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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black;">Many thanks to Janice Samuel for sending me the following YouTube link below which contains the NFB's Jesse Shirek and his recent testimony to the Congressional Appropriations panel, standing up
for the continued funding of the National Library Service (NLS) and the Talking Books program. </span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black;"> </span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black;"> Jesse's testimony starts at 14 minutes and 20 seconds into the clip. Jesse speaks for approximately 3 minutes. Thanks to Janice for finding it!</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black;"> Link to the clip on YouTube:</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: blue;"><u><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/Hxf9vGtDAOU?si=EoCUEwa7wUvH7nZl" id="OWA049aa066-fdcf-82c6-e3f7-ef400ffb5891" class="x_OWAAutoLink" originalsrc="https://www.youtube.com/live/Hxf9vGtDAOU?si=EoCUEwa7wUvH7nZl" data-auth="NotApplicable" style="color: blue; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">https://www.youtube.com/live/Hxf9vGtDAOU?si=EoCUEwa7wUvH7nZl</a></u></span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black;">Importantly, Jesse has indicated we could start communicating now to Chairman Valadao's office (the panel's chairman) to follow-up on Jesse's testimony and to request that the chairman protect the
National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled at its current funding level. Please call Chairman Valadao's office with that message! The phone number to call is just below! It will take you two minutes to call and leave a message during business
hours.</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black;">Please keep in mind that I hear that Chairman Valadao has been very supportive this year of NFB supported bills such as the Blind Americans Return to Work Act and Access Technology Affordability
Act. I'm told we have reason to believe Chairman Valadao will be supportive of the funding for NLS. Calling his office and voicing that opinion politely cannot hurt and may lock in that support! Feel free to forward and post this to others who count on Talking
Books and the NLS!</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black;">- Jeff</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black;">Contact information:</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black;">"Representative David G. Valadao</span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black;"> </span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: black;">2465 Rayburn House Office Building<br>
Tel: (202) 225-4695</span></p>
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