[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 16] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 22505] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]RECOGNIZING COTTONWOOD INDUSTRIES AND THE ABILITYONE PROGRAM ______ HON. JERRY MORAN of kansas in the house of representatives Thursday, September 25, 2008 Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize a program which, in the last year, has helped more than 43,000 Americans who are blind or who have severe disabilities gain skills and training that ultimately led to gainful employment; The AbilityOne Program. The AbilityOne Program, formerly known as the Javits-Wagner-O'Day 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 programs such as AbilityOne have come a long way in helping to bring people with disabilities into working society. I recently had the pleasure of visiting with a community partner in the AbilityOne program. Cottonwood Industries, located in Lawrence, KS, employed 53 people last year, manufacturing products utilized by the Department of Defense in the continued protection of our country. Beyond AbilityOne, Cottonwood further employed another 185 individuals with disabilities in other community opportunities. Cottonwood offers a range of services beyond employment to Americans who are in need of assistance. Community agencies like Cottonwood are very important to those who directly utilize them, but also to society as a whole. It is with great pleasure that I extend my support to the AbilityOne Program. I also want to commend the dedication and commitment of Sharon Spratt, Executive Director of Cottonwood Industries, and her staff, for helping individuals who are blind or have a disability find employment. Their work helps Kansans to live fuller lives and become more active members of society. I also commend each AbilityOne program employee who works every day to improve their lives and make our country a better place to live. ____________________