ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017

Floor Speech

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Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 620, which would violate the 28-year-old Americans with Disabilities Act by allowing public places to bar access to people with disabilities. H.R. 620 would actually allow barriers for the disabled to stay in place as long as ``substantial progress'' is made to remove them, whatever that means.

The ADA was a compromise, giving the disability community access and helping businesses to comply by giving them tax credits and training. H.R. 620 undoes that compromise, making it virtually impossible to enforce the ADA's goal of fairness and inclusion; and that is why the AARP, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, the National Council on Independent Living, and the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities oppose this bill.

It is why the National Organization of Nurses with Disabilities ``believes that H.R. 620 represents a downward spiral of the Americans With Disabilities Act and will impact people with disabilities' freedom of access . . . across the United States.''

And it is why 55 Illinois--where I am from--disability groups, led by Access Living, whose president, Marca Bristo, my personal hero, helped enact the Americans with Disabilities Act, she says and they say: ``H.R. 620 . . . would fundamentally harm our Nation's progress toward an accessible and integrated society. The bill telegraphs to individuals with disabilities that . . . their inclusion is not important.''

Let's show people with disabilities that they do matter, that they shouldn't be locked out of restaurants or sporting events or job opportunities, that they should not be treated as second-class citizens in the American civil justice system. Show your commitment to the ADA and to civil rights, and vote ``no.''

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