[Job-Discussions] Lesser Known National Legislation That Supports Employment Of Persons With Disabilities

[Kane Brolin]

Greetings.

I am  writing to motivate discussion of--or perhaps action on--some
information I
obtained while attending the most recent Zoom meeting of the Indiana
affiliate of the Association of People Supporting Employment First,
which is abbreviated using the acronym A.P.S.E. but which is
pronounced Appsy. . I first became aware of APSE when Christopher
Meyer, a young blind businessperson and civil rights activist in my
home state, introduced me to Ms. Tina Skeel, who directs APSE's
initiatives in Indiana.  Subsequently, I have kept in touch with
Indiana's APSE affiliate ever since, as they have drafted me into the
informal role of being a delegate or ambassador from the NFB of
Indiana to the Indiana branch of APSE.

APSE promotes the successful employment of all people with
disabilities.  APSE is very much onboard with  the Transition to
Competitive and Integrated Employment Act (H.R.2373 and S.3238) which
played an
important role in the NFB Washington Seminar just concluded.  But they
are interested in the passage of several other bills, too, which are
not on either the NFB's list of legislative priorities or the ACB's
list of legislative imperatives.
I suggest that those of us who are blind, who are legislatively minded
and passionate about employment of the blind, might wish to
investigate and consider pitching the following six proposed laws to
our representatives and senators.  I highly welcome feedback.

•	National Apprenticeship Act (H.R.447).  This bill already has passed
the House of Representatives, so it is positioned better than most
disability bills actually to become a law in 2022 while the 117th
Congress is still serving.  “.The bill provides statutory authority
for the Office of Apprenticeship (OA) within Labor. The OA's
responsibilities include (1) supporting the development of
apprenticeship models; (2) recognizing qualified state apprenticeship
agencies, and operating apprenticeship offices in states without a
recognized agency; (3) providing technical assistance to state
agencies; (4) periodically updating requirements for each occupation
in the apprenticeship program and determining whether to approve new
occupations for the program; (5) promoting greater diversity in the
national apprenticeship system; and (6) awarding grants provided by
this bill.”  H.R.447 does not have a separate Senate bill number, as
it already passed the House chamber before being sent to the Senate.
It is in front of the Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions		 Committee
of the U.S. Senate.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/447/text?r=89&s=1
•	Disability Employment Incentive Act (S.630).  This was introduced by
U.S. Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and is in front of the Senate
Finance Committee, although they’ve not yet held a hearing on it.  A
House version does not yet exist.  . “This bill expands tax credits
and deductions that are available for employers who hire and retain
employees with disabilities. The bill expands the work opportunity tax
credit to include the hiring of employees who receive Social Security
Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. For employers who hire
vocational rehabilitation referrals, Supplemental Security Income
recipients, or SSDI recipients, the bill also (1) increases the amount
of wages that may be taken into account for the credit, and (2) allows
an additional credit for second-year wages.”
https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/630?s=1&r=77
•	Relaunching America’s Workforce Act (H.R.602 and S.200).  “This bill
establishes several grant programs to address employment, the
workforce, and education access in response to the COVID-19 national
emergency. The Department of Labor must provide grants in response to
the COVID-19 national emergency to provide training and employment for
dislocated, unemployed, and underemployed workers; support youth
employment; establish workforce information systems improvements;
provide reentry employment opportunities for justice-involved youth
and young adults; and create or expand apprenticeship programs.”
H.R.602 is in front of the Education and Labor Committee in the U.S.
House.  The Senate version S.200 is in front of the Health, Education,
Labor, & Pensions Committee after having been sponsored originally by
U.S. Senator Patty Murray of Washington State.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/200/text?r=1&s=1&format=txt
•	ABLE Age Adjustment Act (H.R. 1219 and S.331).  “This bill increases
from 26 to 46 the age threshold for tax-favored ABLE (Achieving a
Better Life Experience) accounts. (ABLE accounts are designed to
enable individuals with disabilities to save for and pay for
disability-related expenses. To establish an account, an individual
must have a qualifying impairment that began before the individual
attained the age threshold.)” The House version H.R.1219 was
introduced by Tony Cárdenas of California; it sits in the House Ways
and Means Committee.  The Senate version S.331, introduced by Bob
Casey from Pennsylvania, sits in the Senate Finance Committee.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1219
https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/331
•	Supplemental Security Income Restoration Act (H.R.3824 and S.2065);
The House version was introduced by Raúl Grijalva of Arizona.  The
Senate version was sponsored by Sherrod Brown of Ohio.  This is in the
House Budget Committee and the Senate Finance Committee.  It proposes
to amend Title XVI of the of the Social Security Act to update
eligibility for the SSI program.  A summary is not yet available for
either House or Senate versions; but this is worth watching, according
to APSE.  If interested, You can read the full text of this bill at
https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/2065/text.
•	Work Without Worry Act (H.R.4003 and S.2108). John Larson of
Connecticut introduced the House version, which is in the House Ways
and Means Committee.  Don Wyden of Oregon introduced the Senate
version S.2108, which is in the Senate Finance Committee. This
proposes To amend title II of the Social Security Act to eliminate
work disincentives for childhood disability beneficiaries.  A summary
is not yet available; but again, this is worth watching.  Full text is
available at https://www.congress.gov/117/bills/hr4003/BILLS-117hr4003ih.xml.

Thank you.

Kind regards,

Kane Brolin