Federal News: Recently, both medical and library professional associations made statements regarding federal funding. The Medical Library Association (MLA) and Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries (AAHSL) recommended funding the NLM at levels of at least $412.1 million in FY18. Their justifications for these recommendations are outlined in this Statement, submitted to the Senate Subcommittee on…
Author: Carmen Howard
Legislative Update, 05/16/2017
Federal: Take action to support federal library funding! Contact your senators to sign each of the Reed/Collins LSTA and Reed/Grassley/Stabenow IAL “Dear Appropriator” letters. Senators have until May 19 to sign. President Trump has proposed elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services and most all other library funding sources. Read the full story on the District…
Legislative Update, 04/05/2017
Federal: Updates to the FCC privacy rules approved under the Obama administration in October 2016 were repealed last week in Congress. The new resolution allows internet service providers to collect user information and sell it to advertisers without having to obtain the user’s consent. Suggestions to aid librarians in protecting their patrons’ privacy may be…
Legislative Update 03/06/2017
Federal: ALA and ARL are among 50 organizations that have signed a statement supporting privacy protection of transnational travelers from undue search of personal electronic devices. The American Civil Liberties Union and Electronic Frontier Foundation both report an increase in complaints filed within the past month regarding U.S. border official searches of laptops and smart phones. In a recent…
Legislative Update 01/25/2017
Federal: FY17 appropriations will proceed through April 28 with the passage of H.R. 2028, the Further Continuing and Security Assistance Appropriations Act. This bill includes appropriations for the FDA Innovation Account and NIH Innovation Account, as funded by H.R. 34, the 21st Century Cures Act, which was signed into law by President Obama in Dec 2016. Review…
Legislative Update, 12/20/2016
Federal News Want to participate in library advocacy? Be a voice for library funding, privacy & surveillance reform, access to government information, and other issues. National Library Legislative Day 2017 will occur May 1-2 in Washington, D.C. Registration is now open on the ALA website. State News: Here is an Illinois Public Media interview of Dan…
Legislative Update, 11/23/2016
Federal: With the 2016 U.S. presidential election cycle behind us, we can now look at near-future implications for healthcare legislation. President Elect Donald Trump has vowed to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and has proposed a replacement model that includes Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Information regarding the Trump Administration’s healthcare reform is available at www.greatagain.gov/policy/healthcare.html….
Legislative Update, 11/11/2016
First, everyday and especially on Veteran’s Day, let us say thank you to all of the veterans that have served and protected our right to participate in the legislative processes of our country! Federal: Google is filing an appeal with the Conseil d’etat, the highest court in France, regarding a ruling on the “right to…
Legislative Update, 10/10/2016
Federal: At the beginning of October, Congress passed a continuing resolution (CR), which will delay the passage of appropriations bills until after the fall election cycle. Libraries were supported in the CR, with relatively level funding for the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) program, Library of Congress, and other…
Legislative Update, 09/12/2016
Federal: ALA submitted a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding the recent inclusion of broadband Internet access to the Lifeline program. Lifeline provides low-income Americans with discounted phone service. In March 2016, the FCC voted to include broadband as an additional service of this program. Recommendations made by ALA addressed non-cost-related obstacles in accessing broadband….