Whereas rehabilitation counselors conduct assessments, provide counseling, support families, and plan and implement rehabilitation programs for individuals in need of rehabilitation; Whereas the purpose of professional organizations for rehabilitation counseling and education is to promote the improvement of rehabilitation services available to individuals with disabilities through quality education for counselors and rehabilitation research; Whereas various professional organizations have vigorously advocated for up-to-date education and training and the maintenance of professional standards in the field of rehabilitation counseling and education, including— (1) the National Rehabilitation Association; (2) the Rehabilitation Counselors and Educators Association; (3) the National Council on Rehabilitation Education; (4) the National Rehabilitation Counseling Association; (5) the American Rehabilitation Counseling Association; (6) the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification; (7) the Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation; and (8) the Council on Rehabilitation Education; Whereas, in March of 1983, the president of the National Council on Rehabilitation Education testified before the Subcommittee on Select Education of the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and was instrumental in bringing to the attention of Congress the need for qualified rehabilitation counselors; and Whereas credentialed rehabilitation counselors provide a higher quality of service to individuals in need of rehabilitation and the development of an accreditation system for rehabilitation counselors supports the continued education of rehabilitation counselors: Now, therefore, be it