[NFBV-Fairfax] Fwd: [NFBV-Announce] Attachment included: Legislative Alert: Please Urge the House of Representatives to Fund Critical Programs in Upcoming Appropriations Package

[Christine Grassman]

> Begin forwarded message:
> 
> From: "tracy.soforenko--- via NFBV-Announce" <nfbv-announce at nfbnet.org>
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>  
> September is a critical month for our legislative advocacy in Congress. We will be requesting your assistance each week with a different legislative alert. Our goal is to share our request and why it matters. Then, we will ask you to make a few phone calls or emails to ask Congress to act by reaching out to staff. We are asking you to make contact this week on this specific matter and are hoping you might take 5 minutes to read this message and send 2 emails this week.
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> Summary Context:
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> We are trying to urge the House Appropriations Committee to include critical funding for programs that benefit the blind into the upcoming appropriations package. 
> Those programs include the Institute of Museum and Library Services (which plays a large part in helping to fund libraries for the blind across the country), special education programs, vocational rehabilitation programs, Independent Living Services for Older Individuals who are Blind (OIB), and the American Printing House for the Blind. 
> These programs are funded through the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriation Bill each fiscal year. Frequently, we will refer to this as the “Labor H Appropriations Bill.” 
> What we are requesting and why
> On July 28, National Federation of the Blind President Riccobono wrote letters to the chairs and ranking members of both the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies. 
> He urged them to appropriate funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services, special education programs, and vocational rehabilitation programs at the fiscal year 2024 level plus a 5 percent cost of living adjustment over the last two fiscal years. 
> He also urged them to appropriate $254.7 million for the OIB program, which is currently woefully underfunded, and $53.4 million for the American Printing House for the Blind to help facilitate the distribution of the Monarch, an innovative multi-line Braille and tactile graphics technology that is revolutionizing access to education for blind students. 
> He also asked that the annual $9 million grant for Bookshare be maintained. Later that week the full Senate Appropriations Committee voted in favor of a version of the Labor H Appropriations Bill that funded all of the above programs at the Fiscal Year 2024 level, which is less than what we were hoping for. In some cases, much less. 
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> How you can assist
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> Fortunately, the House version of the bill has not yet been finalized. This is where you come in. 
> We are requesting that you contact both your member of the House of Representatives and the sub-committee chairperson responsible for this funding.
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> We need everyone to contact Representative Robert Aderholt, the Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, as well as your own representative in the House and urge them to fund these important programs for all blind Americans. 
> This is essentially 2 email messages.
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> The attachment (which should not be forwarded to the member of Congress) provides the email addresses for staff members for our Representatives in Virginia. You need only to send your message to your specific member of Congress and to Chairman Aderholt’s office. For Chairman Aderholt’s office, please contact Megan Medley at megan.medley at mail.house.gov <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40032&qid=11615738>, or by calling 202-225-4876. 
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> We think it is probably easiest to send 2 emails
> If you email, please copy Jesse Shirek in our national legislative team at jshirek at nfb.org <https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40034&qid=11615738>
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> Please remember to update the below with the specific name of the member of Congress and remember to put your name and address as your signature.
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> Subject: Please Ensure that Critical Funding for Blind Americans Remains in the Labor H Appropriations Bill 
> Hello Representative, <Insert Congress Member’s name>
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> I want to urge you to ensure that critical funding for crucial programs for blind Americans will be included in the Labor H Appropriations Bill. Specifically, I would like to urge a five percent increase over the Fiscal Year 2024 funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services, special education programs, and vocational rehabilitation programs (including the client assistance program and protection and advocacy program). 
> I would also like to urge that the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals who are Blind program receives a significant funding increase up to $254.7 million, and that the American Printing House for the Blind receives an increase in funding up to $53.4 million. Finally, I would like to ask that the annual $9 million grant for Bookshare is maintained. 
> This funding would help ensure that blind Americans are able to get proper education, maximize our employment potential, and live independent lives. Thank you.” 
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> Thank you,
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> [Insert your name, address, and phone number]
>  

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