Swordsmyth
02-15-2018, 07:59 PM
The House on Thursday passed legislation that would amend the Americans With Disabilities Act over objections from disability rights advocates and Democratic leaders, who warned that the bill would remove incentives for businesses to comply with the law.
The ADA Education and Reform Act passed on a 225-192 vote, with 12 Democrats (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/politics-government/democratic-party-ORGOV0000005-topic.html) joining all but 19 Republicans (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/politics-government/republican-party-ORGOV0000004-topic.html) to approve a bill that proponents say is aimed at curbing unscrupulous lawyers who seek profit by threatening businesses with litigation without actually seeking to improve access for the disabled.
Under the bill, those wishing to sue businesses in federal court over an ADA public-accommodations violation must first deliver a written notice to that business detailing the illegal barrier to access and then give that business 60 days to come up with a plan to address the complaints and an additional 60 days to take action.
The legislation garnered some bipartisan support, including from one of the most liberal members of the House.
Rep. Jackie Speier (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/politics-government/government/jackie-speier-PEPLT006244-topic.html), D-Calif., a lead co-sponsor of the bill, said in an interview that she has "witnessed too many rip-off artists in California that are in it for just making a buck."
"I want public places to be accessible to persons with disabilities," she said. "I want them fixed, and I'm not interested in making a few attorneys rich, and I'm not interested in gotcha stuff. I just want them to be accessible."
One notable Republican opposed the bill: Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/politics-government/government/cathy-mcmorris-rodgers-PEPLT004402-topic.html), R-Wash., the chairwoman of the House Republican Conference and the mother of a son with Down syndrome.
"The ADA was enacted more than 25 years ago to protect the disability community, and as part of that community, I could not in good conscience vote for this bill," she said in a statement.
The bill's prospects in the Senate are uncertain. No similar bill has emerged from a Senate committee, and top Democrats - including Sens. Patty Murray (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/politics-government/government/patty-murray-PEPLT004750-topic.html), Wash., and Tammy Duckworth, Ill. - are strongly opposed.
More at: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/ct-congress-ada-changes-20180215-story.html
The ADA Education and Reform Act passed on a 225-192 vote, with 12 Democrats (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/politics-government/democratic-party-ORGOV0000005-topic.html) joining all but 19 Republicans (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/politics-government/republican-party-ORGOV0000004-topic.html) to approve a bill that proponents say is aimed at curbing unscrupulous lawyers who seek profit by threatening businesses with litigation without actually seeking to improve access for the disabled.
Under the bill, those wishing to sue businesses in federal court over an ADA public-accommodations violation must first deliver a written notice to that business detailing the illegal barrier to access and then give that business 60 days to come up with a plan to address the complaints and an additional 60 days to take action.
The legislation garnered some bipartisan support, including from one of the most liberal members of the House.
Rep. Jackie Speier (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/politics-government/government/jackie-speier-PEPLT006244-topic.html), D-Calif., a lead co-sponsor of the bill, said in an interview that she has "witnessed too many rip-off artists in California that are in it for just making a buck."
"I want public places to be accessible to persons with disabilities," she said. "I want them fixed, and I'm not interested in making a few attorneys rich, and I'm not interested in gotcha stuff. I just want them to be accessible."
One notable Republican opposed the bill: Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/politics-government/government/cathy-mcmorris-rodgers-PEPLT004402-topic.html), R-Wash., the chairwoman of the House Republican Conference and the mother of a son with Down syndrome.
"The ADA was enacted more than 25 years ago to protect the disability community, and as part of that community, I could not in good conscience vote for this bill," she said in a statement.
The bill's prospects in the Senate are uncertain. No similar bill has emerged from a Senate committee, and top Democrats - including Sens. Patty Murray (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/politics-government/government/patty-murray-PEPLT004750-topic.html), Wash., and Tammy Duckworth, Ill. - are strongly opposed.
More at: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/ct-congress-ada-changes-20180215-story.html