[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 59 (Wednesday, April 22, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H4615-H4618]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




BEST BUDDIES EMPOWERMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES ACT 
                                OF 2009

  Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 1824) to provide assistance to Best Buddies to support the 
expansion and development of mentoring programs, and for other 
purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1824

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Best Buddies Empowerment for 
     People with Intellectual Disabilities Act of 2009''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) Best Buddies operates the first national social and 
     recreational program in the United States for people with 
     intellectual disabilities.
       (2) Best Buddies is dedicated to helping people with 
     intellectual disabilities become part of mainstream society.
       (3) Best Buddies is determined to end social isolation for 
     people with intellectual disabilities by promoting meaningful 
     friendships between them and their non-disabled peers in 
     order to help increase the self-esteem, confidence, and 
     abilities of people with and without intellectual 
     disabilities.
       (4) Since 1989, Best Buddies has enhanced the lives of 
     people with intellectual disabilities by providing 
     opportunities for 1-to-1 friendships and integrated 
     employment.
       (5) Best Buddies is an international organization spanning 
     1,300 middle school, high school, and college campuses.
       (6) Best Buddies implements programs that will positively 
     impact more than 400,000 individuals in 2009 and expects to 
     impact 500,000 people by 2010.
       (7) The Best Buddies Middle Schools program matches middle 
     school students with intellectual disabilities with other 
     middle school students and supports 1-to-1 friendships 
     between them.
       (8) The Best Buddies High Schools program matches high 
     school students with intellectual disabilities with other 
     high school students and supports 1-to-1 friendships between 
     them.
       (9) The Best Buddies Colleges program matches adults with 
     intellectual disabilities with college students and creates 
     1-to-1 friendships between them.
       (10) The Best Buddies e-Buddies program supports e-mail 
     friendships between people with and without intellectual 
     disabilities.
       (11) The Best Buddies Citizens program pairs adults with 
     intellectual disabilities in 1-to-1 friendships with other 
     individuals in the corporate and civic communities.
       (12) The Best Buddies Jobs program promotes the integration 
     of people with intellectual disabilities into the community 
     through supported employment.
       (b) Purpose.--The purposes of this Act are to--
       (1) provide support to Best Buddies to increase 
     participation in and public awareness about Best Buddies 
     programs that serve people with intellectual disabilities;
       (2) dispel negative stereotypes about people with 
     intellectual disabilities; and
       (3) promote the extraordinary contributions of people with 
     intellectual disabilities.

     SEC. 3. ASSISTANCE FOR BEST BUDDIES.

       (a) Education Activities.--The Secretary of Education may 
     award grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative 
     agreements with, Best Buddies to carry out activities to 
     promote the expansion of Best Buddies, including activities 
     to increase the participation of people with intellectual 
     disabilities in social relationships and other aspects of 
     community life, including education and employment, within 
     the United States.
       (b) Limitations.--
       (1) In general.--Amounts appropriated to carry out this Act 
     may not be used for direct treatment of diseases, medical 
     conditions, or mental health conditions.
       (2) Administrative activities.--Not more than 5 percent of 
     amounts appropriated to carry out this Act for a fiscal year 
     may be used for administrative activities.
       (c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act shall be 
     construed to limit the use of non-Federal funds by Best 
     Buddies.

     SEC. 4. APPLICATION AND ANNUAL REPORT.

       (a) Application.--
       (1) In general.--To be eligible for a grant, contract, or 
     cooperative agreement under section 3(a), Best Buddies shall 
     submit an application at such time, in such manner, and 
     containing such information as the Secretary of Education may 
     require.
       (2) Content.--At a minimum, an application under this 
     subsection shall contain the following:
       (A) A description of activities to be carried out under the 
     grant, contract, or cooperative agreement.
       (B) Information on specific measurable goals and objectives 
     to be achieved through activities carried out under the 
     grant, contract, or cooperative agreement.
       (b) Annual Report.--
       (1) In general.--As a condition of receipt of any funds 
     under section 3(a), Best Buddies shall agree to submit an 
     annual report at such time, in such manner, and containing 
     such information as the Secretary of Education may require.
       (2) Content.--At a minimum, each annual report under this 
     subsection shall describe the degree to which progress has 
     been made toward meeting the specific measurable goals and 
     objectives described in the applications submitted under 
     subsection (a).

     SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of 
     Education for grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements 
     under section 3(a), $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, and 
     such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding 
     fiscal years.

  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 H.R. 
1824 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. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

[[Page H4616]]

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1824. The bill will 
expand the important work of Best Buddies to empower people with 
disabilities and put an end to their social isolation.
  Best Buddies International is the only national organization focused 
on improving the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities 
through a one-to-one friendship with peers.
  People with intellectual disabilities are often excluded from society 
because of their differences. Sadly, the social isolation of children 
with disabilities is well-documented by researchers. However, over the 
last 20 years, Best Buddies has proven something that most of us take 
for granted, that lasting, meaningful friendships are the key to a 
better life.
  But friendships for people with intellectual disabilities do not 
always come easily. Over the past 50 years, while this population has 
gained many civil rights, attitudinal barriers and stereotypes persist. 
This is something Best Buddies is changing. Since 1989, Best Buddies 
has worked with 1,300 middle school, high school, and college campuses. 
Best Buddies volunteers annually contribute services to the community 
that equate to more than $17 million. Federal assistance is critical to 
help Best Buddies expand their efforts to all of our 50 States.
  Bullying continues to be a problem in our schools for many children. 
A 2005 study found that a Best Buddy relationship is associated with 
lower frequencies of peer victimization, better adaptive behavior, and 
fewer psychological problems for youth. Clearly, a friend is a powerful 
thing.
  Through one-to-one matches with peers without disabilities, as well 
as support of e-mail friendships, citizen programs for adults, and a 
jobs program that promotes integration into the workplace, Best Buddies 
expects to impact over 500,000 people by the year 2010.
  H.R. 1824 will allow Best Buddies to continue this important work 
through increased participation and public awareness. It simply 
authorizes the Secretary of Education to support Best Buddies to 
increase the participation of people with intellectual disabilities in 
social relationships and other aspects of community life.
  Best Buddies envisions a world where people with intellectual 
disabilities are so successfully integrated into our schools, our 
workplaces, and our general communities that their current efforts and 
services will grow unnecessary. I share that vision.
  Mr. Speaker, once again, I express my full support for H.R. 1824, and 
I urge my colleagues to support this measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1824, the Best Buddies 
Empowerment for People with Intellectual Disabilities Act. This bill 
would authorize funding for Best Buddies, a nonprofit organization that 
provides mentors and friends for individuals with intellectual 
disabilities in order to increase their social relationships and other 
aspects of community life.
  I appreciate Mr. Tonko's comments about bullying. I have introduced a 
bill dealing with bullying. And I got a letter--not from one of my 
constituents, but some other constituents--outlining a terrible 
situation where a young man was bullied so severely he decided he 
couldn't take it anymore and committed suicide at a very young age. 
That is the sort of tragedy we have to stop, and Best Buddies is a very 
important way in which that can be stopped.
  Best Buddies was founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver as the 
first national, social, and recreational program for people with 
intellectual disabilities. Since that time, this has grown from one 
chapter to more than 1,400 middle school, high school and college 
campuses all around the country. It also operates programs on six 
continents around the world, with additional country programs under 
development.
  Best Buddies offers six programs to students with special needs. Best 
Buddies Citizens pairs adults with intellectual disabilities with their 
nondisabled working peers. Best Buddies Jobs is a supported employment 
program targeting high-paying white collar jobs for people with 
intellectual disabilities. Best Buddies High Schools pairs special 
education students in one-on-one friendships with high school 
volunteers. Best Buddies Middle Schools pairs students with middle 
school volunteers. And Best Buddies Colleges pairs students with 
intellectual disabilities with college student volunteers. And the 
sixth program, e-Buddies, is a cutting-edge online friendship program.
  According to independent researchers, an estimated 7 million 
individuals--2 percent of the population of the United States--have 
intellectual disabilities which impair their adaptive skills. These 
skills, such as communication, self-care, home living, social skills, 
functional academics, community participation, and employment are daily 
living skills needed to live and work in the local community as 
productive citizens.
  The three major known causes of intellectual disabilities are Down 
syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, and Fragile X. With early 
intervention, effective education, and appropriate support into 
adulthood, many individuals with intellectual disabilities are able to 
lead independent lives in their communities.
  Best Buddies assists in this effort by building personal 
relationships between Buddies and individuals with intellectual 
disabilities. The organization currently operates programs in 20 
States, including a Best Buddies College program at Grand Valley State 
University, which is in my congressional district, as well as five 
other universities in Michigan.

                              {time}  1245

  However, there is a great need to ensure that there are programs 
operating in all 50 States. This new authorization would assist the 
organization in getting dedicated funding through the U.S. Department 
of Education in support of its expansion to all 50 States.
  I want to thank my good friend, Mr. Blunt, for his strong support for 
initiatives that assist students with intellectual disabilities and for 
introducing this legislation.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the 
gentleman from Maryland, Majority Leader Hoyer of the House, whose 
long-standing commitment to people with disabilities is well-
documented. And I have to also make mention that when it comes to a 
buddy system for incoming freshmen, helping us to navigate on behalf of 
our constituents, there is a real friend in Majority Leader Hoyer.
  Mr. HOYER. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank him for 
his kind comments. The gentleman from New York is very generous.
  I want to thank my friend from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) with whom I 
served on the House Administration Committee for many years; and also, 
of course, my dear friend, one of the Republican leaders in this House, 
Mr. Blunt, who has cosponsored this legislation with me. It so happens 
my name is first, but Mr. Blunt and I have worked on this effort 
together, because we both believe it's a very important one for our 
country and for all of those who are advantaged by this program.
  I am proud, therefore, to speak in favor of this bill supporting Best 
Buddies, an organization, as Mr. Ehlers has pointed out, dedicated to 
the social integration of children and adults with intellectual 
disabilities.
  It was founded some 20 years ago by Anthony Kennedy Shriver. Best 
Buddies is the first social and recreational program of its kind in the 
United States. It has already reached hundreds of thousands of 
Americans, both with and without disabilities, a total that is set to 
reach a half a million by 2010.
  Best Buddies, Mr. Speaker, fosters and supports friendships and 
mentorships between participants from kindergartners to adult 
professionals, sponsoring more than 1,000 volunteer-led chapters at 
schools and workplaces.
  Not only do volunteers learn leadership training, they learn 
firsthand about the important contributions made by their fellow 
citizens with intellectual disabilities. Participants with disabilities 
learn that they are valuable members of our communities, capable of 
forming a wide range of real and lasting friendships.
  This legislation authorizes a total of $10 million for grants, 
contracts or cooperative agreements to be distributed

[[Page H4617]]

to Best Buddies by the Department of Education in fiscal year 2010, 
along with such sums as may be necessary for each of the four 
succeeding fiscal years.
  These funds will enable this important organization to reach hundreds 
of thousands more potential volunteers and participants, promoting the 
crucial values of shared participation and community and social 
equality.
  All of us will be advantaged by this program, not those immediate 
participants alone, but all of those whose communities will be better 
places for the participation of those directly involved in Best 
Buddies.
  I want to thank Congressman Blunt for cosponsoring this bill. He and 
I worked together for many years on this effort, and I urge my 
colleagues to support it.
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield to the sponsor of 
this legislation, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt), for as much 
time as he wishes.
  Mr. BLUNT. I thank Mr. Ehlers for yielding.
  I certainly was pleased to join my colleague from Maryland, the 
majority leader, as an original sponsor of this Best Buddies 
Empowerment for People with Intellectual Disabilities Act.
  This isn't the first time that Mr. Hoyer and I have joined with our 
colleagues to come together in a meaningful way in this important area. 
In fact, we are both proud of the Special Olympics Sport and 
Empowerment Act in 2004 that became law during the 108th Congress.
  The success stories of healthy athletes, the program that emerged out 
of that effort, is really the great result of what we did. The reports 
we get from Special Olympics have been heartening every year as those 
athletes come together.
  It's estimated that between 7 and 8 million Americans live with 
intellectual disabilities, impacting nearly one in every 10 families. 
For these individuals, life is not always welcoming. Very rarely is it 
easy. People with intellectual disabilities are often excluded from 
society, whether that's a school, in the workplace or in their 
communities, simply because they are different.
  So I have been glad to support a program that we have talked about 
today, Best Buddies. It's been mentioned that it was organized 20 years 
ago by Anthony Shriver, and it really was designed to help integrate 
people with intellectual disabilities into the mainstream of society to 
end their isolation, to help them embark on productive, fulfilling 
lives by finding a buddy that didn't have the disabilities that they 
have.
  The Best Buddies program works with volunteers to establish 
meaningful friendships with their nondisabled peers in order to help 
increase the self-esteem and confidence of people with and without 
intellectual disabilities. This is a program that's enhanced the lives 
of individuals by providing real and safe opportunities for one-on-one 
friendships and new options for employment.
  These can often be life-changing events for individuals and often are 
life-changing events for those individuals with intellectual 
disabilities. This is often the first time in their lives that they 
have had someone to call their friend, someone to be their friend who 
didn't have disabilities, and introduced them to the world without 
disabilities.
  This bill helps accomplish that goal in a number of significant ways. 
It authorizes the Secretary of Education to award grants or contracts 
with Best Buddies to conduct and expand its activities.
  It has an eye on increasing the participation of individuals with 
intellectual disabilities, as well as to promote outreach programs. 
This bill will go a long way toward dispelling negative hurtful 
stereotypes and make clear the extraordinary gifts that people with 
intellectual disabilities nonetheless possess and, with just a little 
encouragement, are able to utilize.
  More important, it will help move people from intellectual 
disabilities from the margins of society to the mainstream of society.
  I know Mr. Hoyer, Mr. Ehlers, Mr. Tonko and I hope to see this bill 
enacted into law, knowing that it will help raise the hope and dignity 
of people with intellectual disabilities and further empower their full 
participation in our communities.
  I hope my colleagues pass this bill today. We intend to work for its 
enactment into law and look forward to the difference that this bill, 
Mr. Speaker, can make in the lives of people.
  Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, we have no other Representatives from the 
majority that choose to speak on the measure, so I would ask if the 
gentleman from Michigan has others to speak.
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, we have no other speakers on this side.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, the House resolution concerning Best Buddies 
is an outstanding opportunity for us to reinforce the efforts made by 
Best Buddies as they move towards the mission of integrating 
individuals with intellectual disabilities into society, into community 
in the most successful measure. And so for those reasons I would 
strongly urge support for this resolution.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
H.R. 1824, the Best Buddies Empowerment for People with Intellectual 
Disabilities Act of 2009. I thank Majority Leader Hoyer for introducing 
this important legislation which authorizes the Secretary of Education 
to award grants to, or enter into agreements with, ``Best Buddies'' to 
promote the expansion of its programs. I urge my colleagues to approve 
this resolution so this vital nonprofit organization can provide 
further aid to people with disabilities and help them fit into 
mainstream society.
  H.R. 1824 is needed because it will allow Best Buddies to increase 
participation in and public awareness about Best Buddies programs so 
that the organization can help more people in need. This public 
awareness campaign, and the successful participants in their program, 
will help dispel negative stereotypes about individuals with 
disabilities. Moreover, the public awareness campaign will promote the 
extraordinary contributions of people with disabilities.
  This Bill is important because of the importance of the Best Buddies 
programs. According to the Best Buddies website the program has over 
1,300 chapters and will help 400,000 individuals with intellectual 
disabilities just this year alone through its six program groups. Those 
groups include Best Buddies Citizens, Colleges, E-Buddies, High 
Schools, Jobs, and Middle Schools.
  While the organization has expanded greatly, there are still many 
areas of the country that lack the resources to help individuals with 
intellectual disabilities become a part of mainstream society. Best 
Buddies is able to help this broad range of individuals by providing 
one-on-one friendships and integrated employment.
  The vision statement of the Best Buddies organization sums up their 
important goals best, ``Best Buddies envisions a world where people 
with intellectual disabilities are so successfully integrated into our 
schools, our workplaces and our general communities that our current 
efforts and services will be unnecessary''.
  This vision is still necessary because people with intellectual 
disabilities are often excluded from society due to their differences. 
Best Buddies is determined to end the social isolation of people with 
intellectual disabilities by establishing meaningful, lasting one-to-
one friendships with their peers without intellectual disabilities. The 
friendships Best Buddies create help increase self-esteem, confidence 
and the abilities of people with and without intellectual disabilities.
  Since 1989, Best Buddies has worked towards this vision an operates 
the first national social and recreational program in the United States 
for people with intellectual disabilities.
  Persons with intellectual disabilities need this crucial assistance 
to help them gain adaptive life skills. Such skills include 
communication, self-care, home living, social skills, leisure, health 
and safety, self-direction, functional academics like reading, writing 
and basic math as well as community participation and employment.
  The effects of intellectual disabilities vary considerably among 
people. About 87 percent are mildly affected and will be only slightly 
less proficient than average in learning new information and skills. 
With the assistance of programs like Best Buddies, a significant 
portion of our population can become self-reliant and an integral part 
of society.
  According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, an 
estimated 2.5 million people, approximately 1% of the national 
population, have an intellectual disability. Estimates also indicate 
that only 31% of individuals with intellectual disabilities are 
employed, although many more want to work. Persons with intellectual 
disabilities successfully perform a wide range of jobs, and can be 
dependable workers. They just need help to make it happen.

[[Page H4618]]

  As the Representative of the 18th District of Texas, and a tireless 
advocate for equal rights for all persons, I strongly support this 
Resolution. Currently, the Best Buddies Texas headquarters is in 
Houston and has programs in high schools and colleges within my 
district. I want to see that more states can get the help from Best 
Buddies that Texas has been so lucky to receive and ensure that Best 
Buddies can continue to grow and help even more individuals with 
intellectual disabilities in Texas and my district. I urge my 
colleagues to pass this Bill.
  Mr. TONKO. I yield back the balance of 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 pass the bill, H.R. 1824.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________