ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017

Floor Speech

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Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Chair, when the Americans with Disabilities Act was first signed into law, President George H.W. Bush praised this bill for its assurance ``that people with disabilities [were] given the basic guarantees for which they have worked so long and so hard: independence, freedom of choice, control of their lives, and the opportunity to blend fully and equally into the rich mosaic of the American mainstream.'' His words were true when the ADA passed, and they are true today.

H.R. 620 would reverse decades of progress. It would pave the way for businesses to delay or completely avoid complying with the ADA, and shift the onus on people with disabilities to report noncompliance. If this bill were signed into law, it would effectively hold harmless places of public accommodation for willfully failing to comply with the ADA.

This legislation purports to curb ``drive-by'' lawsuits, which can be a legitimate problem, but these suits have arisen predominantly in states that provide for recovery of money damages in their state laws. The federal ADA does not provide for damages, only injunctive relief and attorney's fees.

This would be a step backwards. We have a responsibility to protect these safeguards and ensure that people with disabilities are provided accessible accommodations.

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