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Please tell your members of Congress to support competitive integrated employment and end the payment of subminimum wages to people with disabilities by supporting the Transformation to Competitive Employment Act (TCEA). The TCEA (H.R. 873 in the House and S. 260 in the Senate) is a bipartisan bill that will expand opportunities for competitive integrated employment – community jobs where people with disabilities work alongside co-workers without disabilities and are paid the same wages – and phase out the outdated and discriminatory payment of subminimum wages to people with disabilities currently allowed under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
The TCEA will address barriers to employment for people with disabilities by providing $300 million in capacity-building grants and technical assistance to expand opportunities for competitive integrated employment while phasing out subminimum wages over six years. The bill will help states and 14(c) certificate holders (businesses that pay workers with disabilities subminimum wages) transform their business models to more integrated and innovative approaches to disability employment. Ask your members of Congress to support and co-sponsor the TCEA. Please #WorkWithUs to get Congress to expand opportunities for competitive integrated employment and end subminimum wages!
Background
The Transformation to Competitive Employment Act of 2019 (HR 873 / S 260) was introduced by Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Representatives Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Cathy McMorris-Rodgers (R-WA). It provides a thoughtful approach to phasing out Section 14(c) subminimum wage over a six-year period while providing the funding, supports and training necessary to change the infrastructure of outdated business models. This “capacity-building” component of the TCEA is what distinguishes it from other bills that have attempted 14(c) phaseouts and is a responsible approach to ending the discriminatory payment of subminimum wage while providing $300 million in grants to help states and businesses transform to competitive integrated employment settings. The TCEA would also establish a national technical assistance center to assist all entities in using best practices to transform to competitive, integrated employment settings. For more information about this bill, please visit the Coalition to Advance Competitive Integrated Employment’s website HERE.
Talking points:
I am your constituent. Please support and cosponsor the Transformation to Competitive Employment Act (HR 873/S260). This bill will help address barriers to employment of people with disabilities. It provides funding and technical assistance to states and providers to expand capacity for competitive integrated employment while carefully phasing out over six years the ability of businesses to pay people with disabilities below the minimum wage – often pennies on the dollar -- under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The bill will help businesses using 14(c) certificates transform into competitive, integrated workplaces where people with disabilities work alongside people without disabilities and get paid equal pay for equal work. Just like everyone else, people with disabilities want to work, live independently and be self-sufficient. Support and co-sponsor the Transformation to Competitive Employment Act to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities!
Thank you for your advocacy efforts!
The NDSC Policy & Advocacy Team
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ACTION ALERT: URGE CONGRESS TO SUPPORT THE TRANSFORMATION TO COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT ACT
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ACTION ALERT: URGE CONGRESS TO SUPPORT THE TRANSFORMATION TO COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT ACT
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ACTION ALERT: URGE CONGRESS TO SUPPORT THE TRANSFORMATION TO COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT ACT
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We encourage you to stay engaged in our advocacy efforts by: (1) Registering for NDSC Action Alerts- click "Quick Sign Up" (https://www.ndsccenter.org/political-advocacy/take-action-stay-informed/); (2) Subscribing to the NDSC Policy & Advocacy Newsline (https://www.ndsccenter.org/stay-up-to-date-with-ndsc-news/) (3) "liking" us on social media (https://www.facebook.com/dsadvocates/ and https://twitter.com/policyupdates); and (4) joining the National Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition (https://www.ndsccenter.org/political-advocacy/national-down-syndrome-advocacy-coalition/)
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