[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 175 (Wednesday, December 11, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H7637]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   NATIONAL INDUSTRIES FOR THE BLIND

  (Mr. LANKFORD asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to wish a happy anniversary 
to an organization that is actually helping people.
  Seventy-five years ago, the Wagner-O'Day Act was signed here in the 
United States Congress. It is now known as the AbilityOne Program. It 
honors each individual person across our country with unique 
disabilities to be able to say as a Nation we are going to stand with 
you on that.
  I believe firmly that every individual evaluates success in a 
different way, but I think part of how they evaluate success is do they 
have a great family experience, do they have a great community of 
friends around them, are they deep in their own personal faith, and do 
they have work that is meaningful.
  The AbilityOne Program--and what is happening specifically in my 
State with an organization connected to them called NewView Oklahoma--
they are helping people have great value and understanding that people 
that are blind and visually impaired can have great success in life and 
can contribute to society.
  They are producing products that are sold commercially and to 
governments that are all over the world. In fact, 2 years ago I was in 
Afghanistan; and when we landed, as we got off the back of the aircraft 
there, there was one of the bright yellow chalks that is uniquely made 
in Oklahoma by people that are blind and visually impaired.
  This is a great gift that we are doing, and I wish them happy 
anniversary.

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