[Vendorsmi] Fw: [Nfbnet-members-list] 2, 900 Delegates to National Federation of the Blind ConventionUnanimously Reject Workforce Investment Act Reauthorization

[Joe Sontag]

Though this doesn't pertain directly to the BEP, it should be of interest to all caring, self-respecting  blind people.  Come to 
think of it, may become more relevant to us in the near future, given the current course of our Program.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Freeh,Jessica (by way of David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>)" <JFreeh at nfb.org>
To: <nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2011 09:58
Subject: [Nfbnet-members-list] 2,900 Delegates to National Federation of the Blind ConventionUnanimously Reject Workforce Investment 
Act Reauthorization


>
>
> 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
>
> 2,900 Delegates to National Federation of the Blind Convention Unanimously Reject Workforce Investment Act Reauthorization
>
> Bill Would Endorse Exploitation of Disabled Workers
>
> Orlando, Florida (July 7, 2011): The National Federation of the Blind at its national convention today voted unanimously to demand 
> fair wages for blind workers.  The convention is being attended by 2,800 delegates from across the United States and Puerto Rico. 
> On Wednesday, July 13, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee will vote on the Workforce Investment Act 
> (WIA), which contains language reauthorizing the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.   The Rehabilitation Act is supposed to 
> provide services to disabled Americans so that they can obtain competitive employment, but Title V, Section 511 of the proposed 
> Rehabilitation Act language references Section 14(c) of the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which allows certain entities 
> holding special wage certificates to pay workers with disabilities less than the federal minimum wage.
>
> Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: "Language endorsing the antiquated practice of paying 
> the blind and other workers with disabilities less than the federal minimum wage, which is based on the fallacious premise that 
> disabled workers cannot be productive and do the same work as their non-disabled peers, has no place in legislation designed to 
> increase competitive work opportunities for workers with disabilities.  We believe that this language, in effect if not by design, 
> is a Trojan Horse provision that will inevitably lead to the placing of workers with disabilities in subminimum-wage sweatshops. 
> We demand that the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee either amend this bill to remove Title V, Section 511, or 
> simply vote down the entire bill."
>
>
> ###
>
>
> About the National Federation of the Blind
>
> With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is the largest and most influential membership organization of 
> blind people in the United States.  The NFB improves blind people's lives through advocacy, education, research, technology, and 
> programs encouraging independence and self-confidence.  It is the leading force in the blindness field today and the voice of the 
> nation's blind.  In January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and 
> training center in the United States for the blind led by the blind.
>
>
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