Blind Americans Urge the House of Representatives to Fund Critical Programs
in Upcoming Appropriations Package
The National Federation of the Blind, the transformative membership and
advocacy organization of blind Americans, urges 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."
How Members Can Help
On July 28, 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.
Fortunately, the House version of the bill has not yet been finalized. This
is where you come in. 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.
Sample Script
When you call or email you might say: "My name is [YOUR NAME] and I want to
urge [REPRESENTATIVE NAME] 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."
We suggest a subject like: "Please Ensure that Critical Funding for Blind
Americans Remains in the Labor H Appropriations Bill"
For Chairman Aderholt's office, please contact Megan Medley at
megan.medley@mail.house.gov
<https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=40032&qid=11612549> , or by calling
202-225-4876.
To contact Representative Russ Fulcher, send an e-mail to
Steve Ackerman at
mailto:steve.ackerman@mail.house.gov
To contact Representative Simpson, email
Lindsey Parobek at Lindsey.Parobek@mail.house.gov
. If you email,
please copy Jesse Shirek at