What solutions do you have for the trust funds? Is the concept obsolete?

I hope that we really are focused on the needs of my rural constituents in areas such as the safety of rural roads.

I find it interesting that some states have put up websites asking their constituents or citizens of those states to give them suggestions as to how to spend the money.

We have to have fairness in this, Mr. Secretary, and it is just not fair.

I believe that we must do everything we can to protect the most vulnerable among us.

The reason I ask that is that it is my understanding that the Iowa Workforce Development requested information about the number of 14(c) employees in the State of Iowa--not just here, but in the State--and where they were employed, and…

Let me just go through some steps here just so I understand it better.

The employer has to be the moving party? I mean, if they are going to hire someone with a disability, they have to request or file a 14(c) application?

For 5,000-some employers?

But the renewals you say are sometimes denied?

Are there ever any worksite visits at all?

Do you have any idea how many investigators we are talking about? We still don't know.

Do we have any data on what percentage of investigations result in penalties to the employer?

There are also many workers with significant disabilities who are every bit as productive as the workers without disabilities, and our laws must be tightened to ensure that employers cannot use programs like 14(c) to take advantage of this.

Thank you again for holding this hearing. I will be glad to answer any questions.

Would these site visits, would they be the ones made if there is indication of any problems or something like that?

The only way you would ever find out about a 3(m)--so when they file the renewal for 14(c), they don't have to file 3(m)?

I suspect there are a lot of 14(c) employers that have never seen a Wage and Hour investigator.