For Immediate Release
02/01/2021
Contact: David Card
202.408.9514 x122
[email protected]
WASHINGTON, DC – The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) applauds Congress for introducing The Raise the Wage Act of 2021 which would raise the federal minimum wage and phase out section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, a provision that permits employers to pay some people with disabilities even less than the minimum wage.
“Subminimum wage certificates do nothing more than perpetuate a life of poverty and dependency for people with disabilities,” said NDRN Executive Director Curt Decker. “This bill would put an end to this outdated and unfair practice that runs contrary to competitive integrated employment and fair compensation for work.”
NDRN and our members, the Protection and Advocacy and Client Assistance Programs, have long advocated for an elimination of subminimum wages and segregated employment for people with disabilities. We should be pursuing every path possible to support people with disabilities who want to work for a competitive wage. The Raise the Wage Act puts our nation on the path toward integrated jobs at competitive wages for people with disabilities. NDRN calls on Congress to quickly take up this bill and enact it into law.
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The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) is the nonprofit membership organization for the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Systems and the Client Assistance Programs (CAP) for individuals with disabilities. Collectively, the P&A/CAP Network is the largest provider of legally based advocacy services to people with disabilities in the United States.
