Capitol Correspondence - 04.22.19

Two U.S. Representatives Call for Re-Opening WIOA Definition of Competitive Integrated Employment

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U.S. Representatives Ron Estes (R-KS) and Glenn Grothman (R-WI) led a letter to Secretary of Education Betsy Devos, requesting the re-opening of the definition of “competitive integrated employment” in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). ANCOR is sharing this to keep our members informed of the conversation surrounding competitive employment, as this conversation has been increasingly gaining traction at the federal level and the Department of Education has shared their plans to reopen this specific regulation this year.

The letter explains interest in re-opening the definition was spurred because the definition reduces opportunities for AbilityOne and State Use programs. It is important to note that a broad array of the disability community has opposed re-opening the definition of competitive integrated employment, which is housed in regulatory and sub-regulatory FAQ documents, because of the years of negotiations it took to make WIOA successful bipartisan legislation.