[il-talk] FW: Press Release: Duckworth, Casey, Hassan, Klobuchar Introduce Legislation to Strengthen the ADA & Help Small Businesses Become Accessible

Tue Sep 25 02:36:11 UTC 2018

Ray Campbell

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From: DBTAC - Great Lakes ADA Information <GREATLAKES at LISTSERV.UIC.EDU> On
Behalf Of Jones, Robin Ann
Sent: Monday, September 24, 2018 10:22 AM
To: GREATLAKES at LISTSERV.UIC.EDU
Subject: Press Release: Duckworth, Casey, Hassan, Klobuchar Introduce
Legislation to Strengthen the ADA & Help Small Businesses Become Accessible

The following press release is forwarded to you by the Great Lakes ADA
Center (www.adagreatlakes.org <http://www.adagreatlakes.org> ) for your
information:

September 18, 2018

Duckworth, Casey, Hassan, Klobuchar Introduce Legislation to Strengthen the
ADA & Help Small Businesses Become Accessible

Bill would make it easier for small businesses to comply with landmark civil
rights legislation

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced
legislation today with the Ranking Member of the Senate Aging Committee Bob
Casey (D-PA), U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and U.S. Senator Amy
Klobuchar (D-MN) to make it easier for small businesses to become accessible
for people with disabilities and help those businesses comply with the
landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Disabled Access Credit
Expansion Act bolsters the existing Disabled Access Credit (DAC), which
helps businesses pay for renovations by doubling the maximum tax credit and
allowing more small businesses to receive it. The legislation also invests
in programs that mediate ADA-related disputes to avoid additional litigation
and help individuals and businesses understand the ADA.

"I'm proud to work with Senators Casey, Hassan and Klobuchar on this
important legislation to strengthen the ADA and give Americans with
disabilities increased opportunity to fully participate in our society,"
Duckworth said. "This bill will help more businesses across the country
comply with a nearly 30-year-old law that protects the rights of people with
disabilities. It is a common-sense alternative to misguided efforts like the
ADA Education and Reform Act, which would roll back hard-earned protections
for people with disabilities by rewarding businesses who refuse to comply
with the ADA instead of encouraging them to become accessible."

"This bill is a win-win for Pennsylvania and the nation," Casey said. "It
supports small businesses and increases access for people with
disabilities."

"It is imperative that Americans who experience disabilities are fully
included and have the support they need to thrive at home, in school, at
work, and in all aspects of their lives," Hassan said. "I am proud to
co-sponsor this measure with Senators Duckworth, Klobuchar, and Casey that
will expand the tax credit that helps ensure that small businesses can
accommodate and include those who experience disabilities, as well as to
provide funding to better support the needs of individuals and businesses
who seek accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act. I will
continue working across party lines to build on our nation's promise of
equality and inclusion to ensure that all Americans and Granite Staters,
regardless of personal circumstance, have the opportunity to join in our
shared success."

"This bill will help people with disabilities access our small businesses,"
Klobuchar said. "This legislation will help ensure that any and all
customers can access their favorite local store."

The Disabled Access Credit Expansion Act would:

*	Expand the Disabled Access Credit (DAC): Increase eligible expenses
businesses can write off in order to make their facilities ADA-compliant to
$20,500, double the maximum credit from $5,000 to $10,125, and expand the
definition of small businesses to companies with gross receipts of $2.5
million or less from $1 million or less.

*	Increase Funding for the ADA Mediation Program: Make the Department
of Justice's (DOJ) ADA Mediation Program eligible to receive funding to
train contracted mediators and increase personnel to help individuals with
disabilities and businesses reach a resolution without increased litigation.
The legislation would appropriate $1 million for the 2019 fiscal year to
support these efforts.

*	Collect ADA Information Line Data: Require DOJ to provide a report
to Congress on the specific types of calls the ADA Information Line receives
in order to improve the ways individuals with disabilities and businesses
learn about their rights and how facilities can become ADA-compliant.

Duckworth has led efforts to protect the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) and block the misleadingly-named ADA Education and Reform Act, a
Republican-led bill that would reward businesses for failing to make their
facilities accessible to people with disabilities. In March, Duckworth
secured the opposition of 42 of her Senate colleagues
<https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-and-senate-d
emocrats-vow-to-defeat-house-gop-led-effort-to-curtail-civil-rights-of-ameri
cans-with-disabilities> , enough to block the bill from being passed in U.S.
Senate. The legislation would have gutted the ADA by eliminating incentives
for businesses of any size, including the largest corporate hotel,
restaurant and movie theater chains, to ensure their facilities are in
compliance with the ADA.

In July, Duckworth spoke about her efforts
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjzNmUK-pIY>  to stop the passage of the
ADA Education and Reform Act and expand disability rights at the Beyond the
ADA: Introducing Disability Justice Initiative event hosted by the Center
for American Progress (CAP). She is also a co-sponsor of U.S. Senator Chuck
Schumer's (D-NY) Disability Integration Act, which would help ensure
Americans with disabilities are given the option to live independent lives
and access care in their communities rather than being forced into
institutional care.

The Disabled Access Credit Expansion Act has been endorsed by Access Living,
Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), Jewish Federations of North America,
National Council of Independent Living (NCIL), Disability Rights Education
and Defense Fund (DREDF), American Association of People with Disabilities
(AAPD), Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), American
Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR), Illinois Association of
Rehabilitation Facilities (IARF), National Associations of Councils on
Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), Autism Society, Bazelon Center for
Mental Health Law, the Ability Center of Greater Toledo and United Spinal
Association.

Source:
https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-casey-hassan-
klobuchar-introduce-legislation-to-strengthen-the-ada-and-help-small-busines
ses-become-accessible  (Long URL and may appear on more than one line in
this email.  Cut and paste the entire link into your browser)