[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 87 (Thursday, June 16, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1130]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         THE ABILITYONE PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN FLEMING

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 16, 2011

  Mr. FLEMING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the positive 
influence of the AbilityOne Program in my district. Since its 
establishment in 1971, AbilityOne has grown to become the largest 
source of employment for those who are blind or have other severe 
disabilities in the United States.
  Individuals employed through the AbilityOne Program provide vital 
services to hundreds of nonprofit organizations and the federal 
government. Within my district both the Fort Polk/Joint Readiness 
Training Center and Barksdale Air Force Base employ individuals 
enrolled in the AbilityOne Program. By assisting those who are blind or 
severely disabled in finding and keeping jobs, AbilityOne vastly 
improves participants' quality of life, giving them the dignity of work 
and the security of financial support.
  I am proud to support the underlying goals and purpose of the 
AbilityOne Program, and commend the many constituents I have in the 4th 
District of Louisiana who have found meaningful and productive 
employment through this program. I realize Fort Polk's and Barksdale's 
AbilityOne employees are critical to the success of these installations 
and their important missions.
  With great honor, I applaud the AbilityOne Program and its 
participants for making a difference in unemployment among people with 
disabilities in Louisiana and throughout the United States.