Helen Keller National Center Reauthorization Act of 2022

Floor Speech

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Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1433) to reauthorize the Helen Keller National Center for Youths and Adults Who Are Deaf-Blind, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 1433

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Helen Keller National Center Reauthorization Act of 2022''. SEC. 2. HELEN KELLER NATIONAL CENTER REAUTHORIZED.

The first sentence of section 205(a) of the Helen Keller National Center Act (29 U.S.C. 1904(a)) is amended by striking ``1999 through 2003'' and inserting ``2023 through 2027''.

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Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. 1433, the Helen Keller National Center Reauthorization Act of 2022.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1433, the Helen Keller National Center Reauthorization Act, which would reauthorize the Helen Keller National Center for 5 years.

The Helen Keller National Center for Youths and Adults Who Are Deaf- Blind was first authorized by Congress in 1967 to assist the deaf-blind community in America.

To this day, it is the only comprehensive national program that provides information, referrals, support, and training exclusively to Americans who have combined vision and hearing loss, while also supporting families and professionals who work with the deaf-blind community.

Moreover, the Helen Keller National Center is the only comprehensive national program that provides for information, referral, support, and training exclusively to youth and adults who have combined vision and hearing loss. The center also supports families and professionals who work with the deaf-blind community.

Thankfully, through our actions today, we will be one step closer to reauthorizing the center's important work through 2027.

The Helen Keller center performs life-changing work. This work and the population it serves deserve all of our support.

Lastly, I thank the sponsor of the legislation, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Pocan), and the cosponsors, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole), the gentleman from New York (Mr. Suozzi), and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fitzpatrick), for their leadership on this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support the American deaf-blind community and support this bipartisan legislation before us.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation will help members of the deaf-blind community across the country. I thank the gentleman from New York for his leadership, along with the sponsors and cosponsors of the legislation. I am proud that the House is considering this legislation today.

Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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