March 19, 2025
The Honorable Robert Aderholt, Chair
House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
272 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Rosa DeLauro, Ranking Member
House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
2413 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Shelly Moore Capito, Chair
Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
170 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Tammy Baldwin, Ranking Member
Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies
141 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Chairs Aderholt and Capito, and Ranking Members DeLauro and Baldwin:
The National Federation of the Blind, the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans, is deeply troubled by the recent executive order regarding the instruction to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Specifically, IMLS funding is essential for many of the state libraries for the blind and print disabled, which serve as a critical source of Braille and other specialized audio books for blind and low-vision Americans. Without this funding, the critical services provided by these libraries will be dramatically reduced or eliminated altogether.
We call upon the House and Senate Appropriation Subcommittees on Labor, Health & Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies to ensure the Library Services and Technology Act (20 U.S.C. § 9121) and its supporting Grants to States program (20 U.S.C. § 9141) remain fully funded for the 2025 Fiscal Year and beyond, ensuring the institutions it funds may remain open and operational for all communities served.
According to the 2023 American Community Survey conducted by the United States Census Bureau, there are approximately 8.3 million blind or low-vision Americans. That is about 2.5 percent of the overall population. According to the most recent census, 66 million Americans live in rural areas. Even if only 1 percent of those living in rural areas are blind or low vision, that still amounts to more than half a million people who are at risk of losing access to a vital source of Braille and other specialized services provided by state libraries for the blind in rural settings.
However, it won’t only be the blind who are affected by a decrease or elimination of funding. There are an estimated 124,903 libraries across the United States. These locations serve as important centers for community engagement, the furtherance of literacy, extended research, and internet access for Americans in every locality. In rural communities these libraries are doubly essential because they may be the sole source of free available internet, allowing for people to study and research for school assignments, search for employment, and engage with the wider world.
It is of the utmost importance that these critical institutions continue to be funded, and we urge you to ensure the funding continues in the next fiscal year appropriation authorization under consideration by your subcommittees. If you have any further questions, or if the National Federation of the Blind can be of assistance in any way, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Mark A. Riccobono, President
National Federation of the Blind