[NFBMI-Talk] Fwd: [Nfbnet-members-list] Time-Sensitive Legislative Alert - January 16, 2025

Thu Jan 16 22:35:59 UTC 2025

Hello. Please take two minutes to submit a comment on this important
ruling. It does not need to be fancy, just a few sentences is fine. This is
an issue we have been fighting for decades, and now is a real opportunity
to make lasting change. Note the deadline is Friday night!

Here's what I wrote.

I am writing to submit my unwavering support for the proposed rule on
subminimum wage. As a blind person myself, I have personally seen the
exploitation of other blind and low vision individuals who are employed in
sheltered workshops, often being paid a few dollars per hour or less. This
despite them performing work that benefits the company, just like anyone
else. We know that with proper training and opportunity, blind people have
the capabilities to perform work at an equal level with their sighted
counterparts. In short, if there is work that needs to be done and a
company finds value in that work, then the people performing the work
should be paid a fair wage. I strongly support the proposed ruling and look
forward to a day where all people, regardless of disability, are treated
fairly and paid equally.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

On Thu, Jan 16, 2025 at 12:39 PM Robert Parsons via NFBMI-Talk <
nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:

>
>
>
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> Begin forwarded message:
>
> *From:* "Young, Justin via NFBNet-Members-List" <
> nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org>
> *Date:* January 16, 2025 at 10:49:26 AM EST
> *To:* nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org
> *Subject:* *[Nfbnet-members-list] Time-Sensitive Legislative Alert -
> January 16, 2025*
> *Reply-To:* "Young, Justin" <jyoung at nfb.org>
>
> 
>
> *Attention:* This email is from outside Western Michigan University. Use
> caution when opening links and attachments.
>
> Dear Federation Family,
>
>
>
> On December 4, 2024, the US Department of Labor released a Notice of
> Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding the phaseout of Section 14(c) of the
> Fair Labor Standards Act. The National Federation of the Blind fully
> supports this NPRM and submitted comments
> <https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnfb.org%2Fprograms-services%2Fadvocacy%2Fpolicy-statements%2Fcomments-regarding-department-labors-proposed-rule&data=05%7C02%7Crobert.e.parsons%40wmich.edu%7C8077a0a37df240fb6d3608dd363f8544%7C257622517aa94c72905f39bf026a8a84%7C0%7C0%7C638726368629732014%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Apd%2BKVNDA078JMF5S9WeqAhgExc68Fxa1KwD8E9h3xI%3D&reserved=0>
> on Wednesday, January 15.
>
>
>
> The NPRM has received thousands of individual comments from those in favor
> of keeping subminimum wages for people with disabilities. We apologize that
> we did not anticipate such a substantial response from these individuals
> who support subminimum wages. As a result, we have an urgent request for
> our members to submit comments by the deadline of 11:59 p.m. on Friday,
> January 17.
>
>
>
> All comments are helpful even if the comment is, "I believe people with
> disabilities should be paid at least the minimum wage, and 14(c)
> certificates should be phased out.” All public comments should be submitted
> using the online form found at
> https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/12/04/2024-27880/employment-of-workers-with-disabilities-under-section-14c-of-the-fair-labor-standards-act#open-comment
> <https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.federalregister.gov%2Fdocuments%2F2024%2F12%2F04%2F2024-27880%2Femployment-of-workers-with-disabilities-under-section-14c-of-the-fair-labor-standards-act%23open-comment&data=05%7C02%7Crobert.e.parsons%40wmich.edu%7C8077a0a37df240fb6d3608dd363f8544%7C257622517aa94c72905f39bf026a8a84%7C0%7C0%7C638726368629754155%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=GXyLNsJFegPWNelayp%2FTyopSNxfA1W%2FYYQRxuqwH0y8%3D&reserved=0>.
>
>
>
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> The page contains a place for you to type in your comment, and then you
> will need to select that you are an individual, which will bring up fields
> for you to type in your first and last name. You will then need to check a
> box acknowledging you are aware any information you provide will be
> publicly available on regulations.gov before clicking “submit.”
>
>
>
> Again, we apologize for the last-minute notice. Thank you for all your
> hard advocacy on this matter.
>
>
>
> Justin T. Young, Ed.D
>
> Government Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the Blind
>
> 200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
>
> 410-659-9314, extension 2210 | jyoung at nfb.org
>
>
>
>
>
> [image: National Federation of the Blind]
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> The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends
> who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation’s blind. Every day we
> work together to help blind people live the lives they want.
>
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