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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=4 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:13.5pt;
font-family:Helvetica;font-weight:bold'>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica;font-weight:bold'>CONTACT:<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica'>Chris Danielsen<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica'>Director of Public Relations<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica'>National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica'>(410) 659-9314, extension 2330<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica'>(410) 262-1281 (Cell)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org"><font face=Helvetica><span
style='font-family:Helvetica'>cdanielsen@nfb.org</span></font></a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=4
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:Helvetica;font-weight:
bold'>National Federation of the Blind Endorses Legislation<br>
to Improve Prescription Drug Labeling<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica;font-weight:bold'>Baltimore, Maryland (March 12, 2012): </span></font></b><font
face=Helvetica><span style='font-family:Helvetica'>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></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica'>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></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica'>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></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica'>“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></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Helvetica'>“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></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=3
face=Helvetica><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;font-weight:
bold'>###<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
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12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><font
size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;
font-weight:bold'>About the National Federation of the Blind </span></font></b><font
face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-family:Arial'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 face=Arial><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>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 <u1:place u2:st="on"><u1:country-region u2:st="on">United
States</u1:country-region></u1:place>. 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 <u1:place u2:st="on"><u1:country-region u2:st="on">United
States</u1:country-region></u1:place> for the blind led by the blind.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
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12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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