[il-talk] Fwd: FW: Meeting Request: HR 831

[Rose Sloan]

Dear Illinois Affiliate,

On Monday, I sent the following message to Mr. Jason Day, legislative
assistant to Congressman Lipinski.

#########

Good Afternoon Jason,



I am respectfully requesting to meet with you at your earliest convenience
to discuss Congressman Lipinski’s views on the Fair Wages for Workers with
Disabilities Act (HR 831).  Under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards
Act, entities can apply for special wage certificates that allow them to
pay people with disabilities less than the minimum wage.  Currently, over
300,000 Americans are being paid subminimum wages based on the
characteristic of disability.  The Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities
Act will responsibly phase out Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards
Act over a three year period.



Are you available to meet anytime on Wednesday, September 10 or in the
afternoon on Friday, September 12 to discuss this very important issue to
people with disabilities?



I look forward to the chance to meet you.



Sincerely,



Rose Sloan



PS The following Members of the Illinois delegation have cosponsored the
Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act:



Congressman Quigley

Congresswoman Schakowsky

Congresswoman Duckworth

Congressman Rush

Congresswoman Kelly

Congressman Enyart



########

Four days after sending the meeting request, I still have not heard from
him.  I also sent similar emails to Jim Callaghan, from Congressman
Foster's office  (jim.callaghan at mail.house.gov) and Anthony Espinosa from
Congressman Guiterrez's office (anthony.espinosa at mail.house.gov).  You
guessed it. I haven't heard from them, either.

I am requesting that you contact them.  Here is a template message:


########

Dear Jim,

My name is _______________, and I am a member of the National Federation of
the Blind of Illinois.  (If you have a leadership position, place it here:
for example, and I serve on the National Federation of the Blind of
Illinois At Large Chapter Board.)  I am writing to voice my support for HR
831: the Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act.

HR 831 will responsibly phase out Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards
Act over a three year period.  Section 14(c), passed in 1938, allows
entities to obtain special wage certificates.  With these certificates,
they can pay people with disabilities subminimum wages.  I feel that this
an outdated practice as I sincerely believe that with the proper training
and support, people with disabilities can obtain employment worthy of the
minimum wage or more.

(Insert paragraph here as to why YOU Feel Congressman Foster Should
cosponsor HR 831)

Did you know that seven Members of Congress from Illinois have already
cosponsored the Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act?  Congressman
Quigley, Congresswoman Schakowsky, Congresswoman Duckworth, Congressman
Rush, Congresswoman Kelly, Congressman Enyart and most recently
Congresswoman Bustos pledged their support for equality for people with
disabilities.

I hope that I can count on Congressman Foster's support, and I look forward
to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME


#########

A few reminders. I am asking you to send out 3 emails. They all can be
exactly the same with two exceptions.  First, make sure you greet the
legislative aid with his name. Jim is in Congressman Foster's office, Jason
is in Congressman Lipinski's office, and Anthony is in Congressman
Guiterrez's office.  Also, don't forget to switch out the Member of
Congress's name.  Once you fill in the blanks above, you will be set to go!
 This shouldn't take more than 10 minutes, but the results could be huge.

Also, please don't forget to cc me (Rsloan at nfb.org) on your messages.  This
will allow me to follow up in a week or so.

As always, do not feel bound to the template message above. If you want to
craft your own message, that is totally okay.  If you have any questions at
all, do not hesitate to reach out to me.  I can be reached at 410-659-9314
ext. 2441 or at rsloan at nfb.org.

I thank you all sincerely for your work.  Let's get this done!!  Remember,
we are targeting Illinois Democrats so that Senator Durbin will be more
likely to sponsor a Senate companion bill.  Since February, we have gotten
4 Illinois Democrats on board. Let's keep this momentum going!!

Yours in the fight for fair wages,

Rose



 *From:* Sloan, Rose
*Sent:* Monday, September 08, 2014 4:06 PM
*To:* 'jason.day at mail.house.gov'
*Cc:* State President, Illinois
*Subject:* Meeting Request: HR 831



Good Afternoon Jason,



I am respectfully requesting to meet with you at your earliest convenience
to discuss Congressman Lipinski’s views on the Fair Wages for Workers with
Disabilities Act (HR 831).  Under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards
Act, entities can apply for special wage certificates that allow them to
pay people with disabilities less than the minimum wage.  Currently, over
300,000 Americans are being paid subminimum wages based on the
characteristic of disability.  The Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities
Act will responsibly phase out Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards
Act over a three year period.



Are you available to meet anytime on Wednesday, September 10 or in the
afternoon on Friday, September 12 to discuss this very important issue to
people with disabilities?



I look forward to the chance to meet you.



Sincerely,



Rose Sloan



PS The following Members of the Illinois delegation have cosponsored the
Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act:



Congressman Quigley

Congresswoman Schakowsky

Congresswoman Duckworth

Congressman Rush

Congresswoman Kelly

Congressman Enyart





*Rose Sloan*

Government Affairs Specialist



*National Federation of the Blind *

200 East Wells Street

Baltimore, MD 21230

Phone: (410) 659-9314, extension 2441

Email: rsloan at nfb.org



“Eliminating Subminimum Wages for People with Disabilities”

http://www.nfb.org/fair-wages



The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.



To make a donation to the National Federation of the Blind Imagination
Fund, please visit www.nfb.org/ImaginingOurFuture.