IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1693 

Honoring the 15th anniversary of the AbilityOne Base Supply Centers. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 29, 2010 

Mr. ETHERIDGE (for himself, Mr. CLEAVER, Mr. PLATTS, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mr. MOLLOHAN, Ms. FUDGE, Ms. LINDA T. SA ́NCHEZ of California, Mr. PRICE of North Carolina, Mr. ISRAEL, Ms. WASSERMAN

SCHULTZ, Mr. CARTER, Mr. REYES, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. GIFFORDS, Mr. 

BUTTERFIELD, Mr. CONAWAY, Mr. SHULER, Mrs. MALONEY, and Mr. 

LANGEVIN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Armed Services 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring the 15th anniversary of the AbilityOne Base 

Supply Centers. 

Whereas National Industries for the Blind and NISH are the 

designated central nonprofit agencies performing under 

the AbilityOne Program to provide employment opportunities for Americans who are blind or have other severe 

disabilities through the sale of products and services to 

the Federal Government and our United States military; 

Whereas AbilityOne Base Supply Centers (referred to in this 

preamble as ‘‘BSC’’) are located on military installations 

and in Federal office buildings and are operated by 

AbilityOne-associated nonprofit agencies; 


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•HRES 1693 IH 

Whereas prior to 1995, many bases did not have an on-base 

supply store; 

Whereas the first AbilityOne BSC opened 15 years ago at 

Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to fill a mission-support gap 

by providing much-needed products and services to military personnel in an on-base retail setting; 

Whereas today there are 140 AbilityOne BSCs providing 

products and services tailored to the mission of military 

personnel in 45 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto 

Rico, Guantanamo Bay, and Cuba; 

Whereas AbilityOne BSCs provide direct-retail employment 

opportunities for nearly 300 Americans who are blind or 

severely disabled and support employment for 45,000 

Americans who are blind or severely disabled throughout 

the country; 

Whereas the AbilityOne products sold under the 

SKILCRAFT brand in BSCs are manufactured at associated agencies by employees who are blind or severely 

disabled; 

Whereas military products, such as uniforms, helmets, clocks, 

shovels, tents, paper, eating utensils, and pens, are manufactured under the AbilityOne Program by people who 

are blind or severely disabled; and 

Whereas the sale of AbilityOne products and services provides 

jobs that help decrease the estimated 70-percent unemployment rate experienced by people who are blind or severely disabled, allowing such individuals to increase their 

personal and economic independence: Now, therefore, be 

it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 


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•HRES 1693 IH 

1 (1) recognizes the AbilityOne Base Supply Cen2 ters for 15 years of service on military installations 

3 and in Federal buildings across the United States; 

4 (2) commends military installations and Federal 

5 buildings across the country for— 

6 (A) their commitment to the AbilityOne 

7 Program; and 

8 (B) their success at eliminating barriers to 

9 employment and independence for Americans 

10 who are blind or severely disabled; and 

11 (3) honors National Industries for the Blind 

12 and NISH as nonprofit agencies providing critically 

13 important employment opportunities, training, and 

14 mission critical support services to the United States 

15 Military through the AbilityOne Base Supply Center 

16 Program. 

Æ 


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