Cliff Stearns: “Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker. Although the disabled have made significant progress in achieving the American Dream today…”

“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. ____________________”