Senator Casey,

I am reaching out to express the Alliance for Expanding America’s Workforce (AEAW)’s support for the Disability Employment Incentive Act.

AEAW is an alliance of organizations dedicated to expanding employment opportunities for people with disabilities by modernizing the federal government’s procurement processes, direct hiring practices, and related policies. The federal government is the nation’s largest employer of people with disabilities and offers the greatest opportunity to expand disability employment protections.

Through the tax incentives and reforms offered in the Disability Employment Incentive Act, Congress can greatly expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities and support the employers working to provide integrated, competitive employment. By increasing the maximum tax credit, an employer can receive from $2400 to $5000 and expanding the tax credit eligibility to include nonprofits that hire people with disabilities, the Disability Employment Incentive Act will not only increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities but also provide vital resources to small businesses and nonprofits to offer the necessary support services employees need to reach their full potential.

Further, by extending the employer tax credits into the second year of employment, the Disability Employment Incentive Act would encourage employers to invest in and retain employees with disabilities. The need for stability in every aspect of life, including employment, must be a priority.

Beyond the tax incentives, this act has the potential to remove unnecessary barriers and increase competitive integrated employment. Eliminating the requirement that employees with disabilities be referred by a designated local agency for employers to claim the tax credit recognizes that there are multiple paths to employment for people with disabilities. Many employers use vocational rehabilitation agencies to make connections; however, not all do, and an employer shouldn’t be denied access to the tax credit just because they utilize a different employment mechanism.

We also applaud the provision within the Disability Employment Incentive Act that would exclude employers using 14(c) certificates from claiming these tax credits. The Alliance members collectively view 14(c) as an outdated measure that restricts mobility and autonomy for disabled employees and undervalues and limits their contributions. We must continue to work towards phasing out the 14(c) program if we hope to achieve competitive integrated employment for people with disabilities.

We urge Congress to empower employers to hire, train and invest in employees with disabilities.

Thank you for your leadership on this important issue.

Dwight Davis

President, Alliance for Expanding America’s Workforce (AEAW)

President, Global Connections to Employment (GCE)

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