Improving employment outcomes for people with disabilities is one of my top priorities.  In 2011, at a disability employment summit hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Business Leadership Network, I challenged the employer representatives in the room to work to increase the size of the disability workforce from under five million to six million by 2015.  This goal was quickly endorsed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Employment is one of the most pressing issues facing the disability community today.  While the recent recession has had a negative impact on most Americans, it has hit Americans with disabilities particularly hard.  And while employment numbers are rising overall, people with disabilities have been slow to see the benefits of our nation's economic recovery.  Moreover, workers with disabilities left the labor force during the recent recession at a rate five times the rate for workers without disabilities.

This October, as we observe National Disability Employment Awareness Month, it is time to celebrate the very real progress we have made in opening doors of opportunity thanks to laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act.  But it is also time to acknowledge that when a majority of people with disabilities are not employed, we still have a long way to go to ensure equal opportunity for all Americans.  Individuals with disabilities represent one of the largest untapped pools of skills and talents in our country.

In July, as Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, I released a report urging Congress, the Administration, the business community, and society at large to make the issue of disability employment a national priority.  I hope that this report encourages bipartisan leadership in the public and private sectors that will bring more Americans with disabilities into competitive employment, where they can earn a good living and contribute to the economy.

This month, as we recognize that people with disabilities - like all people - have unique abilities, talents, and aptitudes, I encourage you to think about this year's theme:  "A Strong Workforce is an Inclusive Workforce: What Can YOU Do?"

We must continue to expand opportunities for people with disabilities to make their mark on the world, and help employers learn the benefits of hiring these workers.  Learn more about how to celebrate Disability Employment Awareness Month by visiting the Department of Labor's website: http://www.dol.gov/odep/topics/ndeam/.

A PDF version of the column is available by clicking here.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 11, 2012 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced funding to modernize and improve the efficiency of rural electric generation and transmission systems. The announcement was made on the Secretary's behalf by Under Secretary Dallas Tonsager.

"USDA and the Obama administration continue to make key investments in rural electric cooperatives that will modernize service and improve reliability for rural businesses and residential customers," Tonsager said. "Today's announcement also includes funding that will enable rural electric cooperatives and utilities to adopt smart grid technologies in their operation as part of the ongoing efforts to modernize rural America's electric grid."

Secretary Vilsack announced in August that USDA had met its goal to finance $250 million in smart grid technologies in fiscal year 2012. Today's announcement includes additional support of $134 million in smart grid technologies.

The following is a list of rural utilities that will receive USDA funding, which is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the loan agreement.

Alabama

• South Alabama Electric Cooperative: $17,800,000. Funds will be used to build and improve 144 miles of distribution line and make other system improvements. The loan guarantee includes $125,000 in smart grid projects.

Arkansas (Funding also covers communities in Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.)

• Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation: $245,000,000. Funds will be used to acquire Hot Spring Generating Facility, a 660 MW natural gas-fired, combined-cycle electric generating plant.

California

• Kirkwood Meadows Public Utility District: $50,000,000. Funds will be used to build or improve 40 miles of distribution and transmission line and make other system improvements. The loan guarantee includes $200,000 in smart grid projects.

Colorado

• Eagle Valley Clean Energy, LLC: $40,000,000. Funds will be used to partially finance a renewable generating plant with a capacity of 11.5 MW. The plant will utilize wood biomass for fuel.

Hawaii

• Green Energy Team, LLC: $72,883,000. Funds will be used to partially finance a renewable generating plant with a capacity of 7.5 MW. The plant will utilize wood biomass for fuel.

Iowa

• Southern Iowa Electric Cooperative, Inc.: $10,000,000. Funds will be used to build and improve 106 miles of distribution line and make other system improvements. The loan guarantee includes $135,000 in smart grid projects and $2,043,387 for storm damage projects.

Maryland

• SMECO Solar, LLC: $14,565,000. Funds will be used to finance the construction of the Herbert Farm Solar Project, a 5.5 MW renewable solar-powered generating facility.
• Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative, Inc.: $87,160,000. Funds will be used to build 37 miles of transmission line and make other system improvements.

Minnesota and Iowa

• Federated Rural Electric Association: $6,700,000. Funds will be used to build and improve 76 miles of distribution line and make other system improvements. The loan guarantee includes $1,542,000 in smart grid projects.

Mississippi

• South Mississippi Electric Power Association: $480,000,000. Funds will be used to finance a 15 percent share of the Kemper County Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle project.
• South Mississippi Electric Power Association: $90,863,000. Funds will be used to build seven miles of transmission line and four new substations and make communications upgrades. The loan amount includes $67,228,000 in smart grid projects.

Missouri and Oklahoma

• KAMO Electric Cooperative, Inc: $154,600,000. Funds will be used to finance 116 miles of new transmission line, two substations and make other system improvements. The loan amount includes $32,120,980 in smart grid projects.

Nebraska

• KBR Rural Public Power District: $13,314,000. Funds will be used to build and improve 129 miles of distribution line and nine miles of transmission line, and make other system improvements. The loan amount includes $791,475 in smart grid projects.

New Mexico

• Otero County Electric Cooperative, Inc: $30,886,000. Funds will be used to build and improve 200 miles of distribution line and 10 miles of transmission line, and make other system improvements. The loan amount includes $345,000 in smart grid projects.
• Central Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc: $44,973,000. Funds will be used to build and improve 589 miles of distribution line and 30 miles of transmission line, and make other system improvements.

New York

• Delaware County Electric Cooperative, Inc: $5,000,000. Funds will be used to build and improve 53 miles of distribution line, two substations and make other system improvements. The loan amount includes $50,660 in smart grid projects.

North Dakota and Minnesota

• Minnkota Power Cooperative, Inc: $308,700,000. Funds will be used to build 260 miles of transmission line. The loan amount includes $2,800,000 in smart grid projects.

North Dakota and Montana

• Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative: $54,000,000, Funds will be used to build and improve 520 miles of distribution line and make other system improvements. The loan amount includes $659,800 in smart grid projects.

Ohio

• Firelands Electric Cooperative, Inc.: $4,800,000. Funds will be used to build and improve 43 miles of distribution line, and make other system improvements. The loan amount includes $1,122,000 in smart grid projects.
• Midwest Electric Cooperative, Inc.: $9,000,000. Funds will be used to build and improve 115 miles of distribution line, and make other system improvements. The loan amount includes $288,900 in smart grid projects.

Texas

• San Patrico Electric Cooperative, Inc: $16,853,000. Funds will be used to build and improve 202 miles of distribution line, and make other system improvements. The loan amount includes $2,157,754 in smart grid projects.

Texas and Louisiana

• East Texas Electric Cooperative, Inc.: $151,000,000. Funds will be used to finance a 50 MW renewable generating plant. The plant will use wood biomass for fuel.

Washington

• Orcas Power and Light Cooperative: $38,402,000. Funds will be used to build and improve 109 miles of distribution line, and make other system improvements. The loan amount includes $24,296,000 in smart grid projects.

Wyoming and Nebraska

• Wyrulec Company: $4,887,000. Funds will be used to build and improve 85 miles of distribution line, and make other system improvements. The loan amount includes $155,700 in smart grid projects.

The $1.95 billion in loan guarantees announced today are provided by USDA Rural Development's Rural Utilities Service. The funding helps electric utilities upgrade, expand, maintain and replace rural America's electric infrastructure. The agency also funds energy conservation and renewable energy projects.

For information on other Rural Development's projects, please visit the agency's new interactive web map at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RDSuccessStories.html. The map features program funding and success stories for fiscal years 2009-2011.

President Obama's plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President's leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way - strengthening America's economy, small towns and rural communities. USDA's investments in rural communities support the rural way of life that stands as the backbone of our American values. President Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack are committed to a smarter use of Federal resources to foster sustainable economic prosperity and ensure the government is a strong partner for businesses, entrepreneurs and working families in rural communities.

USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages housing, business and community infrastructure programs through a national network of state and local offices. Rural Development has an active portfolio of more than $172 billion in loans and loan guarantees. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

PEORIA - Lt. Governor Sheila Simon will give the opening remarks Thursday at a Bradley University youth rally that aims to increase civic participation among high school and college students, as well as greater cooperation in government. Simon's band, Loose Gravel, will also be on hand to perform following Simon's remarks at the rally.

"Unlike cooking where too many cooks can spoil the broth, democracy is only strengthened when more people get involved," Simon said. "It is in everyone's interest for young people to be active in helping shape future policies, and to do so with a spirit of civility and cooperation, not partisan divisiveness."

The Institute for Principled Leadership in Public Service at Bradley University invited Simon to speak at the rally and is one of the co-hosts of the event, along with the Illinois League of Women Voters who will have several voter registration stations on site.

Simon will be joined at the rally by state, county and local elected officials, as well as several Bradley student leaders. The rally is open to the public, and free pizza and drinks will be available at a reception following the speaking program.

DATE: Thursday, October 4

TIME: 4 p.m.