Floor Situation

H.Res. 1034 is expected to be considered on the floor of the House on Wednesday, June 23, 2010, under a motion to suspend the rules, requiring a two-thirds vote for passage. The legislation was introduced Rep. John P. Sarbanes (D-MD) on January 21, 2010.

Bill Summary

H.Res. 1034 would resolve that the House of Representative:

• “Congratulates the National Federation of the Blind for its 70 years of outstanding service to the blind, especially its fight for an equal education and access to Braille for all blind children in the United States;
• “Supports the designation of `National Braille Literacy Month' in recognition of the 70th anniversary of the National Federation of the Blind and of the importance of Braille; and
• “Calls upon the people of the United States to recognize the central role that Braille plays in the lives of blind people and to support the efforts of the National Federation of the Blind to promote Braille literacy.”

Background

According to the resolution's findings, since its invention by Louis Braille (1809-1852), the reading and writing code for the blind that bears his name has become the accepted method of reading and writing for the blind the world over.