Helen Keller National Center Reauthorization Act of 2022

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1433, bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Helen Keller National Center Act.

This center is unique. In fact, it is the only one of its kind. Since 1967, the center has helped individuals with combined vision and hearing loss by providing them, as well as their families and service providers, with specialized, intensive services to help them lead successful and independent lives. This includes, but isn't limited to, career and technical education.

Simply put, the center offers hope and dignity to those it serves. This center is on the forefront of research in developing new and innovative ways for those that are deaf-blind to live a full and independent life. The end goal is allowing those with combined vision and hearing loss to work and thrive in communities of their choice.

The Helen Keller National Center is living up to the legacy of its namesake. Helen Keller is the epitome of perseverance. She overcame every obstacle to lead a successful life that impacted the lives of so many.

She once wrote, ``A happy life consists not in the absence but in the mastery of hardships.'' There is so much we can learn from Helen Keller's commitment to serving others despite her own trials.

This bipartisan bill will ensure that the Helen Keller National Center continues to help deaf-blind youth and adults triumph over adversity, just as Helen Keller did more than 50 years ago.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill and, in doing so, empower those who are deaf-blind to live full, successful, and independent lives. This bill will help ensure these students and adults have all the resources they need to reach their fullest potential.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of reauthorizing the Helen Keller National Center Act.

Helen Keller's story is an example of determination and hard work. Not only did she overcome her difficulties, but

she worked tirelessly to better the lives of others. In doing so, she showed the world there were no boundaries. That is how the center looks at its work and those who it serves.

As a parent of a child with a disability, this issue is very near and dear to my heart, so I am glad to have this time today to share my thoughts and experiences. I know firsthand the importance of each child with a disability having every possible opportunity to succeed and thrive. Any parent of a child with any disability can tell you that their top priority is to provide the very best for their children's education and growth.

I will work tirelessly in and out of Congress for the disability community. This is one of many reasons why I support this bill. Today's bipartisan legislation will allow the center to continue its invaluable research and developmental programs in several areas, including communication techniques and teaching methods.

All of this leads to improved program offerings and, ultimately, better lives for deaf-blind Americans and their families.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 1433.

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

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.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1433, the Helen Keller National Center Reauthorization Act of 2022.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

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, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Suozzi), a cosponsor of the legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

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.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for giving me the opportunity to speak in support of H.R. 1433, the reauthorization of the Helen Keller National Center for Youths and Adults Who Are Deaf- Blind in our country.

Let me start by thanking not only the chairman but Congressman Pocan and all of my colleagues who, on a bipartisan basis, have shown overwhelming support for this legislation and the national center.

The Helen Keller National Center for the Deaf-Blind, located in my district, is the only center of its type anywhere in the Nation. People from all over the country travel to the center for help, and they have regional support centers, as well.

In my first 2 weeks in office, back in 2017, I visited the Helen Keller National Center for the first time. I heard stories from people whose lives were changed and whose families' lives were changed because of the miracles that were brought into their lives by this exceptional national treasure.

People's lives have been changed dramatically because of the work of this center supported by this Congress for 55 years, since 1967. We need to continue to support the center.

I thank my colleagues for the great work that they have done in supporting it and continuing to increase its funding year after year. Let us keep working together on a bipartisan basis to serve the people of our country, especially this vulnerable population. Imagine what it would be like to be deaf and blind.

This is truly a national treasure, and I thank my colleagues for their support.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to section 2 of House Resolution 1361, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bills: H.R. 1433, H.R. 4009, H.R. 4358, H.R. 6265, H.R. 6846, H.R. 7240, H.R. 7338, H.R. 8453, H.R. 8503, and H.R. 8520; and agree to H. Res. 558.

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