[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 160 (Wednesday, December 14, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2532]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             COMMEMORATING THE JAVITS-WAGNER O'DAY PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACK KINGSTON

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 14, 2005

  Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I wish to commemorate the Javits-Wagner 
O'Day program (JWOD) on the service they provide to thousands of 
individuals.
  The JWOD program is the single largest source of employment for 
individuals who are blind or have severe disabilities. This program 
employs more than 45,000 people. The JWOD program trains persons with 
disabilities to acquire job skills that will be resourceful in their 
everyday lives. With these skills and training, a participant in this 
program can receive wages and benefits thereby gaining a greater 
independence and quality of life.
  In my district in Georgia, there is a JWOD program named Happy Hour 
that exemplifies the good work that this organization is built upon. 
Happy Hour employs 170 disabled individuals and gives them an 
opportunity to contribute to their communities. Executive Director 
Steve Smith and Community Relations Manager Bob Wilbanks lead an office 
of 90-100 hard working staffers along with many volunteers who are all 
dedicated to ensuring each person reaches a common goal.
  Happy Hour has a working relationship with Robins Air Force Base. 
Through this relationship Happy Hour participants are able to help the 
government and save taxpayers money. A few of the projects that help 
Robins Air Force Base is Robin's Recycling, respiratory cleaning and 
repair, tool die numbering, and aircraft sorting. Though they may seem 
minor, without Happy Hour, workers who do these tasks at Robins AFB 
would have a much harder time operating.

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