Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the AbilityOne Program and its countless contributions to our communities and to people with disabilities. Through this important program, community-based nonprofit agencies across the Nation have employed more than 45,000 people who are blind or differently abled. The AbilityOne Program harnesses the purchasing power of the Federal Government to buy products from these agencies, which have made it their mission to employ and train the blind and disabled. Established in 1983, the program continues to empower those with disabilities by providing gainful employment to a segment of our population who typically experience one of the highest rates of unemployment in the Nation. These critically important employment opportunities have led to increased independence and enhanced quality of life for scores of disabled Americans. Recently, I had the opportunity to tour an AbilityOne participant in the 22nd District of New York: Human Technologies Corporation located in Utica. This facility employs nearly 600 people on an annual basis. As a critical part of our community, I am honored to serve this AbilityOne agency and their team of dedicated employees, who continue to make a significant economic impact on our region through the creation of quality products and services to government agencies across all sectors. ____________________”