Contact: Barbara Riley
Friday, September 12, 2008

WASHINGTON, DC – United States Senator John Sununu (R-NH) today (9/12) issued the following statement outlining his support for the ADA Amendments Act – bipartisan legislation that aims to clarify the intention of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and protect all Americans with disabilities from discrimination. The legislation passed the Senate on Thursday, Sept. 11.

“Unfortunately, since the Americans with Disabilities Act became law, a series of court decisions have narrowed its definition, depriving the disabled of the certain protections,” said Sununu, who is a co-sponsor of the ADA Amendments Act. “I proudly support this bipartisan bill because it aims to restore the original intent of the landmark civil rights bill.”

The measure, which was introduced by Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) on July 31, 2008, is strongly supported by advocacy groups, including most national disability organizations, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the Society for Human Resource Management, and the Human Resources Policy Association.
     
The ADA was designed to protect any individual who is discriminated against on the basis of disability. The law was passed with overwhelming bipartisan support and was signed into law in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush.

Since the ADA became law, a series of court decisions have narrowed the category of who qualifies as an “individual with a disability,” contrary to Congressional intent.  The ADA Amendments Act would remedy this and restore workplace protections to every American with a disability.  The bill leaves the ADA’s familiar disability definition intact, but takes several specific steps to direct courts to a proper meaning and application of the definition. The legislation would make it easier for people with disabilities to be covered by the ADA because it effectively expands the definition of disability to include many more major life activities, as well as a new category of major bodily functions.

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