[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 176 (Thursday, December 12, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1863]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TO COMMEMORATE THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL INDUSTRIES FOR THE 
                                 BLIND

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                        HON. PATRICK T. McHENRY

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 12, 2013

  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Speaker, I speak today to recognize and celebrate 
the 75th anniversary of the National Industries for the Blind (NIB). It 
was seventy-five years ago when the Wagner-O'Day Act originally helped 
spur the creation of NIB, whose mission is to enhance economic and 
personal independence for the blind and visually impaired. Each day NIB 
upholds its mission by relentlessly creating, sustaining, and improving 
employment opportunities for those who it serves.
  To best meet its objectives, the NIB collaborates with over ninety-
one associated nonprofit agencies--based in thirty-five states and home 
to more than two hundred and fifty locations--which includes the 
Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind, IFB, located in North Carolina.
  In August of this year, I had the pleasure of being invited to visit 
the Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind in Asheville, NC. During my 
tour, I was fortunate to learn that the facility's state-of-the-art 
cutting and ultra-sonic welding capabilities enable workers to compete 
for new, complex commercial and government opportunities. More 
impressive was the confidence and independence that Asheville's first-
rate facility brought to its workforce--comprised of more than fifty 
individuals who are either blind or visually impaired--that has earned 
competitive contracts with our U.S. military and internationally-
recognized achievements in quality control.
  In the last few years, IFB has employed over three hundred blind and 
visually impaired workers at manufacturing facilities located in 
Asheville and Winston Salem. Both facilities manufacture a significant 
number of quality products that are utilized to protect everyday 
Americans such as you and me. Altogether, IFB positively impacts our 
visually impaired community in seventy-seven counties throughout North 
Carolina, and it will continue to enhance its economic presence in our 
region through the introduction of a new mobile eye clinic.
  Through the endeavors of IFB, many members of our community who are 
visually impaired or blind are afforded the opportunity to gain the 
confidence and financial independence--which many of us take for 
granted--by achieving their goal of a commendable career. As an 
advocate of IFB, I appreciate its proactive efforts to improve the 
livelihoods of our blind and visually impaired community, and I will 
continue to support IFB's efforts as it continually extends valuable 
opportunities and services in my home state of North Carolina.

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