<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><br><br><div dir="ltr">Sent from my iPhone</div><div dir="ltr"><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><b>From:</b> "Kimberly Zeich [KZeich@AbilityOne.gov]" <kzeich@abilityone.gov><br><b>Date:</b> July 21, 2022 at 5:03:34 PM CDT<br><b>Subject:</b> <b>U.S. AbilityOne Commission issues final rule prohibiting payment of subminimum wages on contracts within the AbilityOne Program</b><br><br></div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">
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<p style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#242424">All,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#242424"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The U.S. AbilityOne Commission today issued a final rule that prohibits payment of subminimum wages on contracts within the AbilityOne Program.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Under the rule, individuals who are blind or have significant disabilities and who work on AbilityOne contracts will earn at least the Federal minimum wage, the applicable local or state minimum wage, or the applicable prevailing wage –
whichever is highest.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Quotes from the Commission leadership are:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Ending payment of subminimum wages is a major step forward for the AbilityOne Program,” said Jeffrey Koses, Commission Chairperson. “While payment of subminimum wages has been declining in the Program for years, it is past time to ensure
that all employees are fairly compensated for their work. The rule reflects the Commission’s unwavering commitment to modernizing the AbilityOne Program.”
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Chai Feldblum, Commission Vice Chairperson, said, “Mandating that employees on AbilityOne contracts may no longer receive subminimum wages is a significant step. Wages send a message of how work is valued, and the work performed by people
with disabilities should be valued equally with others.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For more information, please see the Commission’s <a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.abilityone.gov%2Fcommission%2Fdocuments%2F14(c)%2520Final%2520Rule%2520News%2520Statement%252020220721%2520post.pdf&data=05%7C01%7Ckzeich%40AbilityOne.gov%7C8693348bc0a14baa354508da6b6342a7%7C6ac0ca9fe64d49138be9206ce28101d3%7C0%7C0%7C637940371311275871%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=NyUoVAyzi8UnU%2FZGW2e2GA2VR5GCKjPwEuAtRs3n%2Bg8%3D&reserved=0">
statement</a> and the final rule published in the <a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.federalregister.gov%2Fdocuments%2F2022%2F07%2F21%2F2022-15561%2Fprohibition-on-the-payment-of-subminimum-wages-under-14c-certificates-as-a-qualification-for&data=05%7C01%7Ckzeich%40AbilityOne.gov%7C8693348bc0a14baa354508da6b6342a7%7C6ac0ca9fe64d49138be9206ce28101d3%7C0%7C0%7C637940371311432092%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ud7EF1u%2BpJuIwAgeieA92j22gzTPbSmAZ99ZtL6siv8%3D&reserved=0">
Federal Register</a>. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks and Best Regards, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kim<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Kimberly M. Zeich<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Acting Executive Director<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">U.S. AbilityOne Commission<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:kzeich@abilityone.gov">kzeich@abilityone.gov</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mobile: 703-819-0798<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(she/her)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;background:white"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#242424"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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