[Nfbmt] Fwd: National Federation of the Blind Applauds Introduction of Fair Wages Legislation

[Dan Burke]

Here it is for the new Congress - let's do away with subminimum wages
for workers with disabilities!


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Freeh, Jessica" <JFreeh at nfb.org>
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2013 14:27:43 +0000
Subject: National Federation of the Blind Applauds Introduction of
Fair Wages Legislation
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Chris Danielsen
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
cdanielsen at nfb.org<mailto: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<http://www.nfb.org/>, 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.<http://www.nfb.org/fair-wages>

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<http://www.nfb.org/>, President of the National
Federation of the
Blind<http://www.facebook.com/NationalFederationoftheBlind>, 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<http://www.nfb.org/>.



###


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<http://www.nfb.org/>.





-- 
Dan Burke, President
The National Federation of the Blind of Montana

Visit us on Face Book at http://bit.ly/nfbmtfb
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