Fred Upton

Mr. UPTON

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 444, the Gynecological Resolution for Advancement of Ovarian Cancer Education, or ``GRACE's Resolution.'' I would like to thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Barton) and the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal) of the Energy and Commerce Committee, as well as the leadership, for bringing this bill directly to the floor today. I would also like to commend the author of this legislation our friend, Mr. Hall, for his work in Congress to improve health care for all Americans. I know that this is a very personal issue that hits so close to home for him, and I fully support him in his efforts. It is an unfortunate fact that ovarian cancer affects one out of 57 women. In 2005, it is expected that more than 22,000 women will be diagnosed with the disease and an estimated 16,000 will die from it. In my own State of Michigan, there are an average of 515 deaths per year from ovarian cancer and an average incidence rate of 760 people per year. Ovarian cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States. Fifty percent of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer die from it within 5 years. However, if it is detected early, the disease, in fact, is very treatable. In cases where ovarian cancer is detected before it has spread beyond the ovaries, more than 90 percent of women will survive longer than 5 years. But sadly, only 19 percent of ovarian cancer cases in the United States are diagnosed in the early stages. Unfortunately, ovarian cancer does not share the same positive statistics as other cancers. In the most recent report put out by the American Cancer Society, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Cancer Institute, and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries, there were many great developments in cancer trends. Among men, the incidence rates of all cancers were stable from 1995 through 2002. Among women, however, the rates increased by 0.3 percent annually from 1987 to 2002. However, death rates for men and women decreased 1.1 percent during that same period of time. While death rates decreased for many cancers, they have stayed consistently high for ovarian cancer. As the National Cancer Institute statistics demonstrate, a woman's risk of dying from ovarian cancer is not less today than it was 10 years ago. Education is the key to detecting this cancer early. Currently, 86 percent of women state that they have little to no knowledge of gynecological cancers. Forty-five percent of women are unaware of risk factors associated with developing a gynecologic cancer, and 47 percent are unable to name any symptoms of gynecological cancers. Perhaps most startling, 43 percent of women believe that they are not at risk of developing gynecological cancer. As the resolution states, ``Awareness and early recognition of ovarian cancer symptoms are currently the best way to save women's lives.'' Early detection of ovarian cancer is possible. In a national study done by Dr. Barbara Goff of ovarian cancer patients, 95 percent of women had experienced symptoms prior to their diagnosis. We need national awareness among the medical community and among women themselves that ovarian cancer is not a silent disease, the label that it was given many years ago. There are symptoms that can lead to early diagnosis when the disease is beatable and obviously then treatable. Ovarian cancer often presents with persistent symptoms such as abdominal pressure, bloating, discomfort, nausea, indigestion, constipation, abnormal bleeding, unusual fatigue, unexplained weight loss or gain, and shortness of breath. There are also groups of women who are at higher risk of developing the disease. They include women of increasing age, women who have a personal or family history of ovarian, breast, or colon cancer, and women who have not had children. Since these symptoms are so common, ovarian cancer is often a missed diagnosis. There are several reasons for patient-related delays in diagnosis, including a lack of pain, fear, and ignorance regarding cancer symptoms. Additionally, doctors often attribute the symptoms to stress, gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome, or depression. Thirty percent of women are treated first for another condition before they find out that they have ovarian cancer. One of the reasons the survival rate for ovarian cancer remains low is that, so far, there is not a reliable test to detect the disease. Researchers have determined that the disease is related to the BRCA gene, and that women who inherit the BRCA 1 mutated gene have a 20 to 40 percent chance of developing ovarian cancer. Family members diagnosed with ovarian cancer can get a blood test to determine if they have the BRCA-mutated gene. Researchers around the country, as well as the National Cancer Institute, have been working towards a solution; but progress is slow. More ovarian cancer research is needed to develop early detection tools, prevention methods, enhanced therapies, and obviously a cure. There are still large gaps in knowledge on key scientific aspects of the disease. For example, we still do not know if all ovarian cancers are the same disease. There is still no reliable and easy-to-administer screening test for ovarian cancer like the pap smear for cervical cancer or the mammogram for breast cancer. Healthy women have no alternative for screening but to be aware of the ovarian cancer symptoms. Research on ovarian cancer is underfunded relative to the high mortality rate. In 2002, the National Cancer Institute allocated only about one-fifth as much money to ovarian cancer research, $93 million, as to breast cancer, $522 million, and one-third as much to prostate cancer, $278 million, two diseases whose mortality rates are proportionately lower than ovarian cancer. I am heartened to see that we are battling these other diseases and winning the war over them. We need still to pay a lot of attention to the needs of ovarian cancer patients. Once again, I would like to commend my friend from Texas (Mr. Hall) and all the other cosponsors for bringing this resolution to the floor today increasing our awareness of this deadly disease. I would encourage my colleagues to adopt this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers and am prepared to yield back, with one brief comment to my friend from Texas. I am sure that everybody here in this Chamber does know somebody who has suffered with ovarian cancer. Hopefully this bill, the ``Grace Bill,'' will make it a few less down the road. We appreciate the gentleman's leadership and her continued charge for this legislation as well.

Mr. UPTON

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Paul Hillegonds, an individual who has served the residents of Michigan through the years with great distinction. Throughout his career in public service, Paul tirelessly worked for the betterment of our great State and continues to impact countless individuals through his professional and community affiliations. Paul served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 1979 to 1996, and was speaker his final two years in elected office. In 1997, Paul embarked on a new path of service, taking the reins as president of Detroit Renaissance, a non-profit, civic organization comprising Southeast Michigan's business leaders. Paul has received numerous honors throughout his distinguished career, and I am pleased to call him a friend. Paul and I go back a long way--all the way back, in fact, to when he was Administrative Assistant for U.S. Representative Ruppe and I was a staffer for Representative Dave Stockman. Our friendship has only strengthened over time. His wife and kids are good family friends and we have enjoyed each other both in and out of public service. Paul has always stood for the right things and he has displayed the utmost integrity. Unfortunately term limits cost us his leadership as speaker of the Michigan House, but his leadership for the folks of Michigan continues. I look forward to many more years of Paul's friendship. We are all better off for Paul's service to the State of Michigan, and I wish him continued success.

Mr. UPTON

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, what have Members been hearing in their districts? I will tell Members what I have been hearing: There is a constant uproar and anguish about the gas prices across this country. One of the home builders that I met with earlier this week, it cost him $94 to fill up his pickup. Sadly, I do not see that price going down any time soon. This is a long-term, not a short-term, problem. Worldwide, we consume what we produce. This country uses 25 percent of the world's energy, yet we have only 2.5 percent of the world's energy reserves. And in fact in Alaska, we are getting 50 percent of what we got only 7 years ago. The energy bill signed in August will help us in the long term, but it will not help us in the short term. This bill will help us in the long term, not in the short term. We have heard the arguments. We have fewer refineries than we had 30 years ago. We have not built a new refinery in a generation. We need more, and this bill will bring that about. We have dozens of boutique fuels, 45 different blends of gasoline to serve this country. That means we have a different blend for St. Louis than Milwaukee than Detroit than Los Angeles than Houston than Philadelphia than Washington. It is crazy. This bill is going to reduce that from 45 blends to no more than six or eight. The bottom line is if we are not happy with $3 gas, we need to vote ``yes'' on this bill. We need to send it to the Senate. I will remind my colleagues that this bill passed by a voice vote after 16 hours of markup, and I applaud the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Barton), my chairman, for making sure we did it in a bipartisan way.

Mr. UPTON

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, Ben Franklin certainly would be proud, because as the father of daylight savings time, we are finally implementing his ideas in this legislation. I want to thank the many Republicans and Democrats that are supporting this legislation in both bodies. And, of course, on daylight savings time today, it starts the first Sunday in April, it goes through the last Sunday in October. We learned, my coauthor, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey), and myself learned that there was a U.S. Government study done back when maybe I was in junior high school that we said that we would save 100,000 barrels of oil a day for every day that we extended daylight savings time. That was when we had 50 million fewer Americans. Well, guess what we do in this bill? Beginning in 2007, we will change daylight savings time. It will start now the second Sunday in March, it will go through Halloween, through the first Sunday in November. We know that traffic fatalities will decrease. We know that crime rates will decrease. We know that folks will get home with an hour more of sunlight, whether they are coming home from school or whether they are coming home from work. And by having it kick in 2007, we will allow other countries, whether they be Canada, Mexico, perhaps Europe, to establish their timelines the same as ours. We will add a little more sunshine to everybody's day.

Mr. UPTON

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, last week I was appalled to hear about the release of the new version of the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas having a back door to porn embedded in its files. That kind of material would have certainly earned it an ``Adults-Only'' rating rather than the ``Mature'' rating that it has been marketing. I cannot imagine how a good player in the video game industry could make an honest mistake of something like that, so you have to wonder just what they are trying to do. We have had hearings on rating video games as well as music and movies in our committee, and I believe fully that parents are the first line of defense for controlling what their kids watch. Up until now, parents have been able to trust the Entertainment Software Ratings Board, ESRB, to give them credible information about exactly what is in a video game. I want to make sure that that remains the case. According to the Federal Trade Commission, the FTC, parents are involved in the purchase and rental of games more than 8 out of 10 times, better than 80 percent, making it indisputably clear that parents are the gatekeepers when it comes to deciding what games they bring into their homes. The facts about consumer awareness and use of the ESRB ratings: 78 percent of parents are aware of the rating system, up 8 percent in the last 2 years; 61 percent of parents are aware of content descriptors, up 53 percent in the last 2 years; 70 percent of parents regularly check the rating before making a purchase. If this company purposely hid that information or material to make a sham of the ratings, it is nothing less than deceptive advertising and it ought to be punished, in this case severely. My resolution, coauthored by the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey), calls on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Rockstar Games to see if they intentionally deceived the ratings board to avoid the Adults-Only rating, and, if they determine that such deception or fraud has taken place, that they apply the very toughest of penalties or sanctions. The video game industry has gone into great detail to define their ratings, but I want parents to feel confident that the labeling of the video games that they allow their kids to play or purchase is reliable and that bad actors do not get away with deceptions like this. Mr. Speaker, if these ratings were willfully violated, they ought to be punished, and a firm should not be allowed to profit from that outrageous circumstance when those rules are followed by so many families when they buy or see the video games in their homes. This resolution calls for that. Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record a letter that I sent earlier this week to the Chair of the FTC signed by more than 75 Members of Congress, the cover letter signed by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell), the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Barton), the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey) and myself, asking that the FTC take every action that they can if, in fact, the material shows that it was wrong in terms of getting the ``M'' rating. Congress of the United States, Washington, DC, July 21, 2005. Hon. Deborah Platt Majoras, Chairman, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC. Chairman Majoras: We write to express our profound concern regarding the sexually explicit material contained in the rated ``M'' video game ``Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.'' We ask for your attention to this matter and to determine if the publisher, Rockstar Games, intentionally deceived the Entertainment Software Rating Board to avoid an ``Adults- Only'' rating. We believe that they may have and the toughest penalties need to be applied. The recent release of ``Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas'' was widely anticipated by consumers, but an ``Adults-Only'' rating would have severely limited its sales in retail outlets. It appears that the publisher has blatantly circumvented the rules in order to peddle sexually explicit material to our youth, and they should be held accountable. We stand in agreement that parental involvement is the most important line of defense in determining the type of content suitable for children, and the ratings system empowers parents to do just that. Unfortunately, this latest incident of deceit has severely degraded the integrity of the ratings system. How can parents trust a system in which game makers do an end-run around the process to deliver pornographic material to our kids? We appreciate the ESRB's swift action in investigating the matter and revoking the M rating and ensuring any further sales of ``Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas'' will be under an AO rating. But this action should have never been necessary had Rockstar Games complied with industry standards from the outset. We respectfully request that you investigate this matter, and if Rockstar Games is found to have intentionally deceived American consumers, we ask that severe sanctions are imposed to the greatest extent under the law. This type of profiteering from peddling smut to minors must not be tolerated. A company cannot be allowed to profit from deceit. We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your response. Sincerely, Fred Upton, Ed Markey, Joe Barton, John Dingell, and 75 other Members of Congress. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 376) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Federal Trade Commission should investigate the publication of the video game ``Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas'' to determine if the publisher intentionally deceived the Entertainment Software Ratings Board to avoid an ``Adults-Only'' rating, as amended.

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I am a dad. I have got two teenagers. My son has an X Box game. We are very careful in terms of the games that come into our house, both when we go to the store to purchase them as well as what both he and my daughter watch. It is my clear understanding, and the gentlewoman from Minnesota and my colleagues here know it is our understanding, that this particular video game never should have had an ``M'' rating. It always should have been an ``Adults-Only.'' Had it had an ``Adults-Only,'' it would not have been on the shelves of a number of different major retail stores, whether they be Best Buy, Sears, Wal- Mart, et cetera. It was appropriate that they immediately remove those games from their shelves. It is not appropriate. We are thinking that we are taking the right steps to send that message for all families across this country. Not only did we get the letter that was signed literally in about 10 minutes by more than 75 Members of this House in a bipartisan approach, but I have called the FTC to talk with them as well to make sure that if, in fact, they did violate the standard that they ought to use every sanction that they can to go after this particular manufacturer. But this resolution spells it all out as well. And I would urge my colleagues to support this resolution because that indeed will send the message not only to this particular gamemaker but to use all the strength that the FTC has for those who violate those standards that we ought to seek sanctions appropriately to go after them so they do not profit from despicable games like this that no 13-year-old ought to be exposed to, let alone families across the country.

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material on the same.

Mr. UPTON

Mr. UPTON. I yield to the gentleman from Tennessee.

Mr. UPTON. Thank you.

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the committee on both sides of the aisle, particularly all of the parties. I just want to explain, when I was in Michigan this last week, over the July 4th recess, I met with my Corps of Engineers as it related to the harbor in St. Joe and Benton Harbor. They asked that we take steps necessary to lower the depth of the harbor from 21 feet to 23 feet, which would be consistent with the other harbors along Lake Michigan, Holland, as well as Muskegon and Traverse City. I realize that it is too late now, as the rule has been pending, to offer that as an amendment. And I would just like to receive an assurance from both sides that we will work together in conference to include the appropriate language, so that, at the end of the day, in fact, that we will be able to see this harbor dredged, obviously with the correct appropriation from the proper subcommittee.

Mr. UPTON

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to announce that, with my colleague Rep. Edolphus Towns, I am introducing legislation to reauthorize the Healthy Start Act. The Healthy Start program works to reduce the incidence of infant mortality and low birth weight and eliminate perinatal disparities in communities across the Nation where the infant mortality rate is in excess of 150 percent of the national average. The program, which began as a successful demonstration project in 1991 under the leadership of Health and Human Services Secretary Lewis Sullivan and was overwhelmingly authorized by Congress in 2000, has at its core the recognition that infant mortality and morbidity are not just medical problems, they are community problems. To qualify for a Healthy Start grant, communities must buy-in by forming networks of community public and private decision-makers and leaders, educators, health professionals, and family members to set ambitious goals for themselves and work in a coordinated and effective way to meet those goals. These programs are targeted to at-risk populations and are characterized by aggressive outreach to reach young women who are pregnant and/or are already mothers, as well as fathers, who live in communities with the toughest poverty, drug use, and unemployment. We are fortunate to have a Healthy Start program in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in my Congressional district. Our Healthy Start Family Resource Center offers prenatal care, WIC resources, transportation, personal counseling and many other services. So far, 100 percent of the expectant mothers who have received prenatal care and other services through the center have delivered healthy babies. The Healthy Start Reauthorization Act will reauthorize the program for fiscal years 2006 through 2011 at ``such sums as may be necessary.'' Please join Rep. Towns and me in supporting this legislation.

Mr. UPTON

Mr. UPTON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. In closing, let me just say that I welcome my friend's comments. I would only say that we can now refer to ``the other body'' as ``the Senate.'' We changed the rules beginning with this Congress, so we do not need to damn the other side by saying ``the other body;'' we can now thank them for their efforts, and this is maybe the first time that has ever happened. But we applaud their efforts led by Chairman Stevens and others in the Senate.

Mr. UPTON. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. UPTON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 714.

Mr. UPTON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 714) to amend section 227 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 227) relating to the prohibition on junk fax transmissions.

Mr. UPTON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 714, the Junk Fax Prevention Act of 2005, legislation very similar to the bill which this House passed in the last Congress that had been sponsored by me, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey), the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Barton), and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell). I want to thank those Members for their hard work and bipartisan cooperation, not only last year, but this year as well. I also want to thank the House leadership for agreeing to expedite consideration of this very important legislation, because June 30, later this week, is when the sands of the hourglass were about to run out on the current stay of the FCC's new junk fax rules which this legislation fixes. No doubt time is of the essence and passage of this legislation is long overdue, that is for sure. It is important to note that this bill does not overturn the ban on the faxing of unsolicited advertisements which has been outlawed since the passage of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991. So this bill does not protect the senders of those annoying, unsolicited faxes which so many of our constituents get that advertise purported investment opportunities, mortgage refinancing opportunities, vacation packages, who knows what, always sent by unfamiliar firms with whom our constituents have never done business. I presume these firms are at best fly-by-night outfits, or at worst scam artists. In all events, they appear to be nuisances and violators of the Federal junk fax law, and this bill does not change that. Rather, the bill would clearly reinstate the FCC's previous rules which permitted businesses and associations to send faxes to those with whom they had ``an established business relationship'' without first having to get written permission slips from them. If we do not reinstate the FCC's previous rules, the cost of complying with the FCC's new rules will be enormous, and it will severely hamper legitimate fax communications between businesses and their consumers and between associations and their members. Additionally, and importantly, the bill would establish new opt-out safeguards to provide additional protections for fax recipients. Under the bill, senders of faxes must alert recipients of their right to opt out of future faxes and senders must abide by such requests. That is an additional level of protection that consumers do not have under the current law. This Junk Fax Prevention Act is commonsense regulatory relief. I want to thank again the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Barton), the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell), and the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Markey) for their bipartisan cooperation on this bill; and I would urge all of my colleagues to support it. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. UPTON. I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts.

Mr. UPTON. Madam Speaker, I thought the gentleman might want to revise and extend since we had something so gracious coming from the other body now called the Senate. But I want to thank them as well on a bipartisan basis for getting this legislation expedited to the floor. Madam Speaker, I would ask all of my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. UPTON

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Carolyn Alford, an outstanding citizen and educator in Southwest Michigan. A dedicated and committed individual, Carolyn first arrived in Southwest Michigan in 1969 as a recent high school graduate from Montgomery, Alabama. She came to visit her sister for a couple of weeks and, 36 years later, she has yet to leave! Carolyn is retiring from a long, industrious term of almost 16 years with the Kalamazoo Public Schools Board of Education. Throughout Carolyn's tenure with the Board she wore many ``hats,'' including President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer, among others. In her leadership roles, Carolyn continually went above and beyond the call of duty and could always be found outside of the office talking to parents and students regarding their concerns, attending open houses, or representing the board at graduation ceremonies, retirement dinners, awards presentations and, especially, sporting events. However, Carolyn's community work didn't stop with the Kalamazoo Public Schools. As someone who always felt a ``calling to be in public service,'' she is very active in her church, has served in numerous leadership positions with the NAACP, and tirelessly participates in the Northside Association for Community Development, YWCA Domestic Assault Program, the Douglas Community Association, Kalamazoo Northside Non- Profit Housing Corporation and many other organizations throughout Kalamazoo and Southwest Michigan. All this while working full time as an administrator at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. We in Southwest Michigan are forever indebted to Carolyn Alford for the good she has done in our community. Her lifelong contributions to students and families throughout the Kalamazoo area have had great impact and will never be forgotten. I wish Carolyn and her family all the best in retirement, and I sincerely hope she enjoys the extra time with her grandchildren.

Mr. UPTON

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and pay tribute to the Jimmy Carter Work Project and the thousands of volunteers who joined together this week to help build Habitat for Humanity houses for the city of Benton Harbor, Michigan. Across the State of Michigan, over 4,000 volunteers are building a total of 200 houses in local communities. In Benton Harbor alone, 1,700 volunteers from around the world have built 20 new houses, bringing not only large smiles on the faces of 20 families, but the reward of success after hours of hard work. The hands-on approach that the Jimmy Carter Work Project takes towards homeownership is both invaluable and inspiring. Homeowners must donate about 300 hours of their own time toward building their own homes. This partnership of volunteers working side by side with those in need is truly encouraging to all of us who want to bring the opportunity of homeownership to every family. Homeownership is fundamental to improving and preserving the quality of life for the folks of southwest Michigan and beyond, and is truly the cornerstone of the American Dream. Taking pride in our neighborhoods and homes is a necessity to building successful communities and the work that Habitat for Humanity has done for countless individuals is truly inspiring. This year's Project in Michigan is the second largest in Jimmy Carter Work Project's 22 year history and the first time that Habitat has organized to build homes throughout an entire state. Over the past several years Benton Harbor has been through many challenges and obstacles, but the coming together of folks throughout our community to work to bring the American Dream to our neighbors is what makes both the Jimmy Carter Work Project and southwest Michigan extraordinary. I look forward to any opportunity to continue this partnership with Habitat for Humanity in its efforts to build more decent, affordable housing for all. I want to once again commend everyone who has worked and continues to work to make homeownership a reality for people in need. This is a great day for our communities in Michigan and I want to once again commend both Jimmy Carter and Habitat for Humanity for turning dreams into reality.

Mr. UPTON

Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a small Federal program that is often overlooked as a way to provide employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The Javits-Wagner-O'Day Program, often referred to as JWOD, provides more than 40,000 Americans who are blind or who have other severe disabilities with the job skills and training necessary to receive good wages and benefits and gain greater independence and quality of life. The JWOD Program empowers people with disabilities who traditionally face an unemployment rate of 70 percent and rely heavily on social programs such as welfare and SSI. National Industries for the Blind (NIB) and NISH daily are creating new employment opportunities for people with severe disabilities, along with local nonprofit organizations in the State of Michigan. Demonstrating an excellent Federal-private sector partnership, NISH, National Industries for the Blind, and local nonprofits such as Goodwill Industries of Southwestern Michigan, Inc. enhance opportunities for economic and personal independence of people who are blind or who have other severe disabilities, primarily through creating, sustaining, and improving employment. On behalf of people with disabilities, I rise to salute the important contributions of JWOD and Goodwill Industries of Southwestern Michigan, Inc. to the city of Kalamazoo and the community as a whole; and hereby commend all persons who are committed to and work towards enhancing employment opportunities for people with visual and other severe disabilities.