[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11969]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


 RECOGNIZING HUMAN TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION AND THE ABILITYONE PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. RICHARD L. HANNA

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 25, 2011

  Mr. HANNA. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize a program, which in 
the last several years, has helped more than 47,000 Americans who are 
blind or who have significant disabilities gain skills and training 
that ultimately led to gainful employment: The AbilityOne Program.
  The AbilityOne Program harnesses the purchasing power of the Federal 
Government to buy products and services from participating community-
based nonprofit agencies that are dedicated to training and employing 
individuals with disabilities. This program affords Americans with 
disabilities the opportunity to acquire job skills and training, 
receive good wages and benefits, and gain greater independence and 
quality of life.
  This comes in a segment of the population that has suffered from 
significant unemployment. But opportunities through the AbilityOne 
Program have come a long way in helping to bring people with 
disabilities into a working society. I am proud to acknowledge that 
Human Technologies Corporation, also known as HTC, represents one of 
the many Social Enterprises dedicated to the mission of enhancing the 
lives of people with disabilities.
  HTC is a company made up of six diverse businesses which provide a 
wide-range of resources that expand opportunities for people with 
disabilities in New York and provide high quality products and services 
for Federal customers throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. A 
DLA Not for Profit Vendor of the Year recipient, HTC manufactures 
apparel and equipage items for several branches of the military and 
provides sophisticated employee uniform program management and 
distribution of apparel to thousands of Federal civilian employees for 
the U.S. Forest Service, Army Corps of Engineers and will soon manage 
the Air Force Civilian Police uniform program. In addition to the 
manufacture and distribution of apparel and equipage, HTC provides 
building maintenance and associated groundskeeping services for GSA, 
NAVFAC and the Air Force. HTC performs to the highest standards and 
does so through the employment of individuals with significant 
disabilities. In 2010 HTC provided more than 416 jobs for persons with 
disabilities and an additional 123 jobs for people without disabilities 
resulting in more than 415,400 hours of employment.
  HTC, and its Property Management Group division, is responsible for 
the cleaning of my district office in Utica. I could not be more 
pleased with the service provided by these men and women. I am proud to 
say that among the workforce is a Vietnam War Veteran with a disability 
named Herb. Herb has been employed by HTC for more than 24 years. His 
dedication and quality work allows me to be of even greater service to 
my constituents every day. I was also visited this past month in my 
Washington D.C. office by another AbilityOne/HTC employee named Sandy. 
Sandy is a sewing machine operator and cuts and sews trousers and 
shirts for the thousands of Federal employees HTC serves in its uniform 
program line of business. HTC and the AbilityOne Program have given 
individuals like Herb and Sandy exactly what every American wants and 
deserves--an opportunity. They have been afforded countless ways to 
make a difference in both their lives, and in ours, each day and we as 
a community, and as a country, benefit from their hard work, skills and 
dedication.
  HTC believes that work is inherently dignified and fulfilling, and 
that individuals with disabilities and other barriers to employment 
deserve the opportunity to work and to achieve their fullest potential. 
The direct impact of such an organization on the lives of Americans 
with disabilities cannot be overstated and as such, the AbilityOne 
Program and Social Enterprises like HTC are invaluable.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I extend my support to 
the AbilityOne Program. I also want to commend the dedication and 
commitment of Richard E. Sebastian, Jr., HTC's President and Chief 
Executive Officer and his staff for helping individuals who are blind 
or have significant disabilities find employment. Their work helps 
people live fuller lives and become contributors to each of their 
communities and to our country. I also commend each AbilityOne employee 
who works every day to provide valuable products and services to 
Federal agencies throughout this great land and in so doing, improve 
their own lives by engaging in meaningful work.

                          ____________________