LEGISLATIVE ALERT
FROM: James Gashel
SUBJECT:  FUNDS FOR BOOKS FOR THE BLIND FROM THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS COULD BE 
CUT
     Congress is considering the bill which makes appropriations for the 
Library of Congress.  The bill is H. R. 3754.  It was passed by the House of 
Representatives on Wednesday, July 10. Under that bill the amount 
appropriated for the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically 
Handicapped (NLS) program in the Library of Congress is $44,964,000.  This is 
only a $13,000 increase above the fiscal year 1996 amount, but at least it is 
not a cut.  
     This is the good news, but there is a big storm cloud on the horizon.  A 
provision contained in section 208 of the bill would make future cuts 
possible if the Librarian of Congress decides that other programs within the 
Library are more important than Books for the Blind.  Section 208 of the 
House-passed bill would allow the transfer of funds from one line item in the 
Library of Congress to another.  Although the Librarian could only make 
transfers under this section with the approval of the House and Senate 
appropriations committees, the notion of altering the line items at all, 
outside of the normal appropriations process, is a significant policy change. 
 Moreover, this change is not likely to work to the advantage of the NLS 
program.  For that reason, we are asking the appropriations committee in the 
Senate to remove the reference to the Books for the Blind program from 
section 208.  The letters which follow present more detail.  All of you who 
care about receiving adequate library services should contact Senators on the 
Appropriations Committee.  They will be taking action on this bill as early 
as Wednesday and Thursday of next week.  A list of the Senate Appropriations 
Committee members with phone numbers, fax numbers, and staff contacts 
included follows the letters.  
     The Senators who are most critical are:  Mark Hatfield,Chairman of the 
Senate Appropriations Committee; Connie Mack,Chairman of the Legislative 
Branch Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee; and Patty Murray, 
ranking minority member of the Legislative  Branch Subcommittee.  If we make 
our voices heard with these Senators and the others on the committee we can 
protect the amount specified by Congress for the NLS appropriation.  
July 12, 1996
The Honorable Mark Hatfield, Chairman
Committee on Appropriations
United States Senate
Washington, D. C. 20510
Dear Mr. Chairman:
     I am writing to request your assistance with an amendment to the 
Legislative Branch appropriations bill.  Section 208 of that bill as passed 
by the House would place the line item
appropriations amount for the Books for the Blind and Physically Handicapped 
program of the Library of Congress in jeopardy.  This section is a policy 
change and would give the Librarian of
Congress the authority to transfer funds which Congress has already specified 
for particular activities.
     A letter which I have written today (copy attached) to Senator Mack, 
Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, spells out our 
reasons for requesting a restriction on the transfer authority as it would 
affect the Books for the Blind and Physically Handicapped program.  At this 
point, I do not know what Senator Mack's intentions might be concerning the 
proposal we have made.  Therefore, I am writing to ask you to support or,if 
necessary, sponsor an amendment to protect the Books for the Blind 
appropriation.
     Reading matter is something which sighted people tend to take for 
granted because it is so available to them, and
libraries are only one of many sources.  For blind people,
however, libraries are virtually the only source.  Few
individuals can afford to purchase a book in Braille, let alone have the 
space required to store a personal collection.  For these reasons, a library 
which can serve the entire nation offers the most cost-effective means for 
providing access to books and magazines for the blind.  The Library of 
Congress has fulfilled this role for us with a high degree of success for 
sixty-five years.
     This is why we place great urgency on safeguarding the amount which the 
Congress determines to appropriate for the Books for the Blind service.  
Please contact me to further this
objective.  I understand that the markup of the appropriations bill for the 
Legislative Branch is scheduled for July 16, with action by the full 
committee to follow soon thereafter.  I hope it will be possible to include 
an amended version of section 208 in the bill at the time it is reported out 
by the Subcommittee.  
     Thank you for your consideration and assistance in regard to this issue.
                              Very truly yours,
                              James Gashel
                              Director of Governmental Affairs
                              NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
JG/mrb
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