<!--[if gte mso 9]>
<xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
<o:PixelsPerInch>96</o:PixelsPerInch>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml>
<![endif]-->
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="height:20px"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="vertical-align:top">
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:600px">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="background-color:#ffffff; border-bottom:medium none; border-left:medium none; border-right:medium none; border-top:medium none">
<table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="background-color:#0075c9; border-bottom:medium none; border-left:medium none; border-right:medium none; border-top:medium none; height:10px; text-align:center; vertical-align:top; width:100%">
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="background-color:transparent; border-bottom:medium none; border-left:medium none; border-right:medium none; border-top:medium none"><img alt="" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/top-blue-bar.jpg" style="background-color:#0075c9; border-color:currentcolor; border-style:solid; border-width:0px; display:block; height:28px; margin:0px; width:600px" /></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="background-color:#ffffff; border-bottom:medium none; border-left:medium none; border-right:medium none; border-top:medium none">
<table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="background-color:#ffffff; border-bottom:medium none; border-left:medium none; border-right:medium none; border-top:medium none; height:10px; text-align:center; vertical-align:top; width:100%">
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
<table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="background-color:transparent; border-bottom:medium none; border-left:medium none; border-right:medium none; border-top:medium none"><a href="nfb.org"><img alt="National Federation of the Blind logo and tagline live the life you want" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/nfb-logo-for-email-template.jpg" style="background-color:transparent; border-color:currentcolor; border-style:solid; border-width:0px; display:block; height:220px; margin:0px; width:200px" /></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="background-color:#ffffff; border-bottom:medium none; border-left:medium none; border-right:medium none; border-top:medium none">
<table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="height:145px; width:600px">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="background-color:#ffffff; border-color:initial; border-style:none; border-width:medium; height:20px; text-align:left; vertical-align:top; width:100%">
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span></p>
<h1><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 22pt;">National Federation of the Blind Applauds the Introduction of the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act in the House</span></h1>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Baltimore, Maryland (April 6, 2021):</span></b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> The National Federation of the Blind, the transformative advocacy organization of blind Americans, applauds the introduction of the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act (H.R. 2373) in the United States House of Representatives by Education and Labor Committee Chair Bobby Scott (D-VA-3) and Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA-5). This legislation gradually eliminates the payment of subminimum wages to people with disabilities over a four-year period and prohibits the
issuance of new special wage certificates under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. The legislation also incentivizes employers to transition away from a segregated workplace model for people with disabilities and toward competitive integrated employment.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">“It is long past time for Congress to phase out the subminimum wage for workers with disabilities and expand access to fulfilling employment and economic self-sufficiency,” said Chairman Scott. “By fostering collaboration between employers and services providers, this bipartisan legislation makes clear that it is not only possible, but beneficial to invest in fully integrated and competitive jobs for people with disabilities. We must take this next step to ensure that every worker can succeed in the workplace and earn a fair wage.”</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">“Disability employment is the next policy frontier to empower people with disabilities to live full and independent lives,” said Ranking Member Rodgers. “A job is so much more than just a paycheck, it’s what gives us dignity, purpose, and the opportunity for a better life. I look forward to continuing to work in a bipartisan fashion to ensure more people – who are ready, willing, and able to work – find employment.”</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt"><span style="font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Mark A. Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: “The National Federation of the Blind and our partners representing the 55 million Americans with disabilities seek only the kind of meaningful, remunerative work that other Americans take for granted. We applaud Chairman Scott for rejecting over eighty years of entrenched but false thinking about the capacity of people with disabilities. We strongly urge his colleagues in both chambers of the United States Congress to transition from an ineffective employment model to a policy that recognizes the individuality,
interests, and skills of workers with disabilities and allows them to live the lives they want.”</span></span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">###</span></p>
<h3><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">About the National Federation of the Blind</span></h3>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore, defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information and support to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing vision, and more. Founded in 1940, the NFB is the premier membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans with affiliates, chapters, and divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. We believe in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them into reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at <a href='https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=20588&qid=5091344'
rel='nofollow'>nfb.org</a>.</span></p>
<h3><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">CONTACT:</span></h3>
<p><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">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='https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=20589&qid=5091344' rel='nofollow'>cdanielsen@nfb.org</a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="height:8px"> </td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" align="center" style="background-color:#002f6d; padding:0; border:0; margin:0 auto; width:600px"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 60px;"> <td style="width:135px;"> </td> <td style="width:55px; background-color:#002f6d; padding:0; border:0; margin:0 auto;"> <a href='https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=20590&qid=5091344' rel='nofollow'> <img alt="Facebook Logo" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-facebook-ms.png" /> </a> </td> <td style="width:55px; background-color:#002f6d; padding:0; border:0; margin:0 auto;"> <a href='https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=20591&qid=5091344' rel='nofollow'> <img alt="Twitter Logo" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-twitter-ms.png" />
</a> </td> <td style="width:55px; background-color:#002f6d; padding:0; border:0; margin:0 auto;"> <a href='https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=20592&qid=5091344' rel='nofollow'> <img alt="Instagram Logo" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-instagram-ms.png" /></a> </td> <td style="width:55px; background-color:#002f6d; padding:0; border:0; margin:0 auto;"> <a href='https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=20593&qid=5091344' rel='nofollow'> <img alt="YouTube Logo" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-youtube-ms.png" /></a> </td> <td style="width:55px; background-color:#002f6d; padding:0; border:0; margin:0 auto;"> <a href='https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=20594&qid=5091344' rel='nofollow'> <img
alt="Email Icon Image" src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-email-ms.png" /></a> </td> <td style="width:55px; background-color:#002f6d; padding:0; border:0; margin:0 auto;"> <a href='https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=20595&qid=5091344' rel='nofollow'> <img alt="Donate to the NFB Icon." src="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/images/images/iof-donte-ms.png" style="border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; border-color: currentcolor; display: block; background-color: transparent; margin: 0px; width: 50px; height: 35px;" /> </a> </td> <td style="width:135px"> </td> </tr> <tr style="color: white; height: 25px;"> <td colspan="8" align="center" style="font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold">
National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD 21230 | 410-659-9314 </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 25px;"> <td colspan="8" align="center" style="color: white; font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold"> <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/unsubscribe?reset=1&jid=16349&qid=5091344&h=e40394665a805fff" title="Unsubscribe" style="color: white; font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold">Unsubscribe</a> | <a href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/optout?reset=1&jid=16349&qid=5091344&h=e40394665a805fff" title="Opt Out" style="color: white; font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold">Opt
Out</a> | <a href='https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/url?u=20596&qid=5091344' rel='nofollow' title="Sign up for email newsletter" style="color: white; font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold">Sign Up for Our E-newsletter</a> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="8" align="center" style="display: none; color: white; font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold"> <div class="location vcard"><span class="adr"><span class="street-address">200 East Wells St.</span><br /><span class="locality">Baltimore</span>, <span class="postal-code">21230</span><br /><span class="country-name">United States</span></span></div>.. </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
<img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/msv5/images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="1" alt="Web Bug from https://nfb.org/civicrm/mailing/open?qid=5091344" />