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Message from President Obama
On January 20, 2012, President Obama made history, and the blind vending facility program, every blind vendor, and every State licensing agency
benefited. The President signed a Presidential Memorandum, which has the force of law for Federal departments, agencies, and offices, directing those agencies
to take action to support the Randolph-Sheppard program.
This is the most significant Presidential action affecting the program since the Act was last amended in 1974 – 38 years ago. Why did the
President take this action? Readers need to be aware of a little history.
In November 2010, the Board of Directors of the Randolph-Sheppard Vendors of America participated in a three-day retreat in Kenner, Louisiana to sort out
where the organization was going, how it would deal with major issues in the future, and what kinds of initiatives we should bring forward in the near, medium,
and long term. One of the issues the Board agreed to was to seek from the White House and the President an Executive Order supporting the Randolph-Sheppard
priority and the Act.
Under RSVA President Dan Sippl’s leadership, work began on the project. ACB’s President Mitch Pomerantz endorsed the effort, and the ACB office, including
Executive Director Melanie Brunson and Eric Bridges, the Director of Governmental Affairs, worked to get an appointment with Kareem Dale, Special Assistant to
the President for disability issues. Kareem himself is blind, and is a lawyer from Chicago.
Dan, Melanie, Eric, and I met with Kareem on a hot day in August, 2011 and urged him to persuade the President to support and sign an Executive Order. RSA
Commissioner Lynnae Ruttledge and her deputy, Ed Anthony, also attended the meeting.
We talked with Kareem Dale for more than an hour, a generous amount of time for an incredibly busy Presidential Assistant. At the end of the meeting he
pledged, “We’ll do something.” And do something he did. Scarcely five months later, the President signed the Memorandum.
We can all be proud of the job done by ACB and RSVA to secure this extremely important and historic Memorandum, and pleased with the strong support from the
RSA Commissioner. The Presidential Memorandum is printed below in its entirety.
President Barack Obama
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release January 20, 2012
MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
SUBJECT: Federal Support for the Randolph-Sheppard Vending
Facility Program
Thousands of Americans who are blind have embraced the
entrepreneurial spirit that helps define our Nation as a land
of opportunity. Through the Federal Randolph-Sheppard Vending
Facility Program administered by the Department of Education,
talented and creative individuals who are blind have acquired
the management training and business skills necessary to realize
the American dream -- a lifetime of economic opportunity,
independence, and self-sufficiency for themselves and their
families.
For 75 years, blind business managers have successfully operated
food services and commercial ventures at Federal, State, and
private buildings and locations nationwide. We honor and
celebrate this program's historic achievements. We also trust
that the Randolph-Sheppard Program will continue to be a leading
model for providing high-quality entrepreneurial opportunities
for blind individuals. From a simple snack shop, to tourist
services at the Hoover Dam, to full food-services operations at
military installations, blind entrepreneurs have provided
exceptional customer service to Federal and State employees,
the Armed Forces, and the general public. With proven ability,
they have challenged preconceived notions about disability.
The Randolph-Sheppard Act (20 U.S.C. 107 et seq.) created the
Vending Facility Program requiring qualified blind individuals
be given a priority to operate vending facilities on Federal
properties. This program is responsible today for providing
entrepreneurial opportunities for over 2,500 individuals who are
blind. In turn, these business managers have hired thousands of
workers, many of whom are individuals with disabilities. Every
American, including persons with disabilities, deserves the
opportunity to succeed without limits, earn equal pay for equal
jobs, and aspire to full-time, career-oriented employment.
Continued support and cooperation are needed from executive
departments, agencies, and offices (agencies) to extend the
Randolph-Sheppard priority to qualified blind managers through
the State licensing agencies that implement the program.
Therefore, I direct all agencies that have property management
responsibilities to ensure that agency officials, when pursuing
the establishment and operation of vending facilities (including
cafeterias and military dining facilities) as defined in
20 U.S.C. 107e, issue permits and contracts in compliance with
the Randolph-Sheppard Program and consistent with existing
regulations and law. I further direct the Secretary of
Education, through the Commissioner of the Rehabilitation
Services Administration, to submit a report to the President on
agencies' implementation of the Randolph-Sheppard Program not
later than 1 year from the date of this memorandum.
This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any
right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law
or in equity by any party against the United States, its
departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or
agents, or any other person.
The Secretary of Education is hereby authorized and directed to
publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.
BARACK OBAMA
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