Press Releases
Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami
202-226-7616
09/17/2008
Pelosi: ADA Reaffirms Our Commitment to Eliminate Discrimination Against Individuals with Disabilities
Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on the bipartisan Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Amendments Act, S. 3406, which passed unanimously and now proceeds to President Bush for his signature into law:
“Today, our nation reaffirmed its commitment to eliminate discrimination against individuals with disabilities. The ADA is deeply and firmly rooted in a fundamental ideal: that we are all created equal. However, the ADA’s promise remains unfulfilled because of court rulings that have wrongly ignored the intent of Congress, which 18 years ago intended for the ADA’s protections to be interpreted broadly to protect anyone who faces discrimination on the basis of a disability.
“In reasserting the law’s intent and its broad protections, Congress today is bringing our nation closer to the ideals of equality and opportunity that are both our heritage and our hope.
“I commend Majority Leader Hoyer, who has championed the ADA since its inception, and Congressman Sensenbrenner, as well as Senator Harkin and Senator Hatch, for their bipartisan leadership. I urge the President to sign this vital legislation.”