Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-08), Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, today lauded the House’s highly anticipated bipartisan passage of S. 3406, the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008. The House passed its own version, H.R. 3195, in June on a vote of 402 to 17. This similar Senate version of the bill passed the House today. This important legislation will strengthen and clarify the existing Americans with Disabilities Act and prevent those with disabilities from falling into unforeseen legal loopholes. The President is expected to sign the bill into law sometime this month.

“This legislation is an unequivocal civil rights victory for the disabled and for veterans,” Rep. Nadler stated. “Our nation cannot afford to withhold the necessary protections of the disabled and of veterans, and we cannot afford to squander the talents and contributions of people based on antiquated misconceptions about disabilities. It is outrageous that discrimination against disabled individuals – against wounded veterans returning from tours of duty, no less – exists in our county. This legislation is a critical step toward minimizing that discrimination. Passage of this bill was crucial, and long overdue.”

At a rally today in support of the legislation, Rep. Nadler made the following remarks:

“I want to thank House Majority Leader Hoyer and Rep. Sensenbrenner for their very effective leadership on this issue. With their support, the House passed its ADA Amendments Act of 2008 in June with an overwhelming majority, with a vote of 402-17, and sent an unambiguous message about our commitment to this issue and the need for urgent action.

“Under the leadership of Senators Harkin and Hatch, the Senate has responded to our call, passing a nearly identical bill. With House passage of that bill – S. 3406 – today, we have restored the ADA to its rightful place among this nation’s great civil rights laws. Passage of this bill was crucial, and long overdue.

“For too many years, individuals whom Congress intended to protect from disability discrimination have been denied protection because of the Supreme Court’s cramped interpretation of this landmark civil rights law. This legislation demands that the courts interpret the ADA’s definition of “disability” more broadly and honor the original spirit of the law. The legislation will also correct the Supreme Court decisions that have created a spate of absurd Catch-22s. For example, under the Court’s rulings, an individual who works hard to lessen the adverse impact of an impairment can be fired from a job on the basis of that impairment and yet not be considered sufficiently disabled to merit protection by the ADA. Congress never intended such an illogical result, and this legislation will fix that problem.

“This bill is also necessary – now more than ever – in order to ensure coverage for our veterans. Thousands of our brave men and women in uniform are returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan with serious injuries, including the loss of limbs, head trauma, and a variety of other life-altering wounds. These veterans have faced serious risk and sacrificed much in service to their country and can now return home knowing that they will be protected from discrimination.

“In this great country, independence and equality should never be denied to those with disabilities. I am proud that, in a time where bipartisan agreement is difficult to achieve, we have all come together to help fulfill the ADA’s essential promise."