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Senate Passes ADA Amendments Act
By advocacy | September 14, 2008
In a display of bipartisan support and by a unanimous voice vote on September 11, 2008, the U.S. Senate passed the “ADA Amendments Act of 2008” (S. 3406) (formerly called the “ADA Restoration Act”). The House of Representatives passed a similar bill (H.R. 3195) by an overwhelming vote of 402 to 17 on June 25, 2008.
The NAD has worked with other advocacy and disability groups to move these bills forward and passed quickly.
The Senate and the House bills are a little different, but each has the same goal – to strengthen protection from discrimination based on disability. Since the ADA was passed in 1990, the U.S. Supreme Court has limited the definition of “disability” and who is covered by the ADA. The “ADA Amendments Act” will help ensure that individuals with disabilities – including people with diabetes, epilepsy, and cancer – qualify for protection under the ADA and obtain reasonable accommodations. The “ADA Amendments Act of 2008” says the determination of whether an individual has a disability is to be made “without regard to mitigating measures” that an individual may use, such as medication, prosthetics, or devices such as hearing aids or cochlear implants.
Because the Senate and House bills are a little different, the Senate bill must first return to the House. If the House accepts the Senate version of the bill, the “ADA Amendments Act” will be sent to the White House.
President Bush is expected to sign the “ADA Amendments Act” into law in the coming weeks. His father, President George H.W. Bush, signed the ADA into law in 1990.
Topics: General |
September 14th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
Where is the link or e-attachment of this recently-passed U.S. Senate S 3042 legislation with description/detail for amendment to the existing ADA law?
I am sure that many people would like to read this legislation for our own eyes.
Will President GW Bush sign this legislation or what?
Robert L. Mason (RLM)
September 14th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Oops! I meant “S 3406″.
RLM
September 14th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
To read the text of the bills that passed the House and Senate, go to http://www.congress.gov and type S.3406 or H.R.3195 in the search box and click/select to search for “Bill Number” (not a search for “Word/Phrase”).
With overwhelming veto-proof support in the House and Senate, when the bill gets to the White House, President Bush is expected to sign it.
September 15th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
NAD Advocacy,
Many thanks for enclosing the link to the Thomas.gov for other people to check out the full text of this recently-passed legislation. I truly appreciate it very much.
I did check out the Library of Congress’s Thomas link last Friday, but couldn’t locate this specific bill/legislation.
After reading the text of legislation, I am much satisfied what the amendment to the ADA law to correct some flaws written in the original law.
Thanks again, NAD Advocacy.
RLM
September 26th, 2008 at 11:42 am
This was really needed because of the damage that has been done to the original legislation. As ADA issues continue to develop, these definitions are at the core to future positive actions.
We hope that this will turn back the ‘legal’ tide that has seen to limit access to government services and actions under the ADA. As we move ahead with Park and Trail (Recreation) issues that have never been on the table befor - this Amendment will help us to move forward towards moving the ADA from the inside to the outside.
Dwight Morrison, Wheels On Trails Co-chair
424 W. Superior St., Suite 201
Duluth, Mn 55802