|
Dear Advocates, On Tuesday, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world's largest business federation, in a letter addressed to the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, went on record as opposing the ADA Restoration Act of 2007 (H.R. 3195) and urging Members not to co- sponsor or show support of the bill. The Chamber's letter mischaracterizes the ADA Restoration Act as an expansion of the ADA, when in fact, it is, as its name suggests, a restoration of the original intent of Congress when passing the ADA in 1990, which was to create a level playing field for everyone who wants a job to have an equal opportunity to work. Just like other civil rights laws prohibit employers from basing decisions on characteristics like race or sex, Congress wanted the ADA to stop employers from making decisions based on disability. However, that original, bipartisan, bicameral intent has since been distorted by the Courts through extremely narrow interpretations of the ADA. The employment rate of people with disabilities has not improved and two-thirds of people with disabilities who do not have a job indicate they would work if they could only find employment. What's more, for those fortunate enough to find jobs, Courts are deciding against people with disabilities who challenge disability discrimination 97% of the time, often before the person with a disability even has a chance to show that the employer treated them unfairly! The Chamber argues that they "strongly support equal opportunity in employment" yet they adamantly oppose H.R. 3195 which seeks to make equal opportunities for people with disabilities possible! TAKE ACTION!! React directly to the Chamber regarding their opposition to ADA Restoration by writing or calling the Chamber of Commerce at: U.S. Chamber of Commerce Send your complaints to the regional Chamber offices, too. Determine contact information for the regional office nearest you. Read the letter the Chamber of Commerce sent to the U.S. House of Representatives.
|
