Racine Sun

U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil, a Wisconsin Republican, is among a number of GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill expressing opposition to the Competitive Integrated Employment Transformation Grant Program.

The program, which is a part of the Build Back Better Act, would give people with disabilities the opportunity to be paid at least minimum wage for their work, according to The Hill. However, Steil and several of his GOP colleagues are voicing their opposition to the proposal. 

“I joined a letter to Senate Leadership urging them to remove a harmful provision in the massive tax and spending bill that would limit access to employment for individuals with disabilities,” Steil said in a post on Twitter. 

Steil was joined by other members of the Republican delegation in the House to express opposition to the program, according to the social media post. The others include Glenn Grothman, Jason Smith, Diana Harshbarger, Vicky Hartzler, Virginia Foxx, James Comer and Scott Fitzgerald, who all signed letters to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) expressing their issues with the program, which they claim would hinder job opportunities for people with developmental disabilities, according to the post.  

According to The Hill, the disabled may not receive equal pay. The publication noted that Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 makes it legal for employers to pay workers with disability less than minimum wage. The publication also pointed out that there are an estimated 100,000 people in the U.S. currently working for less than minimum wage. 

According to the social media posts, Steil is worried that the program would drive states to get rid of the provision and result in job losses for many disabled persons. According to The Hill, the provision was originally intended to increase employment opportunities for disabled workers.