[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 146 (Wednesday, December 3, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1706-E1707]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   TRIBUTE TO THE KENTUCKY COMMUNITIES ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL 
                  (KCEOC) COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HAROLD ROGERS

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 3, 2014

  Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
the Kentucky Communities Economic Opportunity Council (KCEOC)--
Community Action Partnership in celebration of the agency's 50th 
anniversary of service to the people of southeastern Kentucky.
   As one of the first 23 agencies established in 1964 to address 
poverty, KCEOC has raised the bar high, going above and beyond the call 
of duty to provide greater opportunities for those in need. Thanks to a 
group of local citizens who applied for a competitive grant

[[Page E1707]]

opportunity five decades ago, this organization has flourished into the 
multi-million dollar service agency that it is today.
   KCEOC has inspired people across our region to put compassion for 
our neighbors into action. Through its programs and innovative 
responses to dire needs in our impoverished communities, more families 
today have access to child development programs, food resources, 
affordable housing, and assistance with financial needs than ever 
before. This agency has also been a critical partner for economic 
development, from recruiting jobs to providing the infrastructure for 
new businesses. The employees of KCEOC serve as great ambassadors for 
eastern Kentucky, proving that we have a strong, dedicated workforce 
and an intricate support community that believes in helping one another 
succeed.
   Through the vision of leaders like Paul Dole, this agency has turned 
community losses into gains. One of the greatest examples of those 
efforts was the transformation of the old asbestos-plagued Corbin 
Hospital into clean, state-of-the-art housing for senior citizens.
   Winston Churchill once said that a pessimist sees difficulty in 
every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every 
difficulty. That's what KCEOC works to convey every single day by 
providing a hand-up, rather than a hand out. They provide hope in an 
otherwise dark hour for many families and I can't thank this agency 
enough for its efforts day-in and day-out, letting our neighbors know 
that someone cares.
   KCEOC has forged important partnerships with local schools, 
employers and other community organizations to capitalize on the 
resources that are abundant in our communities. Together, we have made 
great strides in southeastern Kentucky, but we certainly wouldn't be 
where we are today without the foundation that KCEOC has carefully 
crafted for thousands of families in our region.
   In celebration of this 50th anniversary, I ask my colleagues to join 
me in applauding the work of the KCEOC Community Action Partnership in 
southeastern Kentucky.

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