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<DIV>I would like to share what I wrote to Senator Blumenthal regarding this
ACT.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>July
6, 2011</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>Dear
Senator Blumenthal:</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>I am
writing to you with my concern of <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Section 511 from Title V </FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>of the
Workforce Investment Act (WIA).<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Section 511
reauthorizes payment of subminimum wages to people with disabilities. It is
completely contrary to the purpose of the </FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face=Calibri>Rehabilitation Act, which is intended to promote competitive,
integrated </FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3
face=Calibri>employment.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT
face=Calibri>I went blind 14 years ago suddenly<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>and had worked in the medical field
prior to going blind.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I just
returned back to working and received my first pay check last week.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I am working at a job in New Haven
caining chairs and had been in a 6 month training under the Board of Education
Services for the Blind.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I was
receiving an hourly wage over the minimum wage through this work program.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I understood once the training was
finished I would be placed on a piece work wage.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>Last
week I received my first check off the training and I was paid by my piece work
rate.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>For 5 hours of work I
received a total of $3.60.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>I paid $12.00 for my 2 transit bus rides up to New Haven and back to my
home in Stratford.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>This
is a true example of what this section will allow.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT size=3
face=Calibri> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>Yours
Truly,</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>Joyce
Kane</FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 size=2 face=Arial FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10">
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>In a message dated 7/6/2011 2:52:27 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
llee@nfbct.org writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px"><FONT
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" color=#000000 size=2 face=Arial><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
<DIV>Hi all,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Beth Rival called today from the national convention. She asked that I
re-send this legislative alert. We have received word that the
Health, Education, Labor & Pension (HELP) Committee will be voting on the
Workforce Investment Act next week. The HELP Committee plans to vote to
continue the practice of paying disabled people a subminimum wage as stated in
Section 511 of the Act. This Act does affect people all over the country, here
in CT also. There are disabled people in CT who work for subminimum
wages.Please read the following email from Anil Lewis and call Senator Richard
Blumenthal, who is on the committee, to ask him to have Section 511
removed. His contact number is on the list following the email.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 8px; FONT-FAMILY: verdana; COLOR: black; MARGIN-LEFT: 8px; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"
id=replyBlockquote webmail="1">
<DIV id=wmQuoteWrapper>-----Original Message-----<BR>From: <A
title=mailto:nfbnet-master-list-bounces@nfbnet.org
href="mailto:nfbnet-master-list-bounces@nfbnet.org">nfbnet-master-list-bounces@nfbnet.org</A><BR>[<A
title=mailto:nfbnet-master-list-bounces@nfbnet.org
href="mailto:nfbnet-master-list-bounces@nfbnet.org">mailto:nfbnet-master-list-bounces@nfbnet.org</A>]
On Behalf Of David Andrews<BR>Sent: Monday, June 27, 2011 12:47 PM<BR>To: <A
title=mailto:nfbnet-master-list@nfbnet.org
href="mailto:nfbnet-master-list@nfbnet.org">nfbnet-master-list@nfbnet.org</A><BR>Subject:
[Nfbnet-master-list] Follow Up on Subminimum Wage Legislative
Alert<BR><BR>from Anil Lewis (<BR><A title=mailto:alewis@nfb.org
href="mailto:alewis@nfb.org">alewis@nfb.org</A>)?<BR><BR><BR>Dear Fellow
Federationists,<BR><BR>Michael Barber reports that the NFB of Iowa has sent
over seventy <BR>letters to Senator Harkin, urging him to remove Section 511
from Title V <BR>of the Workforce<BR>Investment Act (WIA). This bill will be
marked up and voted on <BR>Wednesday, June 29, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time. If
your senator is on the <BR>Senate Committee<BR>on Health, Education, Labor,
and Pension (HELP committee), please <BR>continue to write and call
regarding this issue.<BR><BR>Section 511 reauthorizes payment of subminimum
wages to people with <BR>disabilities. It is completely contrary to the
purpose of the <BR>Rehabilitation Act, which is intended to promote
competitive, integrated <BR>employment.<BR><BR>The following list contains
the names of members of the HELP committee. <BR>If your senator is a member
of the committee, please call his/her office <BR>to respectfully<BR>express
your adamant objection to linking subminimum wage to the <BR>Rehabilitation
Act, and to insist that Section 511 of the Rehabilitation <BR>Act be
removed<BR>from the bill. If your senator is not a member of the HELP
committee, <BR>call the committee chair (Senator Tom Harkin) and the ranking
member <BR>(Senator Michael<BR>Enzi) to register your objection. Additional
background information on <BR>Section 511 follows after the HELP committee
list.<BR><BR>Sincerely,<BR><BR>Anil Lewis<BR>Director of Strategic
Communications<BR>NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND<BR>Telephone: (410)
659-9314, extension 2374<BR>E-mail:<BR><A title=mailto:alewis@nfb.org
href="mailto:alewis@nfb.org">alewis@nfb.org</A><BR><BR>table with 3 columns
and 23 rows<BR>Senator<BR><BR>State<BR><BR>Telephone<BR><BR>Senator Lamar
Alexander<BR><BR>Tennessee<BR><BR>(202) 224-4944<BR><BR>Senator Michael F.
Bennet<BR><BR>Colorado<BR><BR>(202) 224-5852<BR><BR>Senator Jeff
Bingaman<BR><BR>New Mexico<BR><BR>(202) 224-5521<BR><BR>Senator Richard
Blumenthal<BR><BR>Connecticut<BR><BR>(202) 224-2823<BR><BR>Senator Richard
Burr<BR><BR>North Carolina<BR><BR>(202) 224-3154<BR><BR>Senator Robert
Casey, Jr.<BR><BR>Pennsylvania<BR><BR>(202) 224-6324<BR><BR>Senator Mike
Enzi<BR><BR>Wyoming<BR><BR>(202) 224-3424<BR><BR>Senator Al
Franken<BR><BR>Minnesota<BR><BR>(202) 224-5641<BR><BR>Senator Kay R.
Hagan<BR><BR>North Carolina<BR><BR>(202) 224-6342<BR><BR>Senator Tom
Harkin<BR><BR>Iowa<BR><BR>(202) 224-3254<BR><BR>Senator Orrin G.
Hatch<BR><BR>Utah<BR><BR>(202) 224-5251<BR><BR>Senator Johnny
Isakson<BR><BR>Georgia<BR><BR>(202) 224-3643<BR><BR>Senator Mark Steven
Kirk<BR><BR>Illinois<BR><BR>(202) 224-2854<BR><BR>Senator John
McCain<BR><BR>Arizona<BR><BR>(202) 224-2235<BR><BR>Senator Jeff
Merkley<BR><BR>Oregon<BR><BR>(202) 224-3753<BR><BR>Senator Barbara A.
Mikulski<BR><BR>Maryland<BR><BR>(202) 224-4654<BR><BR>Senator Lisa
Murkowski<BR><BR>Alaska<BR><BR>(202) 224-6665<BR><BR>Senator Patty
Murray<BR><BR>Washington<BR><BR>(202) 224-2621<BR><BR>Senator Rand
Paul<BR><BR>Kentucky<BR><BR>(202) 224-4343<BR><BR>Senator Pat
Roberts<BR><BR>Kansas<BR><BR>(202) 224-4774<BR><BR>Senator Bernard
Sanders<BR><BR>Vermont<BR><BR>(202) 224-5141<BR><BR>Senator Sheldon
Whitehouse<BR><BR>Rhode Island<BR><BR>(202) 224-2921<BR>table
end<BR><BR><BR>Background:<BR><BR>The key legislation around the recent
Subminimum Wage legislative alert <BR>is the Workforce Investment Act (WIA),
specifically Title V, the <BR>Rehabilitation<BR>Act, which is one of the
most important pieces of legislation affecting <BR>the lives of people with
disabilities. There is no bill number assigned <BR>at this<BR>time, but we
have been provided the proposed draft language. On <BR>Wednesday, June 29,
the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, <BR>and Pensions
(HELP<BR>committee) will be marking up the WIA reauthorization. So far, we
have <BR>been unsuccessful in our efforts to have Section 511 removed from
the <BR>language.<BR><BR><BR>As the Senate works to reauthorize the
Rehabilitation Act, a new section <BR>has been added, Section 511, which
links Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor <BR>Standards<BR>Act (FSLA) to the
Rehabilitation Act. Section 14(c) of the FLSA is the <BR>law that allows
employers to pay subminimum wages to their workers with
<BR>disabilities.<BR>There are more than 5,000 entities that hold special
wage certificates <BR>allowing them to pay subminimum wages to more than
400,000 workers with <BR>disabilities.<BR>Section 14(c) is flawed in its
implementation, and it has been plagued <BR>with abuse of employers paying
workers with disabilities even less than <BR>the subminimum<BR>wage they are
entitled to receive as a result of this law. The Wage and <BR>Hour Division
(WHD) of the Department of Labor is charged with the
<BR>responsibility<BR>of oversight, but they are only able to investigate 2
percent of the <BR>facilities a year. Many workers with disabilities have
not been able to <BR>collect millions<BR>of dollars of back wages because
the statute of limitations has passed <BR>before WHD can identify the
violation.<BR><BR>Section 14(c) is simply unenforceable. We have fought
against this <BR>provision since the founding of our organization, and we
have made <BR>significant progress.<BR>Section 511 threatens that
progress.<BR><BR>The language found in Section 511 is a restatement of
Section 14(c) of <BR>the FLSA, linking legislation that is supposed to
provide the training <BR>and support<BR>for people with disabilities to
obtain competitive employment to <BR>legislation that asserts that people
with disabilities cannot be <BR>competitively employed.<BR>The philosophies
are in direct conflict, and Section 511 sends a mixed <BR>message about the
purpose of vocational rehabilitation (VR).<BR><BR>Section 511 explains the
process a counselor would have to go through <BR>before referring a client
to a subminimum wage work environment. The <BR>intent is to<BR>make it more
difficult for clients to be steered toward subminimum wage <BR>employment.
Unfortunately, the language opens a door to subminimum wage
<BR>employment<BR>that did not previously exist. As a result of Section 511,
if VR fails <BR>to provide a client with the proper training and support to
become <BR>competitively<BR>employed, they will be encouraged to make a
referral to a subminimum <BR>wage employer.<BR><BR>The language states that,
once placed in a subminimum wage work <BR>environment, the client should
receive a review every six months. <BR>However, similar to
WHD's<BR>inability to enforce Section 14(c) of the FLSA, it will not be
possible <BR>for VR to properly enforce this law, leaving even more
individuals stuck <BR>in subminimum<BR>wage jobs. A better use of the
inadequate funding potentially slated for <BR>enforcement of Section 511,
and the insufficient funding for WHD to <BR>enforce Section<BR>14(c) would
be to develop creative rehabilitation strategies to <BR>competitively employ
all people with disabilities.<BR><BR>Many people have come to believe that
subminimum wage employment is an <BR>opportunity for people with
disabilities to experience the tangible and <BR>intangible<BR>benefits of
work. We maintain that there is no benefit, tangible or <BR>intangible, to
working in an environment that asserts that you are not <BR>as good
as<BR>everyone else. Industries have been built on this false perception,
<BR>allowing people, who otherwise would be able to obtain competitive
<BR>employment, to<BR>be exploited at subminimum wages to bolster an
employer's profitability. <BR>The job market has changed drastically since
the initial passage of this <BR>outdated<BR>legislation. With the proper
training and support, people with even the <BR>most significant disabilities
are able to be competitively employed.<BR><BR>We need to let members of the
Senate Committee on Health, Education, <BR>Labor, and Pension know that
Section 511 of the Rehabilitation Act <BR>should be removed<BR>from the
reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act.<BR><BR>-- <BR><BR>David
Andrews and long white cane Harry.<BR><A
title=http://david.andrews@nfbnet.org/
href="http://david.andrews@nfbnet.org/">david.andrews@nfbnet.org</A><BR>Follow
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