National Call-In Day for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The below is courtesy of The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA).

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Join in National Call-In Day!

Today marks the 17th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

This law was designed to protect the rights of people with disabilities, specifically in the workplace. Unfortunately, over the last 17 years, the courts have narrowed the definition of "disability;" today, people with asthma and allergies who manage their symptoms are considered "too functional" to claim asthma and allergies as a disability.

The good news is that the ADA Amendments Act (H.R. 3195) restores the comprehensive protections of this law. As such, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) asks that you join employers and patients by supporting this important legislation today, before a likely vote in the U.S. House of Representatives TODAY.

We urge you to take a moment and call your Congressman today via the Capitol switchboard, (202) 224-3121, and ask him or her to support the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Amendments Act (H.R. 3195). Please ask him or her to pass H.R. 3195 without additional amendments and provide workers the right to be free from workplace discrimination based on disability. You can find your local House member by visiting www.congress.org.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA)
is at the forefront of this movement to pass the ADA Amendments Act. Our motivation is simple: we want the 60 million people who live with asthma and allergies to live a life without limits - in the work environment and outside of it - with no exceptions.

Join AAFA in support of H.R. 3195 by calling your representative in Congress, urging him or her to support the ADA Amendments Act, or H.R. 3195.


UPDATE from AAFA.org

Capitol Hill Progress

Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act

On Wednesday, June 25, the House overwhelmingly passed the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act (ADA AA) or HR 3195. The ADA AA restores the original intent of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA has as its fundamental goal including people with disabilities in all aspects of society, including employment for people who are willing and able to work despite their disabilities. Unfortunately, court decisions over the last decade have excluded individuals who should have been covered under the current ADA law. These narrow court interpretations have restricted ADA coverage for people with asthma, allergies, diabetes, epilepsy, serious heart conditions, mental disabilities and even cancer.

The ADA AA clarifies Congressional intent to allow the ADA's coverage to be broad, and to cover anyone who faces unfair discrimination because of a disability. The ADA AA also seeks to clarify the definition of a disability so that the law protects people from discrimination because they are "too functional" (mitigated by medicine) or "too disabled" because they require reasonable accommodations.

Leaders of business, patient, disability and civil rights groups, including AAFA's President, Bill McLin, attended a press briefing on the day of the House vote featuring House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), House Republican Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO) and other Congressional leaders. Hoyer said, "Everyone in attendance has abilities, not disabilities." The success of this coalition is noteworthy because it reached across typical lines (like business and labor) to create a piece of legislation that passed overwhelmingly.

Now that the ADA AA has passed in the House, the bill moves to the Senate. We at AAFA will continue support this legislation on behalf of the 60 million people in the Asthma and Allergy Community. We urge you to call or write to your United States Senators. Ask him/her to support the ADA Amendments Act, or S. 1881. You can access their numbers and address by going to www.Congress.org. AAFA believes that everyone has the right to live a life without limits. For more information, please go to www.AAFA.org, or join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com under Causes: The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

Comments

Charlotte said…
The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 passed the US House of Representatives on June 25 by an overwhelming vote of 402 yeas to 17 nays! Now, the action moves to the US Senate. The challenge is to get them to vote on the bill before the Senate adjourns for the year (possibly as early as September).



You can help. Your Senators are taking a recess Friday, June 28 to July 6. During this recess, the Senators make appearances in their states to meet constituents. This week is critical because we expect that Congress will spend August at political conventions. Find your Senator in your state next week. Tell your Senator that Senate Bill 1881 is important to you. Ask him or her to make sure that this bill moves to the Senate floor for a vote. If you can’t tell them in person, let them know by email.
Allergic Girl® said…
thanks charlotte. i emailed senator schumer here in ny state...

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