U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines introduced the bipartisan “Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act.” The bill will end pay discrimination for workers with disabilities and help them transition into fully integrated, competitive employment.
“Those with disabilities contribute in valuable ways to our communities. There is dignity and hope in work, and they should never be underpaid simply because they live with a disability. I’m proud to work with my colleagues to end this discriminatory practice and ensure fair pay to Montanans with disabilities in the workforce,” said Daines.
Daines joined Representatives Pete Sessions (R-Texas) and Bobby Scott (D-Va.) as well as Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) in introducing the legislation.
Background:
Under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, workers with disabilities can legally be paid far below the federal minimum wage, sometimes less than $1 an hour. This bill ends that practice over five years, invests $300 million in state and local transition efforts, and ensures all workers with disabilities can earn fair wages and work alongside their peers.
Currently, nearly 40,000 people with disabilities are still employed under this policy. This legislation ensures they are no longer left behind in our workforce and brings federal labor law into alignment with the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
###