WHEREAS, when the Fair Labor Standards Act was adopted in 1938, blind persons were not covered under the general minimum wage provisions under the theory that blind workers could not be as productive as sighted workers;
AND, WHEREAS, it has long since been proven that this original concept is totally false and is contrary to all the economical principals of dignity;
AND, WHEREAS, to remedy this gross injustice, two bills have been introduced in both Houses of Congress at the request of The National Federation of the Blind to require that blind persons be paid at least the Federal minimum wage - HR991 by Representative Clarence Long of Maryland and Sl608 by Senator Paul Tsongas of Massachusetts;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland in Convention assembled this 15th day of October, 1983 in the City of Gaithersburg, Maryland, that this organization commends Representative Long for his willingness to listen, understand and act by proposing the bill;
AND, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization do all it can to convince other members of the Maryland Congressional Delegation to cosponsor and support passage of this vital legislation.