[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 147 (Tuesday, October 4, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H6521]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1220
                    NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND

  (Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. STEARNS. Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker.
  Although the disabled have made significant progress in achieving the 
American Dream today, they still face unfairness in the workplace under 
a provision that allows employers to pay workers with disabilities less 
than the Federal minimum wage.
  Protections for disabled workers were excluded in the Fair Labor 
Standards Act in the mistaken belief that they would not be as 
productive as other workers. That is why I offered the Fair Wages for 
Workers with Disabilities Act, along with my good colleague, 
Congressman Bishop of New York. This legislation would phase out the 
provision in the Fair Labor Standards Act that allows subminimum wage 
for disabled workers.
  It is deplorable and wrong in America that these not-for-profit 
centers would hire people with disabilities, including the visually 
impaired, and pay them less than $1 an hour. Workers with disabilities 
contribute to our economy and to our society, and they deserve equal 
pay for equal work.

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