[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 168 (Monday, November 16, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1627]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF PENNSYLVANIA'S 
                            75TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MATT CARTWRIGHT

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 16, 2015

  Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the National 
Federation of the Blind who celebrate 75 years of service for the 
vision impaired. Established in November 1940 by Jacobus tenBroek, The 
National Federation of the Blind has prided itself for the better part 
of a century as being the voice of the blind Americans.
  The Federation's initial convention took place in Wilkes-Barre, PA, 
uniting organizations of the blind from across seven states under one 
constitution. Once established, the NFB advocated for financial 
security, equal employment opportunity and equal access to housing, 
transportation and places of public accommodation.
  Today, the National Federation of the Blind is America's largest 
organization of the blind with affiliates in all 50 states and over 
50,000 members. Within the Federation are dozens of subsidiaries, such 
as the National Association of Blind Students, the National Association 
of Blind Lawyers, The National Association of Blind Merchants, the 
National Association of the Blind in Communities of Faith, and the 
National Association of Guide Dog Users. This vast network helps to 
educate the general public as well as legislators and policy makers at 
the local, state, and national levels. In addition, the NFB facilitates 
mentoring relationships, provides Braille certification courses, and 
has a division dedicated to educating the public about the use of guide 
dogs.
  It is an honor to recognize the National Federation of the Blind for 
celebrating their 75th Anniversary. I congratulate them on the great 
strides they have made to advance the welfare of men and women with 
vision impairments. May they continue their honorable work promoting 
and defending the interests of the blind in America.

                          ____________________