Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. press release, July 19, 2000

Second Congressional District of Maryland MEWS FROM Robert L. Ehrlich, 1 407 York Road, Suite 304 Lutherville, Maryland 21093 Building Washington, D.C. 20515 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT: Jill Homan July 1 9, 2000 202/225-306 1 Nation’s Largest Blind Organization Bestows Highest Honor Upon Congressman Ehrlich WASHINGTON, D.C. - The nation’s largest and oldest blind organization, the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), recently honored Congressman Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. with its most prestigious accolade, the Newel Perry Award, for work on his legislation to help the blind achieve independence. The NFB has given its top honor to just 22 individuals in over 45 years, including then Congressman Barry Goldwater in 1982 and former Vice President Hubert Humphrey in 1965. NFB President Marc Maurer stated, “Congressman Bob Ehrlich has demonstrated a commitment to assisting the blind in achieving self-sufficiency through work. He understands and supports the wish of the blind to become independent. “In recognition of his courageous leadership and outstanding service, we bestowed upon our friend our highest honor for individuals who are not NFB members.” The Newel Perry Award was named for a brilliant and blind mathematician of the late 19th Century. Newel Perry was unable to obtain employment from the more than 500 institutions of higher education to which he applied. Eventually, he was hired to teach math at the California School for the Blind. He served as a teacher and mentor for students including Dr. Jacobus tenBroek, Constitutional scholar and eventual founder of the NFB. “We named our top award after the man who was the intellectual and moral force, in first part of century, that formed the minds and consciences of the men who formed the NFB,” Marc Maurer explained. Congressman Ehrlich stated, “I will continue to push for passage of my legislation, H.R. 1601, continued