Federal contractors have an additional two weeks — until Feb. 21 — to respond to the Labor Department’s proposal establishing goals for hiring workers with disabilities.
In December, Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs released proposed regulations that would require federal contractors to aim to have 7 percent of their workforce be individuals with disabilities.
Originally, the public comment period ended Feb. 7. Some stakeholders, however, sought additional time to comment. And some lawmakers had some of their own about the proposal.
In a letter sent to Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis, members of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce said they are concerned that the goal amounts to a quota and requested an explanation of Labor’s authority to impose such a requirement.
The panel also asked for evidence that contractors aren’t already making a good faith effort to hire workers with disabilities. Their letter also questioned whether it is legal to ask job applicants with disabilities to self-identify.
As of Feb. 8, the committee had not yet received answers to their questions, a panel spokesman said. Lawmakers, he added, are disappointed that DOL did not extend the comment period deadline by 90 days, as they requested.
In its announcement of the extension, DOL said it had “determined that the public could use additional time to review the potential impact of the proposed requirements.” Its statement did not mention the lawmakers’ request.