Sensenbrenner Statement at ADA Restoration Act Press Conference

Statement

Sensenbrenner Statement at ADA Restoration Act Press Conference

"Good morning everyone, it is good to see you all here. I am honored to be here today with Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Senator Tom Harkin to introduce bipartisan legislation: the ADA Restoration Act of 2007. I would like to thank former Congressman Tony Coehlo, the original sponsor of the American with Disabilities Act in 1990, along with disability advocates from around the nation. And last but certainly not least, I would like to thank my wife Cheryl for being here today. Many of you know Cheryl; she is a tireless advocate for the disabled and a board member of the American Association of People with Disabilities. I know the daily pain she lives with, but just like many of you, she does not let those challenges slow her down. Her disability does not define her, but in fact, it inspires her and all those close to her. I am honored to stand here with Cheryl today and fight to restore the protections secured under the ADA.

Prior to the Americans with Disabilities Act, disabled Americans were subjected to false stereotypes and experienced a second-class citizenship. But in 1990, Congress passed the ADA to break down the physical and societal barriers that for too long kept disabled Americans from fully participating in the American Dream. Like the landmark civil rights laws that came before it, the ADA has worked to transform our nation. Fewer citizens are judged by their physical and mental impairments, and are now evaluated according to their character and qualifications. Americans with disabilities have experienced increased opportunities, higher graduation rates, higher employment rates, and lower rates of poverty.

However, the full promise has not been fulfilled. The Supreme Court has slowly chipped away at the protections of the ADA, leaving millions of citizens vulnerable to discriminatory treatment. The court's interpretation created a vicious circle for Americans with disabilities. It created a broad range of people who benefit from "mitigating measures," such as improvements in medicine, who still experience discrimination from employers, yet have been labeled "not disabled enough," to gain the protections of the ADA. This is unacceptable.

Today, we want to place the ADA rightfully back among our Nation's great civil rights laws. The ADA Restoration Act will force courts to focus on whether a person has experienced discrimination "on the basis of disability," rather than require individuals to demonstrate that they fall within the scope of the law's protection at all. This change harmonizes the ADA with other civil rights laws. The legislation will finally enable Americans with disabilities to shine a light on the discrimination they have experienced.

The effectiveness of the ADA is paramount to ensuring that the guarantees and promises on which this country was founded, continue to be protected for all its citizens. When I look around and see your courage and strength, I am encouraged. The dedication displayed here today by my wife and others, assures me that the elimination of discrimination on the basis of disability, first mandated by the ADA 17 years ago, will be properly restored."

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