[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 32 (Thursday, February 27, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E305-E306]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES ENCOURAGED TO PURCHASE PRODUCTS MADE BY BLIND AND 
                     SEVERELY DISABLED INDIVIDUALS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HOWARD COBLE

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 26, 2003

  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following for the record: For 
the past 64 years the Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) Program has empowered 
Americans who are blind or severely disabled by providing them with a 
diverse set of employment opportunities. Today 38,000 disabled 
Americans are realizing their potential by working in their local 
communities across the country under this program. These Americans are 
proud to provide federal and military customers with a wide array of 
SKILCRAFTO and other JWOD products and services. The JWOD Program 
prides itself on delivering high quality products and services at a 
competitive price in the most convenient way possible.
  Some of the product categories offered by the JWOD program include 
office supplies, military specific, safety, maintenance, repair, 
medical-surgical, janitorial-sanitation, and customization. The 
services that are provided to the federal and military customer include 
but aren't limited to call center and switchboard operation, military 
base and federal office building supply centers, CD-Rom duplication-
replication, data entry, document imaging and grounds care.
  I rise today in support of the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Program and the 
opportunities it provides for an underemployed population of hard 
working Americans. Furthermore, I urge my colleagues to purchase 
SKILCRAFT and JWOD products from the House-Senate Office Supply stores 
not only because of their quality and value, but also because of the 
socioeconomic benefits that can come from supporting the program. By 
purchasing these products and using these services we are enabling more 
disabled Americans to have the opportunity to become taxpayers. Today 
in Greensboro North Carolina, 68 blind Americans are employed under the 
JWOD Program and are producing items or services for us, the federal 
customer.
  The JWOD Program is administered by the Presidentially-appointed 
Committee For Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, 
with much assistance from National Industries for the Blind (NIB) and 
NISH, which serves people with a wide range of disabilities. More than 
650 local nonprofit agencies associated with NIB and NISH employ people 
who are blind or disabled to produce the quality products and offer the 
services authorized for sale to the federal government under the JWOD 
Program.
  The JWOD Program is a great illustration of a successful partnership 
that has the ability to

[[Page E306]]

continuously grow with the changing procurement environment within the 
federal government.
  The Javits-Wagner-O'Day Program works for America.

                          ____________________