REP. GLENN GROTHMAN: Real Opportunity, Real Work: Why 14(c) Matters

Work isn’t a dirty word. For most Americans, it’s more than a paycheck. Work provides routine, purpose, and social connection. It builds confidence and skills that carry into everyday life. For individuals with disabilities, the opportunity to work—especially in a job designed around their abilities—can be lifechanging.

But finding that opportunity isn’t easy. Many people with disabilities face barriers most of us never think about. Still, they deserve the same dignity that comes from contributing, earning, and being part of a community.

That’s why Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act exists. It allows employers to pay wages based on an individual’s productivity when a disability significantly limits the ability to perform job tasks at a typical pace. The point of 14(c) isn’t the wage—it’s the opportunity. It opens the door to work for people who would otherwise be shut out entirely.

Unfortunately, Section 14(c) has come under sustained attack. In January 2025, the Biden-Harris administration proposed eliminating the program through regulation. While the Trump administration reversed that decision, congressional Democrats continue to push legislation that would phase it out altogether.

Critics often describe 14(c) as outdated or exploitative. That claim ignores the reality on the ground. More than 93 percent of employers operating under 14(c) certificates are nonprofit organizations. Their mission isn’t profit—it’s service. They provide job training, life skills, and a supportive environment for individuals who need significant help to succeed at work.

I visit these programs regularly. They are some of the most positive places I go—places filled with patience, encouragement, and pride in a job well done. For many participants, this isn’t just employment. It’s friendship, routine, and belonging.

If Section 14(c) were eliminated, many of these community rehabilitation providers would not survive. The result wouldn’t be higher wages—it would be fewer opportunities. For individuals with significant disabilities, that often means losing work altogether and becoming more isolated, not more empowered.

That’s why the House Education and Workforce Committee is holding a field hearing this week to examine Section 14(c). We want to hear directly from workers, families, providers, and advocates who live with the consequences of these decisions.

The hard truth is that even with accommodations, some individuals with severe disabilities cannot meet the requirements associated with competitive integrated employment or other types of community-based employment. Eliminating 14(c) will not magically move workers into higher paying jobs. In many cases, it will remove them from the workforce entirely. That outcome helps no one.

This is not about diminishing anyone’s worth. Every person has value. This is about recognizing reality and preserving opportunities that allow people to participate, contribute, and take pride in their work.

We should continue expanding pathways to competitive, integrated employment wherever possible. But progress doesn’t mean dismantling a system that still works for thousands of Americans who want to work and are doing so today.

It’s also important to remember that participation in 14(c) arrangements is voluntary. No one is forced into a job covered by a certificate. Families retain the ability to choose what’s best for their loved ones. For some, competitive employment is achievable. For others, employment under 14(c) is the only realistic option. A one-size-fits-all mandate from Washington fails to respect that diversity.

Section 14(c) recognizes a simple truth: ability exists on a spectrum. And dignity doesn’t come from a government decree—it comes from meaningful opportunity. Taking away work options doesn’t empower people with disabilities; it sidelines them.

Section 14(c) protects choice. It protects opportunity. And it must remain—for the individuals who simply want the chance to show up, do their best, and be part of something bigger than themselves.

Glenn Grothman is the Congressman for Wisconsin’s Sixth Congressional District. Grothman is currently serving his sixth term in Congress, having first been elected in 2014.