[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 27]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 36475]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     INTRODUCTION OF THE BEST BUDDIES EMPOWERMENT FOR PEOPLE WITH 
                 INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ROY BLUNT

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 19, 2007

  Mr. BLUNT. Madam Speaker, I am pleased today to join my colleague 
from Maryland, the House majority leader; to introduce the Best Buddies 
Empowerment for People with Intellectual Disabilities Act of 2007. As 
Mr. Hoyer will attest, this is not the first time we have come together 
in a meaningful way in this important area--and we were both proud when 
the Special Olympics Sport and Empowerment Act of 2004 became law in 
the 108th Congress.
  It's estimated that between 7 and 8 million Americans live with 
intellectual disabilities, impacting nearly 1 out of every 10 families. 
For these individuals, life is not always welcoming--and very rarely is 
it easy. People with intellectual disabilities are often excluded from 
society--whether at school, in the workplace or in their communities--
simply because of their differences. So I was glad to learn of a 
program called Best Buddies. This organization. founded in 1989 by 
Anthony Kennedy Shriver, helps integrate people with intellectual 
disabilities into mainstream society, end their social isolation, and 
embark upon productive, fulfilling lives. The Best Buddies program 
works with volunteers to establish meaningful friendships with their 
non-disabled peers in order to help increase the self-esteem, 
confidence, and abilities of people with and without intellectual 
disabilities. This is a program that has enhanced the lives of actual 
people by providing real and safe opportunities for one-on-one 
friendships and new options for employment.
  And while these activities may not sound like life-changing events to 
the average person, for individuals with intellectual disabilities, 
they make a world of difference. This bill helps accomplish that goal 
in a number of significant cant ways. It authorizes the Secretary of 
Education to award grants or contracts with Best Buddies to conduct and 
expand its activities--with 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 
utilize. More important, it will help move people with intellectual 
disabilities from the margins of society to the mainstream of society.
  I am also pleased to note that this bill is budget neutral. The $10 
million authorization in this bill is offset by repealing two programs 
that in the most recent fiscal year were funded at $10.4 million. I 
know Mr. Hoyer and I look forward to working with our colleagues to 
enact this bill into law, in the hope that we can help raise the hope 
and dignity of people with intellectual disabilities, and further 
empower their full participation in our communities.

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