[Nfbf-l] Legislative action by June 22nd

[Denise]

H.R. 620, the ADA Education and Reform Act will be voted on in committee (referred to as markup) over the next week or two. If passed, this legislation will dramatically weaken the ADA, hindering education, employment, and community participation for all people with disabilities. The bill prevents people with disabilities from filing a lawsuit regarding an ADA violation until the person first notifies the violator. The violator then has 60 days to respond and then has another 120 days to remedy the problem, for a total delay of 180 days.

Does it make sense to wait 180 days for accessible instructional material? By then, the class will be over. How about waiting 180 days for an accessible job application? By then the job will be filled. How about waiting 180 days at the doctor’s office for an accessible check in kiosk? Furthermore, this legislation will do nothing to stop so called frivolous lawsuits which will still be valid under state law. Businesses do not need more time to comply with the ADA­they have had twenty-seven years already. 

Please call your representative and urge them to oppose H.R. 620, the ADA Education and Reform Act. The best way to contact your member of Congress is to call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for the office in question. Emailing your member of Congress is also a good idea. If you do so, please copy JPare at nfb.org.

 Also ask your representative if you have not already to cosponsor Accessible Instructional Material in Higher Education Act, H.R. 1772 (AIM HIGH), Access Technology Affordability Act of 2017, H.R. 1734 (ATAA), and Transitioning to Integrated and Meaningful Employment Act of 2017, H.R. 1377 (TIME).  Please also call your two senators and ask them to cosponsor S. 732.
 
We are hoping to significantly raise the number of cosponsors on all of our bills before convention but we cannot do it without everyone working together. Your calls and emails make a big difference. 
 
Thanks for all you do!

Sincerely, Denise Valkema by iPhone