[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 26 (Thursday, March 12, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S1900]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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  TRIBUTE TO PROJECT PPEP FOR 30 YEARS OF DEDICATED COMMUNITY SERVICE

 Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I rise today to extend my sincere 
gratitude and commendations to Portable Practical Educational 
Preparation, Inc. (PPEP) for their tireless efforts to improve the 
lives of needy citizens in the Southwest.
  Last October, PPEP, which operates out of Tucson, Arizona, celebrated 
30 years of service to this community. At that time, in recognition of 
the success of their small business loan program, PPEP and Pima County 
were selected to receive an ``Award of Excellence for Economic 
Development'' by the National Association for County Community and 
Economic Development.
  Thirty years ago, a man named John Arnold converted his 1957 
Chevrolet schoolbus into a traveling classroom for rural Arizonans. He 
spent his time teaching migrant workers English as a second language 
and the value of learning vocational and technical skills. This was the 
beginning of what is now known as PPEP.
  Today, PPEP is a non-profit organization with an annual operating 
budget of $11 million. It employs more than 300 people and has 
developed numerous programs that have become national self-help models.
  PPEP provides a multitude of social services for disadvantaged 
Americans. Some examples of these vital services include: affordable 
housing for migrant workers, necessary sewer and street enhancements, 
day care sites, senior nutrition and recreation centers, and public 
charter schools. The list of good works accomplished by PPEP on a daily 
basis is lengthy and impressive. Most important, PPEP has made it 
possible for rural families to experience the dignity they deserve.
  As we continue to reform federal assistance programs to encourage 
self-sufficiency, we must recognize the importance of organizations 
such as PPEP in providing voluntary community support to needy 
Americans. The committed staff and volunteers of PPEP have encouraged 
and enabled many disadvantaged citizens to gain the technical skills 
and computer literacy which will allow them to move from welfare to 
more productive lives in the job market. PPEP's services are needed now 
more than ever, as they provide a bridge for farmworkers, rural poor, 
and other disadvantaged individuals.
  After 30 years of outstanding and enduring accomplishments, I 
anticipate an even more aggressive and productive effort by PPEP to 
assist our communities and our country as we enter the 21st century. I 
extend my best wishes to John Arnold and his colleagues at PPEP and my 
thanks for their continuing endeavors.

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