[Nfbv-announce] Fwd: Call to Action: Opposition to H.R. 620, the ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017

[Chris Walker]

As you know, we ask members from time to time to contact their
representatives in Congress in support of legislation that would benefit
the blind community. But today President Riccobono is calling upon all
Federationists to contact their representatives in opposition to H.R. 620.
The phone number for the Capitol switchboard is (202) 224-3121. From there,
simply ask to be connected with your representative. In addition, please
call the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Robert Goodlatte, at (202)
225-5431.



Please note that congressman   Goodlatte is from Virginia and some of you
are constituents in his district. If you are a constituent, please mention
this vital detail.



If you don’t know your member of the House of Representatives, go to
www.house.gov where it is easy to look it up.



Here are some brief talking points to share with the offices of your
representative and Chairman Goodlatte:

(1) the ADA was enacted in 1990, so covered entities have had ample time to
learn about and comply with the law;

(2) the ADA already contains an “undue burden” provision to protect covered
entities when the costs of making facilities accessible are too high; and

(3) Title III of the ADA (which applies to public accommodations) does not
allow monetary damages for noncompliance.



The National Federation of the Blind has joined with 216 other allied civil
rights organizations in opposing this bill. You can read our joint letter
at https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/pdf/sign-on-letters/
comments_on_hr620_03162017.pdf. If you want to know how this bill would
affect us, consider internet access guaranteed under the ADA and our
comments filed with DOJ last October
<https://nfb.org/ada-title-ii-internet-regulations-joint-sanprm-comments>
as just one example.


Tracy Soforenko

President, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia

202 285-4595 <(202)%20285-4595>

Tracy.soforenko at gmail.com