Mr. Speaker. the Vocational Rehabilitation Amendments of 1967 authorized a special program of grants to State vocational rehabilitation agencies to pay 90 percent of the cost of pilot or demonstration projects to provide rehabilitation services to disabled migratory agricultural workers and their families. June. 19. 1968 I believe every Member of this body is familiar with the depressing and often tragic circumstances under which most migrant workers and their families presently work and live. Not so well known. however. is the serious problems they face when the worker or a member of his family sustains a serious disability on top of his other problems. The Congress already has taken several important steps to try to improve the lot of the migrant worker. However. the difficulties become literally overwhelming when the worker or family member becomes disabled. which happens frequently among this group. It is well known that disability is always far more prevalent among lowincome groups. Surely. we can all agree that this is one of the most economically deprived groups of workers in the United States. Disability appears with great frequency as a result of accidents at work and on the highways as they travel with the seasons from one crop to another. The migrant workers receive none of the services which public programs bring to most citizens. Because they are "outofStaters" and are not eligible for the services that the community normally provides. they usually find themselves without a place to turn when disability strikes. This new special Program will help overcome many of the obstacles to rehabilitation of disabled migrant workers. The estimated migrant population in the United States. including families. is 2.000.00o. Of this number. it is further estimated that at least 2 percent or 400.000 persons would be eligible and feasible for vocational rehabilitation services. A request for $3.5 million is included in the 1969 budget. Although this sum will fund only a limited number of projects. it will initiate pilot and demonstration projects. In such projects some examples of the kinds of activities that might be included are: First. CasefInding and referral systems at migrant agricultural worker labor centers. migrant health centers with appropriate linkage with State vocational rehabilitation agencies. schools. and other agencies. Such systems could involve workers. worker and community leaders. health labor and other public and voluntary agency people in identifying health. and referring potential clients for vocational rehabilitation services. Second. Rehabilitation units in close cooperation with and proximity to migrant health centers to provide the necessary early coordinated and specialized evaluation and rehabilitation services. Third. Cadres of indigenous worker aides. and camp ministers or other recognized spokesmen. to assist in casefinding. interpretative and other supportive services.