[Nfbf-l] H.R. 831 Fair Wages, Harper sponsored today

[valkemadenise at aol.com]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Release Date:
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Category:
National
Chris Danielsen
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
cdanielsen at nfb.org
National Federation of the Blind Applauds Introduction of Fair Wages 
Legislation

Urges Passage of Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act

Baltimore, Maryland (February 27, 2013): The National Federation of the 
Blind, the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind 
Americans, today applauded the introduction of the Fair Wages for 
Workers with Disabilities Act of 2013 (H.R. 831) by Representative 
Gregg Harper (R-MS).  Congressman Harper, along with eleven original 
co-sponsors, introduced the Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities 
Act of 2013 to repeal section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, 
and to phase out the discriminatory practice of paying workers with 
disabilities pennies per hour.


Congressman Gregg Harper said: “Section 14(c) of the FLSA, enacted out 
of ignorance about the true capacity of people with disabilities, 
currently prevents over 300,000 people with disabilities from gaining 
access to the work and training environments that have been proven to 
be more cost effective and to produce more competitive integrated work 
outcomes.  Subminimum-wage work is just an expression of low 
expectations that instills a false sense of incapacity in individuals, 
who could become competitively employed with the proper training and 
support.”

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, 
said: “The National Federation of the Blind and our partners 
representing the 55 million Americans with disabilities fight every day 
to obtain the fundamental freedoms that nondisabled citizens take for 
granted.  We applaud Congressman Harper for having the courage to 
confront over seventy years of entrenched but false thinking about the 
capacity of people with disabilities.  We strongly urge his colleagues 
in both houses of the United States Congress to exhibit the same 
courage by recognizing our right to have the same workforce protections 
as every other American citizen.”

The National Federation of the Blind needs your support to ensure that 
blind children get an equal education, to connect blind veterans with 
the training and services they need, and to help seniors who are losing 
vision continue to live independent and fulfilling lives. To make a 
donation, please go to www.nfb.org.

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About the National Federation of the Blind

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is the oldest, largest, and 
most influential nationwide membership organization of blind people in 
the United States. Founded in 1940, the NFB advocates for the civil 
rights and equality of blind Americans, and develops innovative 
education, technology, and training programs to provide the blind and 
those who are losing vision with the tools they need to become 
independent and successful. We need your support. To make a donation, 
please go to www.nfb.org.