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

Mon Feb 21 16:08:39 UTC 2022

Thank you for sharing this.

Fatos Floyd, CRC
(918) 345-0873
fatos.floyd at gmail.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Job-Discussions <job-discussions-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Kane Brolin via Job-Discussions
Sent: Sunday, February 20, 2022 3:14 PM
To: Job Discussions internet Mailing List <job-discussions at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Kane Brolin <kbrolin65 at gmail.com>
Subject: [Job-Discussions] Lesser Known National Legislation That Supports Employment Of Persons With Disabilities

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

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