine G. Hall; Dan Hicks; Daniel Burke; Donna Wood; Duane Iverson; Elsie Dickerson; Frank Lee; Franklin Shiner; Fred Schroeder; Garrick Scott; Gary Ray; Gary Wunder; Grace Pires; J.W. Smith; James Antonacci; Jeannie Massay; Jennifer Dunnam; Joe Ruffalo; John Batron; John Fritz; Joy Harris; Joyce Scanlan; Ken Rollman; Kim Williams; Kimberly Flores; Larry Posont; Lynn Majewski; Mary Willows; Melissa Riccobono; Michael Barber; Michael Freeman; Mika Pyyhkala; Nani Fife; Pam Allen; Parnell Diggs; Patti Chang; Patty Estes; Rena Smith; Ron Brown; Gardner, Ron; Sam Gleese; Scott LaBarre; Shawn Callaway; Terry Sheeler<br><b>Subject:</b> National Federation of the Blind Endorses Legislation to Improve Prescription Drug Labeling<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>CONTACT:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>Chris Danielsen<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>Director of Public Relations<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>(410) 659-9314, extension 2330<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>(410) 262-1281 (Cell)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org"><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>cdanielsen@nfb.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>National Federation of the Blind Endorses Legislation<br> to Improve Prescription Drug Labeling<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>Baltimore, Maryland (March 12, 2012): </span></b><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>The National Federation of the Blind, the oldest and largest organization of blind people in the country, today endorsed H.R. 4087, the Prescription Drug Labeling Promotion Act of 2012. This legislation, introduced by Congressman Edward D. Markey (D-MA) on February 28, is intended to ensure that people who are blind or have other print disabilities have full access to the information included on their prescription drug labels.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>The legislation calls for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to create a working group consisting of stakeholders—such as representatives of organizations of the blind—which will develop and propagate best practices and standards on access to prescription drug labels by the blind and visually impaired. The working group would have one year after the date of the Act’s enactment to promulgate its guidance on best practices. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>Eighteen months after the promulgation of best practices, the Comptroller General will evaluate the level of access blind people have to prescription drug labels, as well as the level of compliance by pharmacies, and submit a review to Congress.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>“Blind people and those who are losing vision must have access to the critical information contained on prescription labels,” said Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind. “We thank Congressman Markey for introducing this legislation and look forward to participating in discussions to formulate best practices for making this information accessible.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>“No one should have to sacrifice their independence or safety to take their medication,” said Representative Markey, senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and author of the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act. “Being unable to read prescription labels can lead to unnecessary illness and added emergency room visits. The Prescription Drug Labeling Promotion Act helps turn pharmacies into partners for empowering all Americans to take full control of their health. It is another important step to ensure that individuals who are blind can fully participate in 21st century society.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-family:"Helvetica","sans-serif"'>###<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>About the National Federation of the Blind </span></b><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind people in the United States. The NFB improves blind people’s lives through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs encouraging independence and self-confidence. It is the leading force in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind. In January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in the United States for the blind led by the blind.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div></div></body></html>