[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 54 (Thursday, April 3, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E663]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              JWOD PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT E. ANDREWS

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 3, 2003

  Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Speaker, 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 SKILCRAFT 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 Stationary 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 Runnemede, New Jersey, X blind Americans are employed under the JWOD 
Program and are producing X 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 continuously grow with the changing procurement 
environment within the federal government.
  The Javits-Wagner O'Day Program works for America.

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