[NFBMT] Legislative Alert - Subminimum Wages Hearing Today

Wed Jul 21 10:15:56 UTC 2021

Good morning, Montana Federation Family:

This message is adapted from an email sent by John Pare, Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy of the National Federation of the Blind.

Today, Wednesday, July 21, the US House Committee on Education and Labor will be hosting a joint subcommittee hearing with the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections and the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Human Services on the topic of phasing out subminimum wages. Our very own Anil Lewis will testify on behalf of the National Federation of the Blind. We encourage you to watch Anil’s live testimony today at 10:15 a.m., eastern, by visiting https://edlabor.house.gov/hearings/phasing-out-subminimum-wages-supporting-the-transition-to-competitive-integrated-employment-for-workers-with-disabilities. 

We also encourage you to read Anil’s written testimony <https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements/anil-lewiss-written-testimony-joint-hearing-regarding>  on the Policy Statements page <https://nfb.org/programs-services/advocacy/policy-statements>  of nfb.org. Once you have read his testimony, please take just a few moments to forward it to your Representative in the House and urge them to cosponsor H.R. 2373, the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act. This bill will gradually phase out subminimum wages over a five-year period and eliminate the issuance of new Section 14(c) certificates. It will also establish a grant program to help states and entities transition employees with disabilities into competitive integrated employment. 

When you email your representative you might write something like:

"Hello, my name is [YOUR NAME], and I am a constituent of [REPRESENTATIVE NAME]. I live in [CITY, STATE]. I would like to urge [REPRESENTATIVE NAME] to cosponsor the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act, H.R. 2373. This legislation will gradually phase out subminimum wages for workers with disabilities and facilitate their transition to competitive integrated employment.

Thanks."

Again, we encourage you to include a link to Anil’s written testimony in your email. 

When you email your representative, please copy Stephanie Flynt at sflynt at nfb.org <mailto:sflynt at nfb.org> . Your calls and emails do make a difference.

It is best to email the relevant staff person in your representative's office. Please email Jesa Medders at jmedders at nfb.org <mailto:jmedders at nfb.org>  and she will find the appropriate staff member for you to email.  

The bill currently has 16 cosponsors, but we are hoping that this hearing in conjunction with your advocacy can help dramatically increase the cosponsor count and boost Congressional awareness of this legislation. The list of current cosponsors is pasted below.

Thank you for all that you do,

John Pare

Rep. McMorris Rodgers, Cathy [R-WA-5]

Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25]            

Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]             

Rep. Levin, Andy [D-MI-9]            

Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-11]              

Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]      

Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]       

Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]   

Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]          

Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]             

Rep. Kilmer, Derek [D-WA-6]      

Rep. Joyce, John [R-PA-13]           

Rep. Axne, Cynthia [D-IA-3]         

Rep. Price, David E. [D-NC-4]       

Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]          

Rep. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ-7]

Joy Breslauer, First Vice President and Advocacy and Public Policy Committee Chair 

National Federation of the Blind of Montana 

Web Site: http://www.nfbofmt.org <http://www.nfbofmt.org/> 

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