Assistance for Individuals With Disabilities Affected by Hurricane Katrina or Rita Act of 2005
ASSISTANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AFFECTED BY HURRICANE KATRINA OR RITA ACT OF 2005 -- (House of Representatives - September 28, 2005)
Mr. BOUSTANY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3864) to provide vocational rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities affected by Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita, as amended.
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Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3864, which provides needed assistance to individuals with disabilities who are affected by the recent hurricanes. The bill requires the Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration to give preference to States affected by Hurricanes Katrina and/or Rita with respect to the re-allotment of funds for vocational rehabilitation services. This provision is a necessary step in channeling monies to enable individuals with disabilities affected by either hurricane to participate in reconstruction or other major disaster assistance activities.
A strength of this legislation is that it permits affected States to use these re-alloted funds to pay for vital vocational rehabilitation services. This includes important activities such as training, mentoring, or job shadowing that contribute to the economic growth and development of communities. H.R. 3864 also grants needed flexibility to the States in providing the vocational services to individuals with disabilities by allowing the Commissioner to waive a state's matching requirement for funds from non-Federal sources.
These proposals will help the affected States as well as individuals with disabilities. The affected States will not have to draw upon their already depleted funds to pay for these critical services, and individuals with disabilities will be able to participate in the rebuilding of their towns and cities, which in turn will gain from the valuable services that individuals with disabilities can provide.
In my district I have seen the amazing work that disabled individuals are capable of. The Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind employs blind individuals to build clocks for the Federal Government. I am glad to support a bill that recognizes and encourages the contributions of this population.
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