The Mid-Atlantic Regional Group
Blinded Veterans Association
Legislative News
ACB NEWS ALERT of interest to BVA
Hello,
Before someone else calls and asks what about this story that a blinded OIF Iraq veteran testified before some House Committee starts, thought you all better know about this thing today. Last Thursday, ACB arranged along with other advocacy groups for a hearing on technology access and along with this emergency notification systems for blind and deafness community.
Well, SGM Jessie Acosta was there to testify and did raise among many things, that the VA Blind Center wasn’t able to provide him with “training he needed, and that ACB was able to help!”
While most members of the House
Technology Hearing sort of went on and did not react, one Congresswoman from
Anyway, more news below on other topics of interest like the Talking Books Program from Library of Congress that you sometimes raise questions about.
It has been another hectic week of monitoring congressional proceedings. This week saw two hearings held that impact access to information through the use of technology.
COAT HEARING
As most of you know, A hearing concerning the Twenty-first Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act discussion draft was held yesterday morning in front of the House subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet. As a founding member of COAT, ACB played a pivotal roll in the drafting of the legislation and was honored to have Sergeant Major Jesse Acosta testify as part of the hearing.
The hearing was extremely compelling as celebrities representing the hearing loss community gave impassioned testimony regarding their daily challenges in working with everyday technology.
Representatives from industry also gave their standard and tired views on the proposed legislation saying that they were already addressing many of the issues covered in the draft bill.
Sergeant Major Acosta stole the show by giving his own personal examples of the inaccessibility to technology. He was asked by a member if he had experienced an emergency alert on television since he had lost his sight. He responded by saying yes and then was silent for five seconds. He then said after the silence, “Mam that’s what it sounded like, like nothing.” His passionate testimony was as moving to those in the audience as it was for the members.
Members from both parties expressed support for the draft legislation. In fact, it was agreed that there would be a deadline established in order to move this initiative forward. The one challenge that we have is industry’s obvious fear of the private right of action and undue Burdon language that currently exists in the draft Negotiations are on-going with industry and this topic will be addressed. .
I feel as though yesterday was a very productive and entertaining event that gave ACB, through Jesse Acosta, excellent visibility and credibility.
If you were not able to listen to the hearing yesterday it has been archived at: http://energycommerce.house.gov/cmte_mtgs/110-ti-hrg.050108.Disabilities.shtml
NLS FUNDING HEARING
On Wednesday afternoon the Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch held a hearing regarding the Library of Congress’s budget for 2009. The subject of the NLS Digital Talking Book Program was raised by the Chair of the subcommittee Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA). She said that funding this program appropriately was one of her priorities.
The requested funding level for the program is $12.5 million. The LOC said that they are prepared to complete the program in six years with out too much restriction in service. This is simply not good enough.
When this program was started the agreement was that it would be completed in four years at annual funding levels of $19.1 million. Please call the members of the subcommittee and let them know that this program is very important to us and that having access to information restricted in any small way is not acceptable.
Call the Capitol switchboard at: 202-224-3121
Democratic Subcommittee Members:
Senator Mary Landrieu (LA) (Chairman)
Senator Richard Durbin (IL)
Senator Ben Nelson (NE)
Republican Subcommittee Members:
Senator Lamar Alexander (TN) (Ranking Member)
Senator Wayne Allard (CO)
If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me.
Best Regards,
Eric
Eric Bridges
Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs
American Council of the Blind
Phone: (202) 467-5081
Fax: (202) 467-5085
Tom Zampieri
Blinded Veterans Association
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