February 16, 2018

Duckworth, Senators: We Must Defend Disability Civil Rights

 

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 620, which would gut critical Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protections that help millions of people with disabilities live independent lives. In response, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) released the following statement:

“The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990 as the civil rights law protecting people with disabilities against discrimination and ensuring access to all parts of our society. Yesterday the House of Representatives voted to pass H.R. 620, the horribly mis-named ‘ADA Education and Reform Act.’ If enacted, the bill will eliminate the incentives for businesses and organizations to make their services accessible and force people with disabilities to wait 180 day or longer to gain access to services and supports.

“Advocates worked tirelessly to oppose the bill in the House and to protect the rights of people with disabilities. As a group of Senators who value the rights of people with disabilities and recognize that disability rights are civil rights, we will work with advocates to uphold the rights of people with disabilities and oppose any legislation that threatens those rights.”

Duckworth has been a vocal critic of the legislation. She went to the House floor yesterday to urge her House colleagues to vote against the bill and penned an op-ed in The Washington Post about how this legislation would make Americans with disabilities second-class citizens again.