Senator CRANSTON. The next witness is Mr. Milton Cohen, executive director, Federation of the Handicapped.

I would like to say to you that Senator Javits wanted to be here to introduce you. He had a conflict in his schedule that made that impossible so he left his remarks with me.

We will place in the record at this point the very pleasant things he would have said about you had he been here.

STATEMENT OF HON. JACOB K. JAVITS, A U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF NEW YORK

Mr. Chairman, it is my pleasure to introduce as the next witness a New York constituent who has long been distinguished in the area of service to the handicapped. Milton Cohen has, since 1948, been executive director of the Federation of the Handicapped in New York City and is past president of the International Association of Rehabilitation Facilities. He has served in Federal as well as State and local governmental advisory positions in his field of expertise as well as having written professional articles in the field of rehabilitation. He has testified before this committee before and I am certain that what he has to say today will be of interest.

Senator CRANSTON. We welcome you and are delighted to have your testimony. I would appreciate it if you would place in the record your prepared statement and simply summarize, if you can, what you wish to say at this point so that there will be time to ask some questions. Your prepared statement will be printed at the end of your testimony. I am afraid we may have a rollcall vote on the Senate floor that mav take me away from the hearing room for a short while.

STATEMENT OF MILTON COHEN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
FEDERATION OF THE HANDICAPPED

Mr. COHEN. Thank you, Senator Cranston.

I will submit for the record a written statement and I will make some informal comments.

For the record, I will identify myself.

I am Milton Cohen, executive director of the Federation of the Handicapped, a comprehensive rehabilitation center.

I have been its administrator for the past 24 years and have spent 35 years in the field of vocational rehabilitation, both on the Federal and State programs, and as administrator of a voluntary agency.

I am also immediate past president and first president of the International Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, and a member of the National Policy Performance Council of the Rehabilitation Services Administration.

It is my intention today, Senator, to focus my comments on the need for legislation for a center for the homebound, a national center for the homebound.

The term "homebound" is truly synonymous with the severely disabled; and it is my deep conviction with 30-odd years experience with this group that the homebound can be rehabilitated.

I would like to say, too, that our agency, Federation of the Handicapped, is an agency not only interested in the homebound, but in the