[il-talk] Please Schedule Meetings with Senator Durbin and Kirk!

[pattichang at att.net]

If anyone gets an appointment, please let me know. We should coordinate so that several people attend any appointment we get.


Patti S. Gregory-Chang
NFBI President
NFB Scholarship Comm. Chair
Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 1, 2013, at 8:12 PM, Rose Sloan <rosesloan920 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Dear Fellow Federationists of Illinois.**
> 
> ** **
> 
> Anil Lewis and the Advocacy and Policy team are asking that we request a
> meeting with our senators (Mark Kirk and Dick Durbin) during the upcoming
> Senate recess from  August 3 - September 6.  A meeting request template is
> below.  Please make the necessary changes to reflect the information from
> your area.  I can provide you with talking points that can be used to
> prepare for your meetings soon. However, even before you have the talking
> points, it is important to make appointments with Sen. Kirk and Sen Durbin
> now.  The Senators and staffers are very busy!  **
> 
> **
> 
> To recap the issue:  The Senate HELP Committee Passed the Workforce
> Investment Act (WIA) Reauthorization bill S. 1356 out of committee.
> Unfortunately, the subminimum wage language of Section 511 of the
> Rehabilitation Act and the transfer of the Rehabilitation Services
> Administration (RSA) to the U.S. Department of Labor were not removed from
> the bill.  Now the bill will go to the Senate floor for debate and a final
> vote. ****
> 
> ** **
> 
> The inclusion of Section 511 in the WIA reauthorization affords us an
> opportunity to broaden our subminimum wage advocacy.  While we work to
> ensure that Section 511 is removed from the WIA and to prevent RSA from
> being transferred to the U.S. department of Labor, we will expand our
> efforts to get a Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities bill introduced
> in the U.S. Senate.****
> 
> ** **
> 
> We will succeed in our efforts to have Section 511 removed from the WIA, to
> prevent the Rehabilitation Act from being sabotaged, and to eliminate the
> unfair, discriminatory, immoral subminimum wage provision of Section 14(c)
> of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). But only if we all work together to
> get it done!  **
> 
> 
> I would love to see us have meetings in at least two of the in state
> offices.  Please let me know if you are available to a visit!
> 
> ** **
> 
> As always, if you have any questions, please let me know!
> 
> 
> “Come join with me on the barricades, and we will make it all come
> true.”(Dr. Kenneth Jernigan)****
> 
> ** **
> Thanks for all you do.
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> ** **
> 
> Rose
> 
> 
> PS Special thanks to Debbie Stein who contacted Senator Kirk earlier this
> week!
> 
> 
> 
> SAMPLE LETTER TO REQUEST MEETING WITH SENATOR:
> 
> 
> Date
> 
> Dear Senator _______________:
> 
> A delegation from the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois, the
> state’s most influential group of blind Illinoisans, would like to meet
> with you in your ________ office during the August congressional recess to
> discuss a critical issue that could adversely affect blind and other
> disabled people in our state.  On Wednesday, July 31, the Senate HELP
> Committee passed S. 1356, the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment
> Act (WIA).  The bill contains language in Section 511 of the Rehabilitation
> Act that will authorize vocational rehabilitation agencies to use an
> antiquated, discriminatory subminimum-wage provision to provide training
> and employment that costs more, produces poorer outcomes, and actually
> teaches skills that need to be unlearned in order for an individual with a
> disability to obtain competitive integrated employment.  This bill will
> probably be coming to the Senate floor for debate in September.  That is
> why it is imperative that we get to meet with you during the August recess.
> 
> Some 400,000 Americans with disabilities, are already victims of the false
> perception of incapacity perpetuated by Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor
> Standards Act (FLSA), which leaves them working in jobs that pay less than
> the federal minimum wage.  This grave situation is a legacy of outdated
> laws and outdated assumptions about the capabilities of people with
> disabilities, and it stands to afflict even more disabled workers if
> incorporated into the Rehabilitation Act.
> 
> The National Federation of the Blind is the leading advocate for fair wages
> for workers with disabilities.  We support the implementation and further
> development of proven strategies to employ all people with disabilities in
> real jobs at competitive wages.  We are advocating that Section 511 of
> Title V. of the WIA be removed, as we work to have Section 14(c) of the
> FLSA phased out.
> 
> We respectfully request the opportunity to speak with you as soon as
> possible to discuss how we can work together to address this critical
> issue.  Please have your scheduler contact me as soon as possible to set up
> a meeting. I look forward to talking with you soon.
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> 
> 
> Your Name
> 
> Your Address
> 
> Your Phone number
> 
> Your E-mail address
> 
> -- 
> Rose Sloan
> Northwestern University
> School of Education and Social Policy l Social Policy
> Northwestern University Club Gymnastics l President
> _______________________________________________
> il-talk mailing list
> il-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/il-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for il-talk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/il-talk_nfbnet.org/pattichang%40att.net