September 11, 2008
Senate Passes the ADA Amendments Act
By: Tyler Lewis
On September 11, the U.S. Senate passed the ADA Amendments Act of
2008 on a voice vote, restoring Congress’ original intent to the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.
“Today’s Senate passage of the ADA Amendments Act gives the nation a
glimpse of the legislative process at its highest and best. No narrow
partisan politics barred the way to reinstating a vulnerable class of
people with disabilities who had been excluded by narrow court
decisions from the law’s protections – such as those with diabetes,
cancer and bipolar disorder,” said Nancy Zirkin, executive vice
president of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, in a
statement.
The bill will overturn Supreme Court decisions that have reduced
protections for certain people with disabilities – including people
with diabetes, epilepsy, heart disease, mental disabilities, and
cancer – who were originally intended to be covered by the ADA. The
ADA prohibits discrimination against Americans with physical and
mental disabilities in such areas as employment, public
accommodations, and transportation.
“This vote demonstrates the broad-based bipartisan support for the
need to restore protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) to people with epilepsy, depression, diabetes, cancer and a host
of other conditions who have been interpreted out of the ADA by a
callous majority of the U.S. Supreme Court,” said Andrew Imparato,
president and CEO of the American Association of People with
Disabilities, in a joint statement.
In an unprecedented show of cooperation, disability rights, civil
rights, and employer groups worked together to propose language that
eventually became part of the bill, which made it easier for both
chambers to vote on the bill quickly. The House passed its version of
the bill overwhelmingly (402-17) on June 25.
“After many months of negotiation, the legislation represents a sound
compromise between the Senate, the House, the business community, and
the disability community. We urge that it be enacted quickly and
signed into law,” said Randel K. Johnson, vice president of labor,
immigration, and employee benefits of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
President Bush is expected to sign the bill into law in the coming
weeks.
Source:
http://www.civilrights.org/library/features/024-senate-adaaa.html#startconte
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