[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 129 (Friday, August 4, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1639-E1640]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                          A PROGRAM THAT WORKS

                                 ______


                        HON. JOHN M. SPRATT, JR.

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 4, 1995
  Mr. SPRATT. Mr. Speaker, Richard W. Riley, Secretary of the 
Department of Education and former Governor of my State of South 
Carolina, recently addressed the Council of State Administrators of 
Vocational Rehabilitation [CSAVR] as part of their annual meeting here 
in Washington. CSAVR is a national organization composed of the chief 
administrative officers of the State vocational rehabilitation agencies 
with responsibility for the administration of the Rehabilitation Act in 
the States and territories. They provide eligible individuals with 
mental or physical disabilities with the services needed for them to be 
placed in jobs in the competitive labor market.
  In light of the recent attempts by the Economic and Educational 
Opportunities Committee to diminish the work of these dedicated men and 
women, I urge my colleagues to read Secretary Riley's remarks.
                      Remarks of Richard W. Riley

       Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. It is a great pleasure 
     to have the opportunity to meet with you today. I want to 
     thank Joe Owens and Elmer Bartels. I would like to recognize 
     Judy Heumann, my Assistant Secretary for Special Education 
     and Rehabilitative Services who has worked so effectively on 
     these issues and her Deputy, Howard Moses who is here today.


                          a program that works

       All of you are to be commended for the work you are doing 
     in your states to help make the Vocational Rehabilitation 
     program one of the shinning examples of what works in our 
     nation--a truly successful working relationship between 
     states and the federal government--a program that has helped 
     more than nine million individuals with disabilities, from 
     all walks of life, to secure gainful employment.
       Each year more than 200,000 people enter or return to the 
     competitive labor market or become self-employed--becoming 
     fully contributing taxpaying members of our national 

[[Page E 1640]]
     community. You are filling a need that needs to be filled. A poll taken 
     last year revealed that 68 percent of people of working age 
     with disabilities are not working and need services to help 
     them get to the next level.
       It is a unique program--and one which works.
       As a former governor, I understand the concerns of some 
     seeking to limit federal involvement in some areas of our 
     lives. I certainly am all for lowering the federal 
     bureaucracy when it can be accomplished without loss of 
     important services. In fact, at the Department of Education, 
     we have proposed the elimination of 59 education programs and 
     the consolidation of 27 others.
       But I also know the cutting for the sake of cutting is not 
     necessarily a positive thing. And the elimination of a 
     federal role when it is necessary and legitimate is bad 
     public policy.
       There are certain important responsibilities that we must 
     uphold at the national level in order to ensure continued 
     high quality programs like vocational rehabilitation that 
     are, in effect, run by the states.
       We certainly do not want to micro-manage your 
     rehabilitation programs. But we can help to facilitate these 
     important programs and provide the financial support that 
     will keep your vocational rehabilitation programs running 
     effectively.
       I am so pleased that in my own home state of South 
     Carolina, I was able to play a role in the development of a 
     strong network of facilities that provide services to 
     mentally and physically disabled people across the state. The 
     program is still growing and helping people from all over the 
     state become contributing members of the economy.
       I am pleased to see Charles La Rosa, the South Carolina 
     State Director here today. Charles has continued to provide 
     the leadership that makes this program the success that it 
     is. All across the state, new training centers--which, as you 
     all know, are one of the essential pieces of successful 
     vocational rehabilitation--have been opened, some even rising 
     out of the vacant buildings left by closed car dealerships.
       Today, this network--which now has 22 facilities--can boast 
     that no one who wants to participate in the program will have 
     to go farther than 50 miles to get to one of these centers.
       And I know that South Carolina is not alone in this 
     success. I can cite success stories of individuals across the 
     nation who were completely dependent upon others for support 
     and who are now, because they have gotten the proper 
     vocational training, entering the world of independent work 
     and living.
       Fully three-fourths of the people who have received 
     rehabilitation training throughout the nation as the result 
     of this program, and who are now gainfully employed, report 
     that their own earned income is their primary source of 
     support. This is extraordinary and speaks volumes to those 
     who might characterize this program as just another 
     government handout.
       As most people agree--and as we certainly are hearing in 
     the current debate over welfare reform--people do not prefer 
     to be supported by others, whether by government entitlement 
     or family. Most people want, more than anything, to work and 
     be contributing members of society. This program gives 
     millions of individuals that chance.


                 comprehensive approach to job training

       Of course, as you all know, vocational rehabilitation is 
     more than just a job referral or search program. It is more 
     than simple employment training. And this is a crucial 
     distinction.
       Because, while many individuals need little more than job 
     training and a helpful boost into the job market . . . a 
     large majority need more assistance, guidance, encouragement 
     and specialized services before they can become independent.
       At its core, the vocational rehabilitation program offers a 
     consistent, supportive, individualized, comprehensive 
     treatment that helps to create a productive relationship or 
     partnership between specially trained counselors and 
     teachers, and individuals with disabilities.
       At its best, it offers ``one-stop shopping''--a means for 
     disabled individuals to get into, or return to, common 
     activity and increased productivity.


                          75 years of success

       Happily, Congress has long understood the value and 
     importance of vocational rehabilitation. Since its creation 
     75 years ago, this program has been continually reauthorized 
     and expanded with bipartisan support. It has included special 
     features that do not exist in regular job training programs. 
     And it has created additional safeguards and encouragement to 
     coordinate among different agencies so that individuals in 
     need of services may be served efficiently and without delay.
       As we all know, these are uncertain times which require 
     stern budgetary measures. But these times also require 
     thoughtfulness and consideration. This is not the time for 
     arbitrary and shortsighted action.
       Certainly, there are proposals floating around Capitol Hill 
     these days which arouse my concern in this regard. I am 
     worried that in the budget-cutting, big government-shrinking 
     zeal of these times, some very valuable programs--including 
     vocational rehabilitation--could be harmed.
       While I strongly share the sentiments of some of these 
     reformers to improve accountability and provide greater 
     services for more people who need them. . . I do not, as I 
     said earlier, believe in wholesale cutting or consolidating 
     without careful thought and clear justification.
       The inclusion of vocational rehabilitation in a broad-based 
     consolidation of job-training programs could have a lasting 
     negative impact on this program, and more importantly, could 
     harm the very people it is intended to help.
       The vocational rehabilitation program is the only job 
     training program that includes an eligibility criterion of 
     physical or mental disability. Adequately meeting the needs 
     requires well-trained staff capable of offering a wide array 
     of specialized services. Consolidation with other job 
     training programs could well endanger this vital specialized 
     capacity.
       Moreover, coordination between this program and other job 
     training programs does not necessarily require a merging of 
     these programs. States are already afforded great latitude 
     and flexibility in a number of areas. Members of my staff 
     have recently met with some of you who have developed 
     statewide ``one-stop shopping'' programs that encourage 
     coordination between employment training and vocational 
     rehabilitation programs.
       So I hope you understand that our commitment to this 
     program remains as strong as ever. We will, of course, 
     continue our work to improve the program, and continue to 
     help states in their efforts to educate employers about 
     disabilities.
       Now I may be preaching to the choir today, But I cannot say 
     how strongly I feel about helping those who can become 
     independent, contributing members of our society to do so. 
     And, if we can break down a few barriers and overcome some 
     prejudices at the same time--so much the better.
       When I was Governor of South Carolina, it was one of my 
     greatest pleasures to work, along with my wife Tunky (who was 
     also very active in this area) to expand opportunities in 
     employment and rehabilitation.
       I was so pleased recently to learn that in South Carolina, 
     even with a relatively high unemployment rate, individuals 
     who have been trained in the State vocational rehabilitation 
     centers are among the most desired employees. They understand 
     the value of work and supervision, know how to work with 
     their peers and colleagues, and know the value of production.
       And ultimately, we can't ask for anything more.
       Anthropologist Margaret Meade, wrote, ``If we are to 
     achieve a richer culture. . . we must weave one in which each 
     diverse human gift will find a fitting place.'' I believe 
     that working together, we can achieve the rich diverse 
     culture that is the ultimate goal of the American experience.
       This is the promise of America, the promise of education, 
     and the promise of rehabilitation.
     

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