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<dd>Fellow Federationists:<br><br>
<dd> <br><br>
<dd>I write to ask you to immediately contact your Representatives who
are on the House Education and Workforce Committee regarding the
Workforce Investment Act (WIA). This bill is currently being
pre-conferenced which means the House and Senate are working to resolve
the differences between the two versions of the bills.<br><br>
<dd> <br><br>
<dd>As you know, we are adamantly opposed to Section 511 of Title V and
the transfer of the Rehabilitation Services Administration to the
Department of Labor, which are in the Senate version of WIA. Now is the
time to urge House members of the Education and Workforce committee to
voice their objections to these two provisions.<br><br>
<dd> <br><br>
<dd>Here is a call script that you can use when contacting your
Representatives.Please call as soon as possible, but no later than by
next Friday:<br><br>
<dd> <br><br>
<dd>Hi! My name is ________. It is my understanding that discussions are
being held to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions
of the Workforce Investment Act. Since Representative ________ is on the
Education and Workforce committee, I am calling to voice my objection to
Section 511 of S. 1356, which endorses segregated subminimum wage
training and employment. I am also concerned with the language that
diminishes the quality of rehabilitation services by transferring the
Rehabilitation Services Administration from the Department of Education
to the Department of Labor. I urge Representative _________ to ensure
that these sections are removed before the WIA language is finalized.
Thank you!<br><br>
<dd> <br><br>
<dd>If you are asked for the House companion bill number, it is H.R.
803.<br><br>
<dd> <br><br>
<dd>Below is a list of Representatives who are on the Education and
Workforce Committee. If your state does not have a member on the
committee, please contact Chairman Kline (R, MN). We need him to know how
important this issue is to us. His office phone number is:
<a href="tel:(202)%20225-2271">(202) 225-2271</a>.<br><br>
<dd> <br><br>
<dd>Arizona, Matt Salmon, <a href="tel:(202)%20225-2635">(202)
225-2635</a><br><br>
<dd>Arizona, Raúl Grijalva, <a href="tel:(202)%20225-2435">(202)
225-2435</a><br><br>
<br>
<dd>California, Duncan D. Hunter, <a href="tel:(202)%20225-5672">(202)
225-5672</a><br><br>
<dd>California, Howard "Buck"
McKeon,<a href="tel:(202)%20225-1956">(202) 225-1956</a><br><br>
<dd>California, George Miller, <a href="tel:(202)%20225-2095">(202)
225-2095</a><br><br>
<dd>California, Susan Davis, <a href="tel:(202)%20225-2040">(202)
225-2040</a><br><br>
<br>
<dd>Colorado, Jared Polis, <a href="tel:(202)%20225-2161">(202)
225-2161</a><br><br>
<br>
<dd>Connecticut, Joe Courtney, <a href="tel:(202)%20225-2076">(202)
225-2076</a><br><br>
<br>
<dd>Florida, Frederica Wilson, <a href="tel:(202)%20225-4506">(202)
225-4506</a><br><br>
<br>
<dd>Georgia, Tom Price,<a href="tel:(202)%20225-4501">(202)
225-4501</a><br><br>
<br>
<dd>Indiana, Larry Bucshon, <a href="tel:(202)%20225-4636">(202)
225-4636</a><br><br>
<dd>Indiana, Luke Messer, <a href="tel:(202)%20225-3021">(202)
225-3021</a><br><br>
<dd>Indiana, Susan Brooks, <a href="tel:(202)%20225-2276">(202)
225-2276</a><br><br>
<dd>Indiana, Todd Rokita, <a href="tel:(202)%20225-5037">(202)
225-5037</a> <br><br>
<br>
<dd>Iowa, David Loebsack <a href="tel:(202)%20225-6576">(202)
225-6576</a><br><br>
<br>
<dd>Kentucky, Brett Guthrie, <a href="tel:(202)%20225-3501">(202)
225-3501</a><br><br>
<br>
<dd>Massachusetts, John Tierney, <a href="tel:(202)%20225-8020">(202)
225-8020</a><br><br>
<br>
<dd>Michigan, Tim Walberg, <a href="tel:(202)%20225-6276">(202)
225-6276</a><br><br>
<br>
<dd>Minnesota, John Kline, <a href="tel:(202)%20225-2271">(202)
225-2271</a><br><br>
<br>
<dd>Nevada Joe Heck,<a href="tel:(202)%20225-3252">(202)
225-3252</a><br><br>
<br>
<dd>New Jersey, Rush D. Holt, Jr., <a href="tel:(202)%20225-5801">(202)
225-5801</a><br><br>
<br>
<dd>New York, Carolyn McCarthy, <a href="tel:(202)%20225-5516">(202)
225-5516</a><br><br>
<dd>New York, Timothy Bishop, <a href="tel:(202)%20225-3826">(202)
225-3826</a><br><br>
<br>
<dd>North Carolina, Richard Hudson,<a href="tel:(202)%20225-3715">(202)
225-3715</a><br><br>
<dd>North Carolina, Virginia Foxx, <a href="tel:(202)%20225-2071">(202)
225-2071</a><br><br>
<br>
<dd>Northern Mariana Islands, Gregorio “Kilili”
Sablan,<a href="tel:(202)%20225-2646">(202) 225-2646</a><br><br>
<br>
<dd>Ohio, Marcia Fudge, <a href="tel:(202)%20225-7032">(202)
225-7032</a><br><br>
<br>
<dd>Oregon, Suzanne Bonamici, <a href="tel:(202)%20225-0855">(202)
225-0855</a><br><br>
<br>
<dd>Pennsylvania, Glenn "G.T." Thompson,
<a href="tel:(202)%20225-5121">(202) 225-5121</a><br><br>
<dd>Pennsylvania, Lou Barletta, <a href="tel:(202)%20225-6511">(202)
225-6511</a><br><br>
<br>
<dd>South Carolina, Joe Wilson, <a href="tel:(202)%20225-2452">(202)
225-2452</a><br><br>
<dd>South Carolina, Trey Gowdy, <a href="tel:(202)%20225-6030">(202)
225-6030</a><br><br>
<br>
<dd>Tennessee, Phil Roe, <a href="tel:(202)%20225-6356">(202)
225-6356</a><br><br>
<dd>Tennessee, Scott DesJarlais, <a href="tel:(202)%20225-6831">(202)
225-6831</a><br><br>
<br>
<dd>Texas, Kenny Marchant, <a href="tel:(202)%20225-6605">(202)
225-6605</a><br><br>
<dd>Texas, Rubén Hinojosa, <a href="tel:(202)%20225-2531">(202)
225-2531</a><br><br>
<br>
<dd>Virginia, Bobby Scott, <a href="tel:(202)%20225-8351">(202)
225-8351</a><br><br>
<br>
<dd>Wisconsin, Tom Petri, <a href="tel:(202)%20225-2476">(202)
225-2476</a><br><br>
<dd>Wisconsin, Mark Pocan, <a href="tel:(202)%20225-2906">(202)
225-2906</a><br><br>
<dd> <br><br>
<dd>Feel free to e-mail, fax, and tweet your Representatives as well, but
this is a supplement to the calls, not a substitute. See below for a
sample letter.<br><br>
<dd> <br><br>
<dd>Thank you for taking just a few minutes to make these calls.
Together, we can ensure that WIA will continue to help people with
disabilities achieve the competitive integrated employment we strive
for.<br><br>
<dd> <br><br>
<dd>Best,<br><br>
<dd> <br><br>
<dd>Rose<br><br>
<dd> <br><br>
<dd>March XX, 2014<br><br>
<dd> <br><br>
<dd>Dear Representative__________:<br><br>
<dd> <br><br>
<dd>I am writing to express serious concerns with two specific provisions
under debate as part of Workforce Investment Act (WIA) reauthorization
legislation. I am opposed to the following two provisions, which will be
extremely detrimental to individuals with disabilities who are eligible
for the individualized services and supports provided by highly skilled
rehabilitation counselors in the Vocational Rehabilitation
program.<br><br>
<dd> <br><br>
<dd>§ Section 511, related to employment of individuals with
disabilities at a subminimum wage and <br><br>
<dd>§ The proposed move of the Rehabilitation Services
Administration (RSA) from the Department of Education (DOE) to the
Department of Labor (DOL). <br><br>
<dd> <br><br>
<dd>These proposals are steps in the wrong direction at a time when it is
critical to support career development and self-sufficiency for
individuals with disabilities. While these provisions originated in the
Senate bill (S.1356), pre-conferencing is underway between the House and
Senate Committee staff, and it is critical that the House stand firm in
opposition to both</u> of these provisions.<br><br>
<dd> <br><br>
<dd>Section 511 will strengthen and give legitimacy to the flawed
subminimum wage system and is based on the false premise that people with
disabilities cannot be competitively employed. This policy proposal faces
strong opposition from the community it is meant to serve. The language
endorses the practice of using subminimum wage environments for training
or employment, and does not meet the intended goal of reducing the number
of young people tracked into subminimum wage work environments.<br><br>
<dd> <br><br>
<dd>Individuals who are tracked into these environments remain there
ninety-five percent of the time and are dependent on government subsidies
and other state income supports for the rest of their lives.<br><br>
<dd> <br><br>
<dd>The proposed move of RSA to DOL is entirely inconsistent with efforts
to improve and increase services to young people transitioning from
school to postsecondary educattion or careers. Efforts should be focused
on increasing collaboration and partnerships in the DOE between RSA and
the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), in order to improve
transition services, as opposed to moving RSA to DOL where this focus
would be lost. There is no data to indicate that moving the RSA from the
DOE to the DOL would improve employment outcomes for individuals with
disabilities, particularly those individuals with the most significant
disabilities, including transition youth.<br><br>
<dd> <br><br>
<dd>Since the 1992 Amendments to the Rehabilitation Act, State VR
Agencies have focused on providing community based services and assuring
that all individuals with disabilities determined eligible for VR
Services have the opportunity to pursue competitive employment in an
integrated setting. Opening the door to sheltered employment takes the VR
Program and the people they serve backwards. It would undermine the
forward progress and success that the program has achieved over the years
in pursuing competitive, integrated employment for VR consumers.<br><br>
<dd> <br><br>
<dd>There are far better ways to help ensure that individuals with
disabilities can be productive without Section 511, and I believe
strengthening VR within the DOE</u> is the best approach to securing
access to competitive employment opportunities for individuals with
disabilities.<br><br>
<dd> <br><br>
<dd>I urge you strike these two controversial provisions from the final
WIA reauthorization package.<br><br>
<dd> <br><br>
<dd>Sincerely, <br><br>
<br>
<dd>Your contact information.<br><br>
<dd> <br><br>
<br>
</dl>Rose Sloan <br>
Government Affairs Specialist <br>
National Federation of the Blind <br><br>
<a href="mailto:Rsloan@nfb.org">Rsloan@nfb.org</a><br><br>
Sent from my iPhone <br>
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