 American Association of People with Disabilities
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 25, 2008 |
Contact: Andrew J. Imparato 202-457-0046 ext. 29 |
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House Leaders, Disability Community, Business Community to
Hold ADA Amendments Act of 2008 Press ConferenceJune 25 at 2:00 - Capitol Hill
WASHINGTON, DC — The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the largest cross-disability membership organization in the U.S., commends the Leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives for their support of the civil rights of people with disabilities. Today will be a significant day in the history of the disability rights movement, with passage of the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (H.R. 3195) expected this afternoon in the House.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), passed with overwhelming bipartisan support and signed into law by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990, has been viewed as an emancipation proclamation for people with disabilities in this country. However, in the almost eighteen years since its passage, decisions made by the Supreme Court have so narrowed the definition of disability under the ADA as to effectively shut out scores of people with a variety of disability from the civil rights protections in the workplace.
The ADA Amendments Act of 2008, which has very broad bipartisan support, will ensure that Congress’s original intent in passing the ADA is restored, and that the civil rights protections of those who have been left out because of our court decisions are re-established.
"People with disabilities want to work and want to be treated fairly in the workplace. We are delighted see the House vote in overwhelming bipartisan numbers to pass a bill today that will work well for disabled people and for their employers," said Andrew Imparato, AAPD President and CEO.
This afternoon, almost eighteen years since the passage of the ADA, Congress will again vote to protect the civil rights of Americans living with disabilities in this country through the bipartisan-supported ADA Amendments Act of 2008.
Prior to the vote, a press conference on the ADA Amendments Act will be held at 2:00 p.m. on the Cannnon Terrace, corner of the Cannon Office Building, New Jersey and Independence Avenue. It is an accessible location and sign language interpreters will be on-site.
Press conference speakers will include: Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), who introduced the original legislation; Representative Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI); Jay Timmons, Executive Vice President, National Association of Manufacturers; Elizabeth Goldberg, Chair, Epilepsy Foundation Youth Council; Representative Jim Langevin (D-RI), Representative Jerry Nadler (D-NY); Education & Labor Committee Ranking Member Buck McKeon (R-CA); and Education & Labor Committee Chairman George Miller (D-CA). AAPD President and CEO Andrew Imparato will be in attendance and available to answer questions as well.
In addition to commending the U.S. House of Representatives for support of the passage of H.R. 3195, AAPD would also like to commend Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Republican Leader John Boehner for leading by example by recently announcing plans to remove access barriers in the House Chamber to ensure that all Members can participate equally.
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The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the country's largest cross-disability membership organization, organizes the disability community to be a powerful voice for change – economically, politically, and socially. AAPD was founded in 1995 to help unite the diverse community of people with disabilities, including their family, friends and supporters, and to be a national voice for change in implementing the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). To learn more, visit the AAPD website: www.aapd.com.