[NABS-L] Fwd: [Nfbnet-members-list] Legislative Alert 7/20/21 - Subminimum Wages Hearing Tomorrow

Tue Jul 20 19:15:35 UTC 2021

Hey students,
Passing along the below message in case any/all of you would like to
participate. We encourage you to both listen in and contact your
representatives. Legislation such as this impacts us as students directly
concerning our future employment, so I'd strongly encourage you to read up
and get involved.
Make your voice heard!
Elizabeth

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Pare, John via NFBNet-Members-List <nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org>
Date: Tue, Jul 20, 2021 at 1:59 PM
Subject: [Nfbnet-members-list] Legislative Alert 7/20/21 - Subminimum Wages
Hearing Tomorrow
To: nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org <nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org>

Dear Federation Family:

Tomorrow (Wednesday, July 21) the US House Committee on Education and Labor
will be hosting a joint subcommittee hearing with the Subcommittee on
Workforce Protections and the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Human
Services on the topic of phasing out subminimum wages. Our very own Anil
Lewis will testify on behalf of the National Federation of the Blind. We
encourage you to watch Anil’s live testimony tomorrow at 10:15 a.m.,
eastern, by visiting
https://edlabor.house.gov/hearings/phasing-out-subminimum-wages-supporting-the-transition-to-competitive-integrated-employment-for-workers-with-disabilities.

We also encourage you to read Anil’s written testimony
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements/anil-lewiss-written-testimony-joint-hearing-regarding>
on the Policy Statements page
<https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements> of nfb.org.
Once you have read his testimony, please take just a few moments to forward
it to your Representative in the House and urge them to cosponsor H.R.
2373, the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act. This
bill will gradually phase out subminimum wages over a five-year period and
eliminate the issuance of new Section 14(c) certificates. It will also
establish a grant program to help states and entities transition employees
with disabilities into competitive integrated employment.

When you email your representative you might write something like:

"Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME], and I am a constituent of [REPRESENTATIVE
NAME]. I live in [CITY, STATE]. I would like to urge [REPRESENTATIVE NAME]
to cosponsor the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act,
H.R. 2373. This legislation will gradually phase out subminimum wages for
workers with disabilities and facilitate their transition to competitive
integrated employment.

Thanks."

Again, we encourage you to include a link to Anil’s written testimony in
your email.

When you email your representative, please copy Stephanie Flynt at
sflynt at nfb.org. Your calls and emails do make a difference.

It is best to email the relevant staff person in your representative's
office. Please email Jesa Medders at jmedders at nfb.org and she will find the
appropriate staff member for you to email.

The bill currently has 16 cosponsors, but we are hoping that this hearing
in conjunction with your advocacy can help dramatically increase the
cosponsor count and boost Congressional awareness of this legislation. The
list of current cosponsors is pasted below.

Thank you for all that you do,

John

Rep. McMorris Rodgers, Cathy [R-WA-5]

Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25]

Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]

Rep. Levin, Andy [D-MI-9]

Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-11]

Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]

Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]

Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]

Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

Rep. Kilmer, Derek [D-WA-6]

Rep. Joyce, John [R-PA-13]

Rep. Axne, Cynthia [D-IA-3]

Rep. Price, David E. [D-NC-4]

Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]

Rep. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ-7]
_______________________________________________
NFBNet-Members-List mailing list
NFBNet-Members-List at nfbnet.org
List archives:  <
http://www.nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbnet-members-list_nfbnet.org>
To unsubscribe from NFBNet-Members-List:
goto
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbnet-members-list_nfbnet.org/elizabethrouse.nfb%40gmail.com
-- 
Elizabeth Rouse
She/her/hers
President | Iowa Association of Blind Students
Co-Chair | NABS Outreach Committee
Treasurer | National Association of Blind Students
A proud division of the National Federation of the Blind
www.nabslink.org
elizabethrouse.nfb at gmail.com
563-210-1854
“It is better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness.” -
Eleanor Roosevelt