People with disabilities scored big when the House of Representatives agreed with United Spinal Association’s members and staff who rallied to get the ADA Restoration Act passed.

United Spinal organized its members and 23 national veterans groups to implore Congress to remedy ADA problems created by US Supreme Court interpretations of the law. The Court created a perfect defense for employers – “We’re not hiring you because of your disability but you’re not disabled enough to sue us using the ADA.”

The House, led by Congressman Steny Hoyer, (D) Maryland, voted 402 to 17 to overturn devastating Court decisions limiting who was protected by the ADA. Hoyer was the prime sponsor of the ADA in the House eighteen years ago.

James Weisman, United Spinal’s General Counsel, and a drafter of the ADA, leads United Spinal’s advocacy efforts. Weisman said “as we celebrate our House victory, we look forward to a win in the Senate next month to coincide with the 18th anniversary of the ADA – July 26th.

” It will be tougher in the Senate but since the Restoration Act language was a product of negotiation between business lobbyist groups such as the US Chamber of Commerce and the Society for Human Resource Management and disability groups including United Spinal, opposition from the organized business community will be minimized.

Nevertheless, there will be opposition and we need your help. Check out our advocacy page at http://www.unitedspinal.org/advocacy/employment-discrimination/ to see how you can get involved.