[Ncabs] S.B. 1356- Urgent legislative action needed. See below!

[sharon_newton]

Hello Everyone:
    We need to contact both of our NC senators as soon as possible.  Anil Lewis tells us exactly what to say in our calls and e-mails in his letter below (which begins "Federation") in the paragraph which begins "I am a constituent of the state. . . "   I would suggest e-mailing each person listed in the contact info.  When calling please speak to the HELP contact person listed for each office if possible.

    Issue 1:  Section 511 puts into the Rehab Act language which calls for paying subminimum wages for trainining and employment of people with disabilities.  This is like clause 14 (c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act which we are currently fighting.  We must keep this language out of the Rehab Act.  

    Issue 2:   By moving  RSA from DOE to DOL it severs the vital link betwen education and the process of rehabilitation.    We cannot attain competitive employment without obtaining the skills and education necessary to reach such a goal, especially in today's world.

    If you have questions, please call me: 704-334-8758.

    Thank you!
    Sharon Newton

    Contact information for our senators:.



    Sen. Kay R Hagan (D-NC) 

    (202) 224-6342 

    Chief of Staff: Mike Harney mike_harney at hagan.senate.gov 

    HELP Contact: Ashley Eden & Josh Teitelbaum ashley_eden at hagan.senate.gov josh_teitelbaum at hagan.senate.gov 



    Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) 

    (202) 224-3154 

    Chief of Staff: Chris Joyner chris_joyner at burr.senate.gov 

    HELP Contact: Steve Perrotta steve_perrotta at burr.senate.gov 

    Additional Contact: Anna Abram anna_abram at help.senate.gov



    Anil Lewis's letter:



    Federation:


    This is a call to action for you to make phone calls, send e-mails, and post to social media to save rehabilitation services for people with disabilities on Monday, July 29 and Tuesday, July 30. Senate Bill S. 1356 has been introduced to reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). This bill includes two major policy changes in the language of the Rehabilitation Act that threaten to send us backwards in our struggle to acquire the proper education, training, and opportunity to obtain competitive, integrated employment. 


    (1) The bill has proposed language in Section 511 of the Rehabilitation Act that requires vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies to include training and employment at wages below the federal minimum wage as a VR service. 


    (1) The bill proposes to transfer the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) from the Department of Education to the Department of Labor, severing the essential link between the provision of quality education and rehabilitation services for people with disabilities. 


    The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee is scheduled to discuss and vote on this bill on Wednesday, July 31, and we need to act to ensure that these two tremendously flawed proposals are removed. Our initial action is simple, but it will require all of us to take action. We need all of our members, family members, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances that reside in states where their Senator serves on the HELP committee to make calls, send e-mails, post tweets, and Facebook messages to communicate the following two straightforward requests to their Senator: 


    I am a voting constituent in the state and I am respectfully requesting that the WIA reauthorization be amended to: 


    (1) Remove Section 511 of the Rehabilitation Act. 

    (2) Remove the language transferring RSA to the Department of Labor. 


    We are encouraging that only the actual residents make these requests of their respective Senators. Start recruiting as many individuals as possible now to begin this action on Monday, July 29 and continue it through Tuesday, July 30. Use the information below to make calls to your particular Senator’s office and send e-mails to each of the e-mail addresses listed for your Senator. 


    Please contact me with any questions, and keep me posted on your progress. The only way we will be able to prevent a dismantling of the essential training and employment services for all people with disabilities is to act now. 


    Remember, once you have made your calls, sent your e-mails, posted your tweets and Facebook messages, get others to do the same. 


    Sincerely,


    Mr. Anil Lewis, M.P.A.
    Director of Advocacy and Policy 


    "Eliminating Subminimum Wages For People With Disabilities" 


    NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
    200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place
    Baltimore, Maryland 21230


    (410) 659-9314 ext. 2374 (Voice)

    (410) 685-5653 (FAX)
    Email: alewis at nfb.org
    Web: www.nfb.org