Press Releases

Today, Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI), Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA), Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT), Rep. Erin Houchin (R-IN), Rep. Bob 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 a Biden-Harris administration proposed rule to halt the issuance of 14(c) certificates, which expand employment opportunities for individuals with physical and mental disabilities.

In the letter, the Members write: “Published in the final weeks of the Biden-Harris administration, 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 letter continues: “The proposed rule would end employment opportunities for those with the most significant intellectual and developmental disabilities by eliminating employers’ access to 14(c) certificates. Rather 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 concludes: “On January 17, 2025, the Committee wrote to then-Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su expressing our serious concerns about the proposed rule, but the Biden-Harris DOL continued with its rulemaking.  With DOL under new leadership, we encourage you to fully abandon these misguided efforts and prioritize policies that truly expand opportunities for individuals with disabilities.”

Background: Committee members previously sent letters to Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su urging the Biden-Harris administration to withdraw its proposed rule that would stop the issuance of 14(c) certificates.

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