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<b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br><br>
<br><br>
CONTACT:<br><br>
</b>Chris Danielsen<br><br>
Director of Public Relations<br><br>
National Federation of the Blind<br><br>
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330<br><br>
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)<br><br>
<a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a><br><br>
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<h1><b>National Federation of the Blind Applauds Transmission of
Marrakesh Treaty for Ratification</b></h1></div>
<br><br>
<div align="center"><h2><b>Urges Senate to Ratify Treaty to End Book
Famine Immediately</i></b></h2></div>
<br><br>
<b>Baltimore, Maryland (February 10, 2016):</b> The National Federation
of the Blind today applauded President Obama's transmission of the
Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who
Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled to the United
States Senate for ratification, and urged the Senate to act immediately
to ratify the treaty.<br><br>
<br><br>
Mark A. Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind,
said: "this crucial treaty will substantially ease the book famine
that currently limits education and opportunity for the blind of this
nation and the world. When it is fully in effect, it will give blind
Americans the ability to access books in Braille, audio, and other
alternative formats from across the globe, as well as provide more books
to the blind of all nations. We strongly urge the United States Senate to
ratify it without delay."<br><br>
<br><br>
The Marrakesh Treaty was officially proposed in 2009, successfully
adopted in June 2013 by the World Intellectual Property Organization, and
signed by the United States in October 2013. For more information on the
treaty, please visit
<a href="https://nfb.org/marrakeshfactsheet">
https://nfb.org/marrakeshfactsheet</a>.<br><br>
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<b>About the National Federation of the Blind <br><br>
<br><br>
</b>The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.<br><br>
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