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 Vir-
ginia, Mr. MOLLOHAN, Ms. FUDGE, Ms. LINDA T. SA´NCHEZ of Cali-
fornia, 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 opportu-
nities 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 mili-
tary 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 as-
sociated 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 man-
ufactured 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 unem-
ployment rate experienced by people who are blind or se-
verely disabled, allowing such individuals to increase their 
personal and economic independence: Now, therefore, be 
it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
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•HRES 1693 IH 
(1) recognizes the AbilityOne Base Supply Cen-
ters for 15 years of service on military installations 
and in Federal buildings across the United States; 
(2) commends military installations and Federal 
buildings across the country for— 
(A) their commitment to the AbilityOne 
Program; and 
(B) their success at eliminating barriers to 
employment and independence for Americans 
who are blind or severely disabled; and 
(3) honors National Industries for the Blind 
and NISH as nonprofit agencies providing critically 
important employment opportunities, training, and 
mission critical support services to the United States 
Military through the AbilityOne Base Supply Center 
Program. 
Æ 
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