[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 385 Introduced in House (IH)]







104th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 385

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding tactile 
             currency for the blind and visually impaired.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 14, 1996

 Mr. Baker of Louisiana (for himself, Mr. Hayes, Mr. Bachus, Mr. Lazio 
 of New York, Mr. Kennedy of Massachusetts, Ms. Velazquez, Ms. Roybal-
    Allard, Mr. Kanjorski, Mr. LoBiondo, Mrs. Meek of Florida, Mr. 
   Chrysler, Mr. King, Mr. Frank of Massachusetts, Mr. Schumer, Mr. 
 McCrery, Mrs. Maloney, Mr. Cremeans, Mr. Heineman, Mr. Ackerman, Mr. 
 Sanders, Mr. Stockman, Mr. Gutierrez, Mr. Watt of North Carolina, Mr. 
 Tauzin, Mr. LaFalce, Mr. Ehrlich, Mr. Flake, Mr. Bono, and Mr. Roth) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
  on Banking and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding tactile 
             currency for the blind and visually impaired.

    Whereas currency is used by virtually everyone in everyday life, 
            including blind and visually impaired persons;
    Whereas the Federal reserve notes of the United States are 
            inaccessible to individuals with visual disabilities;
    Whereas the Americans with Disabilities Act enhances the economic 
            independence and equal opportunity for full participation 
            in society for individuals with disabilities;
    Whereas most blind and visually impaired persons are therefore 
            required to rely upon others to determine denominations of 
            such currency;
    Whereas this constitutes a serious impediment to independence in 
            everyday living;
    Whereas electronic means of bill identification will always be more 
            fallible than purely tactile means;
    Whereas tactile currency already exists in 23 countries worldwide; 
            and
    Whereas the currency of the United States is presently undergoing 
            significant changes for security purposes: Now, therefore, 
            be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) endorses the efforts recently begun by the Bureau of 
        Engraving and Printing to upgrade the currency for security 
        reasons; and
            (2) strongly encourages the Secretary of the Treasury and 
        the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to incorporate cost-
        effective, tactile features into the design changes, thereby 
        including the blind and visually impaired community in 
        independent currency usage.
                                 <all>