Contact: Washington, D.C. Office, (202) 225-2476
(Fond du Lac, WI) – Today, Congressman Glenn Grothman had the privilege of hosting Assistant Secretary of Education Johnny Collett for tours of three work centers in Wisconsin’s 6th District. Congressman Grothman and Assistant Secretary Collett toured Lakeside Packaging Plus in Oshkosh, Brooke Industries, Inc. in Fond du Lac, and RSC Empowers in Sheboygan.
“These non-profit businesses employ individuals with disabilities, who love their jobs and have access to critical services and a safe working environment, as a result of their employment. This is a message I’ve heard routinely from parents of sons and daughters with disabilities and the individuals themselves. Having the opportunity to get up and go to a job where your work is valued and appreciated instills a sense of pride that is unlike any other. Making sure that these places of business remain available for individuals with disabilities is among my most important objectives as a Member of Congress and I was thrilled to have Assistant Secretary Collett with me to see first-hand the great work being done in Wisconsin for individuals with disabilities.”
Congressman Grothman introduced H.R. 5658, the Workplace Choice and Flexibility for Individuals with Disabilities Act, which would reverse an Obama-era regulation aimed at closing down work centers across the country. The regulation changed how the Department of Education defines employment for individuals with disabilities to be “competitive” and “integrated.” Since going into effect in 2016, the regulation has resulted in a significant decrease in the amount of referrals work centers receive from Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies.
