[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 59 (Wednesday, April 22, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H4612-H4613]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          NATIONAL REHABILITATION COUNSELORS APPRECIATION DAY

  Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 247) expressing support for designation of March 
22, 2009, as ``National Rehabilitation Counselors Appreciation Day''.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 247

       Whereas rehabilitation counselors conduct assessments, 
     provide counseling, support to families, and plan and 
     implement rehabilitation programs for those in need;
       Whereas the purpose of the professional organizations in 
     rehabilitation is to promote the improvement of 
     rehabilitation services available to persons with 
     disabilities through quality education and rehabilitation 
     research for counselors;
       Whereas the various professional organizations, including 
     the National Rehabilitation Association (NRA), Rehabilitation 
     Counselors and Educators Association (RCEA), the National 
     Council on Rehabilitation Education (NCRE), the National 
     Rehabilitation Counseling Association (NRCA), the American 
     Rehabilitation Counseling Association (ARCA), the Commission 
     on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC), the Council 
     of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR), 
     and the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) have stood 
     firm to advocate up-to-date education and training and the 
     maintenance of professional standards in the field of 
     rehabilitation counseling and education;
       Whereas, on March 22, 1983, Martha Walker of Kent State 
     University, who was President of the NCRE, testified before 
     the Subcommittee on Select Education of the House of 
     Representatives, and was instrumental in bringing to the 
     attention of Congress the need for rehabilitation counselors 
     to be qualified;
       Whereas the efforts of Martha Walker led to the enactment 
     of laws that now require rehabilitation counselors to have 
     proper credentials in order to provide a higher level of 
     quality service to those in need; and
       Whereas March 22, 2009, would be an appropriate date to 
     recognize ``National Rehabilitation Counselors Appreciation 
     Day'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) expressing support for designation of ``National 
     Rehabilitation Counselors Appreciation Day''; and
       (2) commends all of the hard work and dedication that 
     rehabilitation counselors provide to individuals in need and 
     the numerous efforts that the multiple professional 
     organizations have made to assisting those who require 
     rehabilitation.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Tonko) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which 
Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House 
Resolution 247 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TONKO. I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 247 to 
designate March 22, 2009, as ``National Rehabilitation Counselors 
Appreciation Day.''
  Across our great country, qualified rehabilitation counselors work to 
empower people with disabilities to access employment, education and 
community opportunities and independent living. According to the United 
States Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are approximately 141,000 
rehabilitation counselors in our United States. We are extremely 
grateful for their commitment to providing professional service and 
support that is rendered to people with disabilities in a variety of 
settings, including State and local agencies, medical facilities, 
educational programs, and community businesses.
  As the number of veterans with disabilities increases and people with 
disabilities struggle to obtain employment in these tough economic 
times, the need for quality rehabilitation counseling does, in fact, 
continue to grow. According to the National Bureau of Labor Statistics, 
the unemployment rate of persons with a disability in February of this 
year was 14 percent compared to 8.7 percent for persons with no 
disabilities. Of even greater concern, only 23 percent of people with 
disabilities are currently in our labor force compared to over 70 
percent of the general population. These are alarming statistics.
  Qualified rehabilitation counselors are an important part of the 
solution as they provide services critical to improving employment 
outcomes for people with disabilities. We appreciate their hard work 
and the determination of these professionals. Various professional 
organizations, including the National Rehabilitation Association, the 
National Council on Rehabilitation Education, and the Council of State 
Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation, advocate for up-to-date 
education, training and professional standards for rehabilitation 
counselors, and because of these national organizations' persistent 
efforts, the quality of rehabilitation services has dramatically 
improved and expanded.

                              {time}  1215

  On March 22 of 1983, Martha Walker, president of the National Council 
on Rehabilitation Education, testified before the Subcommittee on 
Select Education for the House of Representatives expressing the 
necessity for rehabilitation counselors to be well-qualified. Ms. 
Walker's hard work led to the enactment of requirements to ensure that 
rehabilitation counselors have proper training and credentials so that 
people with disabilities receive quality rehabilitation service.
  Let Congress designate March 22 as National Rehabilitation Counselors 
Day. This holiday can honor the dedicated rehabilitation counselors and 
professional organizations that work tirelessly to provide quality 
rehabilitation support.
  I want to thank, particularly, Representative Skelton for his 
outstanding leadership on this issue in bringing this important 
resolution forward. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 
247, which expresses support for designating March 22, 2009, as 
National Rehabilitation Counselors Appreciation Day.
  I am surprised by the number of individuals who do not understand 
what rehabilitation counselors do, and they might be well advised to 
read the Doonesbury comic strip where, for the past 6 months or more, 
there's been an ongoing discussion on how to rehabilitate veterans, and 
describes the work of rehabilitation counselors.
  Nearly one in five Americans lives with some type of long-lasting 
condition or disability that requires extensive rehabilitation. 
Rehabilitation counselors help people deal with the personal, social 
and vocational effects of disabilities. They counsel individuals with 
disabilities resulting from birth defects, illness or disease, 
accidents or other causes. They evaluate the strength and limitations 
of individuals, provide personal and vocational counseling and arrange 
for medical care, vocational training and job placement. All of these 
are invaluable to those who need the help.
  Rehabilitation counselors interview people with disabilities and 
their families, evaluate school and medical reports and confer with 
physicians, psychologists, occupational therapists, and employers to 
determine the capabilities and skills of the individual.

[[Page H4613]]

  They develop rehabilitation programs by conferring with clients, 
which also includes training to help clients develop job skills. 
Rehabilitation counselors also work toward increasing the client's 
capacity to live independently. These professionals work with 
individuals, professional organizations and advocacy groups to address 
the social barriers that create obstacles for people with disabilities. 
They are instrumental in building bridges between the often-isolated 
world of people with disabilities and their families, communities, and 
school and work environments. They empower individuals to make informed 
choices so that they can become productive members of society.
  Rehabilitation counselors are employed in private practice, by 
community health organizations and hospitals, and in State and Federal 
Government positions. There are approximately 141,000 rehabilitation 
counselors in the United States, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor 
Statistics. That number is expected to grow rapidly as medical advances 
help people survive serious injury or illness, including veterans 
returning from both the Afghanistan and Iraqi wars.
  Rehabilitation counselors provide a great service to the millions of 
Americans with disabilities. They encourage people with disabilities to 
participate as active citizens within their communities. These highly 
trained professionals help many disabled Americans cope with their 
life-altering situations, and today we recognize them for their hard 
work and dedication.
  I ask for my colleagues' support of this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the gentleman from 
Missouri (Mr. Skelton) who we praised in our earlier comments for 
bringing this awareness of the value of our rehabilitation counselors 
to the attention of the House, and we applaud him for his efforts, and 
we recognize him for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SKELTON. I thank the gentleman so much for yielding.
  And, Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join in supporting H. Res. 
247, which would express support for recognizing March 22 as National 
Rehabilitation Counselors Appreciation Day. I want to thank my friend, 
Phil Gingrey, the gentleman from Georgia, for joining me in offering 
this resolution.
  On March 22 in 1983, Martha Lentz Walker of Kent State University 
provided testimony to Members of the U.S. House of Representatives 
regarding the valuable services provided by qualified rehabilitation 
counselors. Due in large part to events of that day, rehabilitation 
counselors today are required to have proper certification in order to 
provide a higher level of service.
  Vocational rehabilitation counselors are dedicated professionals. 
Their good works assist disabled Americans across the country in living 
independent and productive lives. An honest day's work is a source of 
pride, but many individuals with disabilities who want to work just 
don't have the training, support, or tools they need to enter the 
workforce. Vocational rehabilitation counselors step in to provide the 
necessary services that succeed in bringing thousands of disabled 
Americans into the workforce every day.
  Today, we have injured veterans seeking to gain, retain, or regain 
employment. Today, we have older workers staying in the workforce 
longer in these difficult economic times. Today, many other individuals 
want nothing more than to pursue a career. Rehabilitation counselors 
play an important role in helping them to reach their goals, and I 
believe the service is worthy of our recognition and our thanks.
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back my time.
  Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, the resolution before the House is one of 
great worth, obviously recognizing the important role that 
rehabilitation counselors play in the lives of individuals with 
disabilities. They open doorways, they absolutely enhance the quality 
of life, and coax the professionalism from those who, amongst us, are 
in the ranks of the disabled with an awful lot of contribution to be 
made to society. The rehabilitation counselor is a partner in that 
effort.
  So I ask that, again, we move forward and recognize this and support 
this resolution.
  Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a proud 
cosponsor of House Resolution 247. This Resolution expresses support 
for the designation of March 22, 2009 as ``National Rehabilitation 
Counselors Appreciation Day.''
  I am particularly pleased to be able to join my good friend, Chairman 
Ike Skelton, on this important Resolution. Since my first days in the 
Congress, Chairman Skelton has been a good friend and I have worked 
with him on a number of issues critical to our nation's defense. It is 
a particular honor to work with Chairman Skelton in bringing this 
Resolution to the floor today.
  Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 247 recognizes the hard and important 
work of our nation's rehabilitation counselors who day in and day out 
improve the lives of those who are in need of rehabilitation either 
from an injury or from a permanent disability. These counselors play an 
integral role in helping people re-establish control over their daily 
lives by managing the personal, social, and vocational effects of their 
disabilities.
  Recognizing the importance of multiple sources of support, 
rehabilitation counselors work both with individuals and their families 
to plan and implement rehabilitation programs that fit their needs. 
Counselors often make arrangements for medical care, job training, and 
job placement services with the aim of achieving the best possible 
quality of life.
  Mr. Speaker, physical disabilities do not discriminate and can affect 
anyone or any family. Many of us have family members or friends who 
suffer from disabilities that shape their everyday life. Chairman 
Skelton himself is a testament to the positive effect of rehabilitation 
counseling.
  In fact, I was pleased to join Chairman Skelton a few years back in 
Warm Springs, Georgia--which at the time was part of the 11th 
Congressional District. We were there because in his youth, Chairman 
Skelton himself benefited from rehabilitation and therapy for his own 
disability. I know this Resolution has particular and personal 
importance for him as he remembers those doctors and counselors who 
were so helpful to him.
  Mr. Speaker, in this life, we often face challenges that we cannot 
overcome alone. Accordingly, we have an obligation to recognize and 
celebrate those individuals who spend their lives making other lives 
better. I call on my colleagues to support this Resolution in gratitude 
for our nation's rehabilitation counselors. I yield back.
  Mr. TONKO. I yield back my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Tonko) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 247.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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