[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 92 (Thursday, June 5, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1149]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         RECOGNIZING THE ABILITYONE PROGRAM AND THE ARC OF HILO

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                          HON. MAZIE K. HIRONO

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 5, 2008

  Ms. HIRONO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the AbilityOne 
Program, formerly known as the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Program, which 
focuses on job skills and training for more than 48,000 Americans who 
are blind or who have other severe disabilities.
  Last year, I visited the clients and staff of the Arc of Hilo, one of 
the community partners of the AbilityOne Program in my district. The 
Arc of Hilo strives to improve the quality of life for people with 
developmental or other disabilities through educational, recreational, 
vocational, and skills training as well as employment and residential 
opportunities. Through these programs, the Arc of Hilo is able to 
reduce incidents of depression, poor health, isolation, exclusion, 
discrimination, poverty, and substance abuse among this vulnerable 
population.
  The AbilityOne Program allows individuals, like the clients of the 
Arc of Hilo, to enjoy full participation in our communities. It is an 
invaluable program.
  I would also like to recognize and thank Michael Gleason, the 
president and CEO of the Are of Hilo, and his staff, for their 
dedication to serving the needs of their clients, as well as the 
clients themselves for their hard work and contribution to our greater 
society.

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