NCD Chairman to speak at U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Briefing

National Council on Disability Chairman Neil Romano will provide testimony as a part of a panel discussion during a U.S. Commission on Civil Rights public briefing titled “Subminimum Wages: Impacts on the Civil Rights of People with Disabilities,” Friday starting at 9 a.m.

The briefing at National Place Building, 1331 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 1150, Washington, D.C., is part of a daylong event featuring panels and opportunities for public comment.

Following introductory remarks by USCCR Chair Catherine E. Lhamon, Chairman Romano will join House Committee on Education and Labor Chairman U.S. Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott, U.S. Department of Labor’s Assistant Administrator for Policy, Wage and Hour Division Mary Ziegler, and Center for Public Representation Director of Advocacy Alison Barkoff for the panel “The Federal Government’s Role,” taking place 9:10 – 10:30 a.m.

Additional expert panels during the day focus on data regarding subminimum wages and competitive integrated employment; the nature of existing 14(c) programs; transitioning from 14(c) programs; and reform to the 14(c) program at the federal level.

A public comment session for input on 14(c) takes place 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. EST. Those interested in providing comment must register in advance.

The event will also be live streamed.

More information on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is available at https://www.usccr.gov/.

Information on the briefing agenda can be read at https://www.usccr.gov/press/2019/11-05-Agenda-Subminimum-Wages.pdf

Information on the public comment portion of the event is at https://www.usccr.gov/press/2019/10-24-Subminimum-Wages-Public-Comment-Notice.pdf.

Mr. Romano was appointed to NCD in February 2015 by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Last year, he was reappointed for a second term of three years by McConnell, and was designated as Chairman by President Donald J. Trump on Feb. 28, 2018.   

First established as an advisory council within the Department of Education in 1978, NCD became an independent federal agency in 1984. In 1986, NCD recommended enactment of an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and drafted the first version of the bill which was introduced in the House and Senate in 1988. Since enactment of the ADA in 1990, NCD has continued to play a leading role in crafting disability policy, and advising the President, Congress and other federal agencies on disability policies, programs, and practices.