December 5, 2024
The Honorable Bernard Sanders, Chair
United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
332 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Bill Cassidy, Ranking Member
United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
455 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Virginia Foxx, Chair
United States House Committee on Education and the Workforce
2462 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Bobby Scott, Ranking Member
United States House Committee on Education and the Workforce
2328 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Chair Sanders, Chair Foxx, Ranking Member Cassidy, and Ranking Member Scott:
I write to you urging you not to let the significant historical moment in front of you pass without your action. You have the opportunity to have your name and legacy linked to an important moment in American history for people with disabilities. Please seize the moment. The National Federation of the Blind, the transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans, strongly supports the inclusion of the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act, S.533/H.R.1263 in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Reauthorization package.
Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act authorizes employers to pay their workers with disabilities subminimum wages. According to the United States Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, as of October 1, 2024, at least 37,875 people with disabilities were still being paid below the minimum wage. To solve this problem, we urge Congress to pass the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act, S. 533/H.R. 1263, which would phase out, over a five-year period, this antiquated practice. During this phase-out period, there will be a freeze on applications for new certificates to ensure this employment model will be eliminated at the end of the fifth year.
Finally, in order to help ensure a smooth transition, the legislation includes provisions for a technical assistance center to help businesses transition away from paying subminimum wages as well as a competitive grant program that businesses can apply for during the transition period.
It is long past time for our nation to move beyond this outdated model of disability employment, and into a new era of competitive and integrated employment for all. By reauthorizing the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act with the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act in the package, we believe it will ensure this antiquated and discriminatory employment practice is properly phased out leading to disabled Americans being able to fulfill the dignity of work. It will allow us all to live the lives we want ensuring we are productive members of society.
Sincerely,
Mark A. Riccobono, President
National Federation of the Blind