[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 84 (Tuesday, June 15, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H4229]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      ``COMMUNITIES CAN!'' COMMUNITIES OF EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 19, 1999, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett) is recognized 
during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to draw the attention of the 
Congress to five communities that are being nationally recognized today 
for making particularly effective use of public dollars on behalf of 
families who have children with or at risk of special needs. 
Considering all of the different funding sources, the many different 
rules and regulations from various Federal departments that exist, 
these communities have found ways to make government more efficient, 
more flexible and more responsive to families with these young 
children.
  This year, Communities Can!, a growing national network of 
communities dedicated to serving children and families, including 
children with or at risk of special needs, is announcing its 1999 
Communities Can! Communities of Excellence award winners. They are: 
Fremont County, Colorado; Goldsboro, North Carolina; Augusta, Maine; 
and Mile City, Montana; as well as Livingston County, Michigan.
  Communities Can! is endorsed by the Federal Interagency Coordinating 
Council for Early Intervention, which is cosponsoring these awards. 
These communities have been chosen as award winners for demonstrating 
exemplary efforts in meeting the following very important goals:
  First, all young children and families in need of services and 
supports are effectively identified early and easily brought into the 
community's system for delivering services and supports.
  All young children and families will receive regular, ongoing and 
comprehensive services and supports that they need.
  There is a way to fund the services and supports needed by these 
young children and their families.
  And services and supports for young children and their families are 
organized in the way that families can easily use them.
  Finally, they ask the families what they need and involve them in the 
decision-making process at all levels and determine the specific 
services that will be most beneficial to their real-world concerns.
  These communities are being honored for their accomplishments this 
morning here in the Capitol Building, and I know that many of my 
colleagues will be participating to celebrate this very important 
event.
  Congratulations to each of these communities, and congratulations to 
Communities Can!, because it is demonstrating that every community in 
this country can make a difference in the lives of young children with 
or at risk of special needs. It can assure that each of them is able to 
achieve to the full extent of their potential.

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