[NFBMT] Montana Legislative Alert: NFB Newsline Funding

[BRESLAUERS]

Good morning, NFB of Montana Federationists.

 

Here is the latest I know about the funding for NFB Newsline that has been
requested.

 

This is part of the big funding bill that is HB 2, the General Appropriations
Act, which passed its third reading as amended before the Senate, and was
referred to the House with amendments.  On April 14, on the second reading
before the House, the amendments didn't pass the House, so the bill was
referred to a conference committee, which consisted of members appointed from
the House and the Senate.  On April 21 there was a hearing before the Senate
portion of the conference committee, and the bill is currently in the second
House committee, non-tabled.  

 

In the meantime, the bill that has to do with NFB Newsline funding is now HB
632, which will implement receipt of and appropriate Federal stimulus and
COVID recovery funds.  The portion having to do with NFB Newsline funding is
on page 21 of the bill.  If it passes, as it stands now, NFB Newsline will be
funded with American Rescue Plan Act funds to the tune of sixty thousand
dollars a year for the next two years, for a total of 120 thousand, starting
on July 1.   

 

HB 632 passed its third reading in the House and was referred to the Senate
Finance and Claims Committee, after having passed its first reading in the
Senate.  The committee concurred the bill as amended.  It passed its second
and third reading before the House and was referred back to the Senate with
amendments on April 15.   

 

As Jennie Stapp, state librarian, said in an email to me yesterday, "I fully
expect this appropriation to remain in the bill as it's finalized.  We would
like to work with NFB to put together an agreement that funds Newsline and
the marketing and training described during budget testimony earlier in the
session.  We will reach out to you when the bill is passed." 

 

So far, this looks like a go, and I congratulate the members of the NFB who
have worked so hard to restore the funding for NFB Newsline.

 

Joy Breslauer, First Vice President, and Advocacy and Public Policy Committee
Chair 

National Federation of the Blind of Montana 

Web Site: http://www.nfbofmt.org <http://www.nfbofmt.org/> 

 

Live the life you want

 

The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends
who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. Every day we work
together to help blind people live the lives they want.