Reps. Tenney and Bergman Join Ranks of AbilityOne Congressional Champions

VIENNA, VA. -- SourceAmerica is pleased to welcome Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., and Rep. Jack Bergman, R-MI., as the newest AbilityOne Congressional Champions who have pledged their support of the AbilityOne Program.

As AbilityOne Champions, Tenney and Bergman are now two of more than 150 congressional representatives who have publicly shared their support of the program employing more than 45,000 people with disabilities.

Tenney, who represents New York's 22nd District, recently visited Human Technologies, a Utica, New York, member of SourceAmerica's nonprofit network that employs people with disabilities. Employees work on federal contracts such as antiterrorism supply chain management services for the U.S. Department of State; uniform and apparel management services for the U.S. Department of Agriculture; warfighter products for the Department of Defense; and environmental services and grounds maintenance various federal buildings in the 22nd District.

"The Human Technologies team makes a strong impact on our region through both community service and job creation," Tenney said. "Employing nearly 600 people every year, Human Technologies is a critical part of our local economy and business community."

Bergman, a retired U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant general, recently visited SourceAmerica member nonprofit Grand Traverse Industries in Traverse City, Michigan. The agency employing people with disabilities manufactures plastic bags and offers custodial and industrial assembly and packaging services. He met employees there and saw the production of trashcan liners produced by GTI.

"Some jobs provide so much more than just a paycheck – they provide a sense of accomplishment and a sense of purpose," he said. "That's why I am proud to support federal programs like AbilityOne. This program and others like it offer people the resources and confidence they need to be independent and to achieve goals they had set for themselves."