House Proceeding on Apr 22nd, 2009 :: 2:47:45 to 2:51:35
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2:47:43 to 2:48:04( Edit History Discussion )

Roy Blunt: for many years on this i urge my colleagues to support it. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back his time. the gentleman from michigan. mr. ehlers: thank you, mr. speaker. it's my pleasure to yield to the sponsor of this legislation, the gentleman from missouri, mr. blunt. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. ehlers: he may have as much time as he wishes.

2:47:45 to 2:51:35( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Roy Blunt

2:48:05 to 2:48:25( Edit History Discussion )

Roy Blunt: . blunt: i thank mr. ehlers for yielding. i certainly was pleased to join my colleague from maryland, the majority leader, as an original sponsor of thisest buddies empowerment for people with intellectual disabilities act. this isn't the first time that mr. hoyer and i have joined our -- with our colleagues to come together in a meaningful way in

2:48:26 to 2:48:46( Edit History Discussion )

Roy Blunt: this important area. we are both proud of the special olympics sport and empowerment act in 2004 that became law dung the 108th congress. the success stories of healthy athletes, the program that emerged out of that effort, are really the great result we did and the reports we get

2:48:47 to 2:49:07( Edit History Discussion )

Roy Blunt: from special olympics have been heartening every year as they -- those athletes come together. it's estimated that between seven million and eight million americans live with intellectual disabilities. impacting nearly one in every 10 families. for these individuals life's not always welcoming. very rarely is it easy. people with intellectual

2:49:08 to 2:49:29( Edit History Discussion )

Roy Blunt: disabilities are often excluded from society whether that's at school, in the workplace, or in their communities simply because they are different. so i have been glad to support a prram that we have talked about today, best buddies. it's been mentioned it was organized 20 years ago by anthony shriver, it was designed to help integrate people with intellectual disabilitiesnto

2:49:30 to 2:49:50( Edit History Discussion )

Roy Blunt: the mainstream of society to end their embark on productive fulfillinging lives by finding a bud qui -- buddy that didn't have the disabilities they had. it works with volunteers to with their nondisability peers in order to help increase the

2:49:51 to 2:50:12( Edit History Discussion )

Roy Blunt: self-steam,onfidence, and abilities of people with and without intellectual disabilities. this is a program that's enhanced the lives of individuals by providing real and safe opportunities for one-on-one friendships and new options for employment. these can often be life changing

2:50:13 to 2:50:33( Edit History Discussion )

Roy Blunt: events for individuals and often are life changing events for those individuals with intellectual disabilities. this is often the first time in their life that they have had someone to call their friend, someone to be their friend who didn't have disabilities and introduce them to the world without disabilities. this bill helps accomplish that

2:50:34 to 2:50:55( Edit History Discussion )

Roy Blunt: goal in a number of significant ways. it authorizes the secretary of education to award grants or contracts with best buddies to conduct and expand its activities. it has an eye on increasing the participation of individuals with intellectual abilities as well as to promote outreach programs. this bill will go a long way

2:50:56 to 2:51:17( Edit History Discussion )

Roy Blunt: toward dispelling hurtful stereotypes and make clear the extraordiny gifts that people with intellectual disabilities nonetheless possess and with just a little encouragement are able to utilize. more important, it will help move people from intellectual disabilities from the margins of society to the mainstream of society. i know mr. hoyer, mr. ehlers,

2:51:18 to 2:51:35( Edit History Discussion )

Roy Blunt: mr. tonko, and i hope to see this bill enacted into law knowing it will help raise the hope and dignity of people with intellectual disabilities and further empower their full participation in our communities. i hope my colleagues pass this bill today. we intend to work for its enactment into law and look