A resolution honoring the 150th anniversary of the American Printing House for the Blind.

Whereas the American Printing House for the Blind was chartered in 1858 in Louisville, Kentucky by the General Assembly of Kentucky through An Act to Establish the American Printing House for the Blind, in response to a growing national need for books and educational aids for blind students;

Whereas Louisville, Kentucky was chosen as the best city in which to establish a national publishing house to print books in raised letters due to its central location in the country in 1858 and its efficient distribution system;

Whereas the 45th Congress passed an Act to promote the education of the blind in 1879 designating the American Printing House for the Blind as the official national source of textbooks and educational aids for legally blind students below college level throughout the country, and Congress appropriates Federal funds to the American Printing House for the Blind annually for this purpose;

Whereas, for 150 years, the American Printing House for the Blind has identified the unique needs of people who are blind and visually impaired and has developed, produced, and distributed educational materials in Braille, large print, and enlarged print throughout the United States;

Whereas the American Printing House for the Blind serves more than 58,000 blind and visually impaired Americans each year; and

Whereas the American Printing House for the Blind each year attracts visitors from across the country and around the world to learn about the history of the education of the blind and to exchange information on the evolving needs of the population it serves: Now, therefore, be it