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<b>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br>
<br>
CONTACT:<br>
</b>Chris Danielsen<br>
Director of Public Relations<br>
National Federation of the Blind<br>
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330<br>
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)<br>
<a href="mailto:Cdanielsen@nfb.rg">Cdanielsen@nfb.rg</a><br>
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<div align="center"><b>National Federation of the Blind Commends
President Obama<br>
for Executive Order on Wages<br>
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<div align="center"><b><i>Order Ensures Economic Mobility for Federal
Contract Employees with Disabilities<br>
</i></b></div>
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<b>Baltimore, Maryland (February 12, 2014):</b>
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/">The National Federation of the Blind
(NFB)</a> commented today on President Obama’s executive order requiring
a wage floor of $10.10 for individuals employed under all new federal
contracts, including workers with disabilities who are currently excluded
from minimum wage protections under special certificate programs.
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Dr. Marc Maurer, President of
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/NationalFederationoftheBlind">the
National Federation of the Blind</a>, said: “President Obama’s courageous
action today is a tremendous victory for federal contract workers with
disabilities, and we wholeheartedly applaud the spectacular step forward
that this new executive order represents. The National Federation
of the Blind commends President Obama for recognizing the value of
workers with disabilities and ensuring that these workers can take
advantage of the same opportunity for economic mobility as their
nondisabled co-workers. We urge Congress to finish the work that
President Obama has begun by passing
<a href="https://nfb.org/fair-wages">the Fair Wages for Workers with
Disabilities Act (H.R. 831)</a> to ensure that all workers with
disabilities, not just those working under federal contracts, will no
longer be subjected to the antiquated and discriminatory practice of
being paid less than the federal minimum wage.”<br>
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<b> <br>
About the National Federation of the Blind<br><br>
<br>
</b>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. <br>
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