WASHINGTON, Sept. 17, 2008
House Passes Expansion Of Disability Law
Bill Directs Courts Toward A More Generous Application Of ADA's Definition Of Disability
-
"The Supreme Court has slowly chipped away at the broad protections of the ADA and has created a new set of barriers for disabled Americans," said Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., pictured here in a file photo. (AP)
-
Interactive 110th Congress The balance of power shifts and new leadership takes control as the latest session convenes.
- Stories
- Disability Benefits Resources
It's a "terrible Catch-22," House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller, D-Calif., said Wednesday as the House passed, and sent to the White House, legislation aimed at assuring that the ADA lives up to its promise of protecting the disabled from discrimination.
The 1990 law is widely regarded as one of the major features of civil rights legislation in the 20th century because it ensured that the disabled have access to public buildings and accommodations, thus giving them better access to the workforce. But the Supreme Court has generally exempted from the law's anti-discrimination protections those with partial physical disabilities or impairments that can be treated with medication or devices such as hearing aids.
"The Supreme Court has slowly chipped away at the broad protections of the ADA and has created a new set of barriers for disabled Americans," said Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., a chief sponsor of the bill along with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md.
The bill directs the courts toward a more generous application of the ADA's definition of disability, making it clear that Congress intended the ADA's coverage to be broad and to cover anyone facing discrimination because of a disability.
"It will afford millions of individuals with access to the courts under the ADA and clarifies that anyone with a disability is protected from unfair discrimination," AARP senior vice president David P. Sloane said after the Senate passed the measure by voice vote last week.
The House passed the measure by voice vote as well. But Hoyer noted that it took months of difficult negotiations involving the business community and advocates for the disabled to find the right balance between the rights of the disabled and the obligations of employers.
© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
More From Politics
Add a Comment See all 15 Comments
- My wife has MS. She can''t work because her pain level is too high and she has temporary 20 min - 3 hour long blackouts. She''s tried disability but they don''t want to know - I gather MS is considered one of those "It''s all in your head" women''s problems. Any aid on this score is welcome. Kudos to Rep. Sensenbrenner for being on the right side of something for once.
- Reply to this comment
- House Passes Expansion Of Disability Law
to include the House of Representatives? - Reply to this comment
- What''s cool in America ? We have a system all set up, tried and tested, to keep people like this guy out positions of responsibility :
Posted by TheVicar1 at 04:55 PM : Sep 17, 2008 - Reply to this comment
- "Caring for geezers, crips, weetars, widows, and the downtrodden is a function of SOCIETY. Its what gets done by neighbors, communities, Churches, and Family.
I SHOULD NOT be forced upon us by Government! Its the job of the our Government to regulate International trade, and defend our borders, P-E-R-I-O-D!!!"
I saw a paper that read " Of the people, for the people , by the people" . Maybe it was the communist manifesto or something. It was a document about inalienable rights and stuff such as that. About a place where people work together to accomplish things for the good of everyone, kind of a "we''re all in this together" kind of thing. Must have been "Star Wars" or "Star Trek". Pretty sure it was related to government though. Pretty sure. - Reply to this comment
- How can people like TheVicar1 down people with disabilities like that. McCain is right, evil does exist, and its mostly in his Republican party. It takes an evil person to down the disabled. Hopefully god has a say over what happens to you people in hell.
- Reply to this comment
- dmw1167,
As a person who is permanently disabled I hate morons like you who claim everyone who is disabled is faking. Instead of being happy that you are not in the situation where you would be unable to work, you accuse others of not really being disabled. Sad pathetic excuses for human beings like yourself have a special place in hell waiting for you. - Reply to this comment
- you just cant understand how the ADA benefits EVERYONE in this country. By helping disabled people become productive workers, it SAVES this country money! Too bad the "pro business" crowd cant understand this very basic fact, because greedy people are blind to the big picture --------------------------------------------------- Posted by IDNNSG
Caring for geezers, crips, weetars, widows, and the downtrodden is a function of SOCIETY. Its what gets done by neighbors, communities, Churches, and Family.
I SHOULD NOT be forced upon us by Government! Its the job of the our Government to regulate International trade, and defend our borders, P-E-R-I-O-D!!!
Let the people take care themselves. All this REGULATION is sucking the life from an otherwise caring and compassionate society. - Reply to this comment
- TheVicar1 is an id.iot! Allowing disabled people access to federal buildings is only ONE effect of the ADA. The ADA is a wide-ranging civil rights law that prohibits, under certain circumstances, discrimination based on disability. It affords similar protections against discrimination to Americans with disabilities as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which made discrimination based on race, religion, ***, national origin, and other characteristics illegal.
As an idi.ot repug, Rushed Limpberger/ Bill O''Liely listener, I''m sure you just can''t understand how the ADA benefits EVERYONE in this country. By helping disabled people become productive workers, it SAVES this country money! Too bad the "pro business" crowd can''t understand this very basic fact, because greedy people are blind to the big picture. (They can''t see the forest for the trees.)
Unfettered greed is exactly what has caused the financial implosion we are now witnessing. - Reply to this comment
- Does this mean that me and my service dog no longer have to take the S*H*I*T from lowbrow morons we''ve taken for the past 20 years that can''t distinguish a working service dog from a family pet, even with the harness & tag in place?
- Reply to this comment
- The employers will raise their prices PLUS forgo any raises because just about every employer in america wants to get rich and on our dime just take a look at the CEOS on all the bail outs MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS they STILL will get AND their companies have gone under and I have to pinch every penny I get and hope I can still eat tomorrow..WOW!! Who''s really minding the store
- Reply to this comment
- Good for Congress. TheVicar1 may find he is eligible if they include stupidity as he obviously did not even read the article but jumped to blame. If he did he would have noticed: Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., a chief sponsor of the bill along with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md.
So it is a bi-partisan issue with bi-partisan support ... you Repub Limbaugh idiots need to find a new tune your lack of compassion is amazing. - Reply to this comment
- This is to TheVicart..I am disabled/job related injury working in the emergency room..FREE GOODIES let me tell you..i can NO LONGER do anything i used to..I have had two major surgeries, i cannot turn my head left to right(i wear a special collar) i cannot stand for long periods of time, or lift my arms without pain!! My employer has dropped all my medical and dental which I had FOR 31 YEARS..A VICTIM you bet I am and I was doing my job a job I loved so be careful what to say ..I''m the real deal...BUT because of the abusers of the system I have to WAIT 5 years consecutively before I can get a cost of living increase to help my weekly workmans comp..I DON''T get goodies..plus my house was foreclosed upon 5 months ago AND my phone was shut off yesterday!!! I''m waiting for Mccain and cindy to send some $$$(from their $300 million worth or one of their 7 houses) or even better maybe Palin can release some of that PIG$$ since the bridge isn''t going to be built!! I''m just one person imagine all the others who are much worse who''s helping them!!!GET IT RIGHT AMERICA..BUSH/CHENY SOLD US OUT...MCCAIN/PALIN WILL SELL US OUT AND FINISH THE JOB THAT BUSH/CHENY STARTED..SCARY YOU BET THIS IS REAL!!!!
- Reply to this comment
- About 3 yrs too late for me.
Oh well, like somebody said,,the feds know all too well how to fvck us over. - Reply to this comment
- I''m sure employers will love this and react by raising prices to cover their costs. Probably also forgo raises for employees because of the costs to comply. Isn''t government great, remember, it knows what''s best for you!!!
- Reply to this comment
- How is it that someone with diabetes or a hearing aid cant get into a Government Building or use the toilet?
Does this Democrat Congress have to label EVERYONE as VICTIM, and give out free goodies to one and all? - Reply to this comment
How gold pays for 
