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

Fri Aug 2 18:15:02 UTC 2013

If I have time and am not super busy, I willgo with somebody and speak my peace.  

Does anybody want to be interviewed concerning this legislation?  This is more pub for this issue.  Call me and let me know.  

Sincerely,

Robert A. Hansen

roberthansen33 at yahoo.com
(872)226-5226

http://www.wzrdchicago.org

find me on Facebook and friend me.

>________________________________
> From: "pattichang at att.net" <pattichang at att.net>
>To: NFB of Illinois Mailing List <il-talk at nfbnet.org> 
>Cc: "il-talk at nfbnet.org" <il-talk at nfbnet.org> 
>Sent: Thursday, August 1, 2013 10:28 PM
>Subject: Re: [il-talk] Please Schedule Meetings with Senator Durbin and Kirk!
> 
>
>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
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