[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 155 (Saturday, September 27, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2070]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO JEAN HINES

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. KENNY C. HULSHOF

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 26, 2008

  Mr. HULSHOF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a special woman who 
has more than left her mark on Missouri. Jean Hines, of Sullivan, has 
been named by Experience Works, provider of job training and employment 
opportunities for older Americans, as the Outstanding Older Worker from 
the State of Missouri. Experience Works serves over 20,000 older 
workers and local communities.
  Ms. Hines is a resident of the Ninth Congressional District. She 
works as a machinist; specifically, she works in finishing operations 
for the Cardin Machine Shop, which makes precision machine parts for 
the aerospace industry for companies such as Boeing and Lockheed.
  Experience Works began in the summer of 1963 when President John F. 
Kennedy decided to make poverty reduction a focus of his anticipated 
1964 reelection campaign. Shortly thereafter, President Lyndon B. 
Johnson, looking to help heal a shocked Nation after President 
Kennedy's assassination, took the advice of several national leaders 
and declared war on poverty.
  On October 5, 1965, President Johnson signed the Nelson Amendment to 
the Economic Opportunity Act, which funded the ``green thumb'' project 
of the National Farmers Union. Soon after, Green Thumb, Inc. (now 
Experience Works) became the first nonprofit organization whose sole 
function was to help provide jobs for disadvantaged rural Americans.
  While the Economic Opportunity Act stalled in Congress, Lady Bird 
Johnson helped press the initiative forward. A proposal suggested 
taking ``the 'green thumbs' of poor, older, and retired farmers and put 
them to work to beautify our highways.'' The First Lady said that ``an 
opportunity is presented here to provide [older farmers] with useful 
employment for which they are fully qualified, and at the same time. to 
beautify highways for the benefit of all our people.''
  Over time, that program went from beautification projects in four 
States to a major Federal workforce initiative known as the Senior 
Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), which today provides 
training, employment, and community service opportunities to thousands 
of seniors across the country.
  I believe this program is an effective tool, which helps to 
strengthen families, communities, and our Nation by providing older 
workers with opportunities to learn, work, and serve others. Many of 
Missouri's seniors have benefited from this program.
  Ms. Hines will be honored this week in Washington, DC, during 
National Older Workers Week. Today I want to shine a spotlight on not 
only Ms. Hines' achievements, but also on the vital role that older 
workers play in our Nation's economy. Ms. Hines' tireless commitment to 
her work has helped break down the barriers to hiring, training, and 
retaining older workers. Indeed, she is a role model for other older 
workers and employers. She has shown that much can be achieved and 
attained after the traditional retirement age. For these reasons, I am 
privileged to stand before this body and congratulate Ms. Hines on her 
receipt of this prestigious award. It is much-deserved.

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