[Ct-nfb] National Federation of the Blind Applauds Introduction of Fair Wages Legislation

[Justin Salisbury]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Chris Danielsen
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
cdanielsen at nfb.org<mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>
National Federation of the Blind Applauds
Introduction of Fair Wages Legislation

Urges Passage of Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act

Baltimore, Maryland (February 27, 2013): The National Federation of the Blind<http://www.nfb.org/>, the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind Americans, today applauded the introduction of the Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act of 2013 (H.R. 831) by Representative Gregg Harper (R-MS).  Congressman Harper, along with eleven original co-sponsors, introduced the Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act of 2013 to repeal section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, and to phase out the discriminatory practice of paying workers with disabilities pennies per hour.<http://www.nfb.org/fair-wages>

Congressman Gregg Harper said: "Section 14(c) of the FLSA, enacted out of ignorance about the true capacity of people with disabilities, currently prevents over 300,000 people with disabilities from gaining access to the work and training environments that have been proven to be more cost effective and to produce more competitive integrated work outcomes.  Subminimum-wage work is just an expression of low expectations that instills a false sense of incapacity in individuals, who could become competitively employed with the proper training and support."

Dr. Marc Maurer<http://www.nfb.org/>, President of the National Federation of the Blind<http://www.facebook.com/NationalFederationoftheBlind>, said: "The National Federation of the Blind and our partners representing the 55 million Americans with disabilities fight every day to obtain the fundamental freedoms that nondisabled citizens take for granted.  We applaud Congressman Harper for having the courage to confront over seventy years of entrenched but false thinking about the capacity of people with disabilities.  We strongly urge his colleagues in both houses of the United States Congress to exhibit the same courage by recognizing our right to have the same workforce protections as every other American citizen."


The National Federation of the Blind needs your support to ensure that blind children get an equal education, to connect blind veterans with the training and services they need, and to help seniors who are losing vision continue to live independent and fulfilling lives. To make a donation, please go to www.nfb.org<http://www.nfb.org/>.



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About the National Federation of the Blind

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is the oldest, largest, and most influential nationwide membership organization of blind people in the United States.  Founded in 1940, the NFB advocates for the civil rights and equality of blind Americans, and develops innovative education, technology, and training programs to provide the blind and those who are losing vision with the tools they need to become independent and successful.  We need your support.  To make a donation, please go to www.nfb.org<http://www.nfb.org/>.


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