Employment and Community Living

Hearing on Social Security 2100 Act

On Thursday July 25, at 10 am, the full House Committee on Ways and Means will hold a hearing entitled “The Social Security 2100 Act.” This bill (H.R. 860), introduced by Congressman John Larson (D-CT-1) and cosponsored by over 200 Democrats, would increase benefits for all current and future Social Security recipients, cut taxes for almost 12 million seniors, and strengthen the trust fund by increasing some payroll taxes and by creating one trust fund for retirement, survivor, and disability benefits.

Earlier this year, the House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee held a series of hearings around this bill entitled “Protecting and Improving Social Security”: Enhancing Social Security to Strengthen the Middle Class (March 12), Benefit Enhancements (March 13), and Comprehensive Legislative Proposals to Enhance Social Security (April 10).

The hearing on July 25th will be before the full Committee on Ways and Means. The invited witnesses are: Stephen C. Goss, Chief Actuary, Social Security Administration; Nancy J. Altman, President, Social Security Works; Kelly Brozyna, Job Creators Network’s National Women’s Coalition; Abigail Zapote, Executive Director, Latinos for a Secure Retirement; and Shaun Castle, Deputy Executive Director, Paralyzed Veterans of America.

The hearing will be in room 1100 in the Longworth House Office Building (15 Independence Ave SE, Washington, D.C. 20515) and will be livestreamed here.

Join the ODEP’s Section 14 (c) National Online Dialogue on Employment of People with Disabilities

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), through its ePolicyWorks initiative, is hosting the Section 14(c) National Online Dialogue to gather perspectives on Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act. We invite you to share your ideas, individual stories, and personal experiences illustrating the impact of Section 14(c) on the employment of people with disabilities.

Since 1938, Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act has authorized employers to pay wages that are less than the federal minimum wage to workers who have disabilities for the work being performed, after receiving a special wage certificate from Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division. The purpose of this National Online Dialogue is to capture perspectives about Section 14(c) based on individual input from those “on the ground,” including a wide range of stakeholders. The information gathered during this important online dialogue will provide the U.S. Department of Labor with an opportunity to better understand the current landscape, as well as the potential future of Section 14(c).

To participate, visit 14cDialogue.IdeaScale.com and register to share your experiences and ideas, and to comment on ideas submitted by others.

Employment First Training Fall Schedule 2019

HDC in collaboration with Louisiana APSE has upcoming training classes on Employment First for the 40-Hour Core & 5-Hour Continuing Education Credits for LRS and Medicaid Employment Providers. (There is a reduced fee for LA APSE members.)

See the LSU HDC Employment Initiatives Website for more information and to register

40 Hour Employment Core Training Certificate for LRS and Medicaid Employment Providers

• Baton Rouge – September 10-12, 2019
• New Orleans – October 22-24, 2019
• Alexandria – December 10-12, 2019
• Additional 5.0-hour classes available, see website for dates and topics

Employment First Trainings Available

HDC in collaboration with Louisiana APSE has upcoming training classes on Employment First for the 40-Hour Core & 5-Hour Continuing Education Credits for LRS and Medicaid Employment Providers. (There is a reduced fee for LA APSE members.)

See the LSU HDC Employment Initiatives Website for more information and to register

40 Hour Employment Core Training Certificate for LRS and Medicaid Employment Providers

• Baton Rouge – March 26-28, 2019
• New Orleans – April 16-18, 2019
• Lafayette- May 21-23, 2019
• Additional 5.0-hour classes available, see website for dates and topics

LRS Opens Order of Selection Category 4

Effective February 14, 2019m Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS) opened Order of Selection (OOS) Category 4 and has begun serving those currently on the Category 4 waiting list, in addition to serving new referrals and applicants determined eligible in OOS Categories 1, 2, 3, and 4. See the following letter available in different accessible formats from LRS Director Melissa Bayham:

• PDF format .pdf: Opening OOS 4 – February 2019
• Word document .docx: Accessible Format Opening OOS 4 – Feb2019