Yesterday, on March 26, House Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI), Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA), Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT), Rep. Erin Houchin (R-IN), Rep. Robert Onder (R-MO), and Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA) sent a letter to Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer requesting that the Department of Labor (DOL) withdraw the Biden Administration 14(c) rulemaking.
Of note, the Republican committee members highlight in the letter that “the proposed rule would have far-reaching consequences, disrupting vital employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and harming their families who depend on these programs.” The policymakers further note in the letter that, “[r]ather than eliminating critical opportunities, federal policy should focus on expanding workforce participation for individuals with disabilities, ensuring a range of employment options that accommodate their diverse needs.”
The letter comes after Republican committee members sent letters to former Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su urging the Biden Administration to withdraw the proposed rule, including a December 2024 letter expressing their concerns that the Administration had rushed the 14(c) rulemaking as well as a January 2025 letter urging the Administration to withdraw the rulemaking and at least extend the comment period for the same.
Please find here a copy of the letter. The press release is available here. Contact Tim Sohosky, Director of IDD, or Cathy Barrick, IDD Policy Analyst, know if you have any questions.
