Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Update on the Americans with Disabilities Act Restoration Act of 2007

Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY) recently held a legislative hearing on the Americans with Disabilities Act Restoration Act of 2007 (H.R. 3195). This bill aims to restore the ADA's clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination on the basis of disability.

In recognition of the ADA, Representatives Steny Hoyer (MD) and James Sensenbrenner (WI) introduced the ADA Restoration Act of 2007 on the anniversary of the ADA on July 26.

Nadler is chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. “The ADA is the one the most important civil rights laws of our time, but this historic law has been diluted by the courts. In ruling after ruling, the courts have found that people with serious health conditions such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, diabetes and epilepsy are not 'disabled enough' to qualify for protection from disability discrimination under the ADA. That was never the intent of Congress, and we must bring clarity to the law,” he said.

The bill currently has 207 co-sponsors, thanks in part to emails from MS activists. Click here to read the recent MS Action Alert on this issue.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

It doesn't have closed caption (CC) on for me to understand what the people speak. I as deaf, am not disabled enough to have to the access of the CC?