[Nfbmt] Fwd: [State-affiliate-leadership-list] WIA Reauthorization Legislative Update

[Dan Burke]

FYI -

We lost this battle. More to come.  It is time to try and get talks
with Tester and Baucus as the Senate adjourns today.
Dan


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Lewis, Anil" <ALewis at nfb.org>
Date: Wed, 31 Jul 2013 21:12:35 +0000
Subject: [State-affiliate-leadership-list] WIA Reauthorization
Legislative Update
To: "Affiliate Presidents
(state-affiliate-leadership-list at nfbnet.org)"
<state-affiliate-leadership-list at nfbnet.org>
Cc: "McLarney, Lauren" <LMcLarney at nfb.org>, "Hartle, Jesse" <JHartle at nfb.org>

Federation:


Today, the Senate HELP Committee Passed the Workforce Investment Act
(WIA) Reauthorization bill S. 1356 out of committee.  The vote was 18
"yes" votes, 3 "no" votes (Senator Burr-NC, Senator Roberts-KS, and
Senator Scott-SC), and 1 abstention (Senator Paul-KY).  Unfortunately,
Section 511 of the Rehabilitation Act and the transfer of the
Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) to the U.S. Department of
Labor were not removed from the bill.

Now the bill will go to the Senate floor for debate and a final vote.
Fortunately, the inclusion of Section 511 in the WIA reauthorization
affords us an opportunity to broaden our subminimum wage advocacy to
every member of the U.S. Senate.  This is an opportunity for us to
expand our efforts to get a Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities
bill introduced in the U.S. Senate.

We are working to outline our next steps, and will be hosting a
legislative strategy call soon.  Meanwhile, we are asking that each
affiliate request a meeting with their senators during the upcoming
Senate recess, which will take place August 3-9.  Please let us know
if you need any assistance obtaining contact information or drafting
the request.

This will be a true test of our grassroots advocacy.  I remain
confident in the fact that no organization moves a public policy
agenda like the National Federation of the Blind.  We will succeed in
our efforts to prevent the Rehabilitation Act from being sabotaged,
and we will see the eventual elimination of the unfair,
discriminatory, immoral subminimum wage provision of Section 14(c) of
the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).  In the words of Dr. Kenneth
Jernigan, "Come join with me on the barricades, and we will make it
all come true."

Sincerely,

Anil


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

"Eliminating Subminimum Wages for People with Disabilities"
http://www.nfb.org/fairwages
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
twitter: @anillife








-- 
Dan Burke
My Cell:  406.546.8546
Twitter:  @DallDonal