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When the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is under attack, so are the civil rights of wheelchair users and people with disabilities across the country.
It’s time we speak out and let our Representatives know that we won’t tolerate it!
As early as Tuesday, May 8, Representatives will be considering the passage of legislation that would prohibit the Department of Justice from enforcing a new requirement under the ADA for public and commercial facilities to provide a permanent means of access to pools and spas for people with disabilities.
This provision–under The Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) appropriations bill–was added by Representative John Carter (R-TX), member of the House Committee on Appropriations, on April 26.
Please oppose other legislation that would also weaken these ADA rules: H.R. 4200–“To amend the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990” and H.R. 4256–the Pool Safety and Accessibility for Everyone (Pool SAFE) Act.
How You Can Help
Contact your Representatives in their Home Districts. Tell them to protect the ADA and your civil rights.
Current regulations under the ADA require existing facilities to satisfy accessibility standards that are easily accomplished and able to be carried out without much difficulty or expense. If it is too expensive and not considered easy to install a fixed pool lift in an existing pool, then a portable lift may be all a facility would be required to provide.
These regulations were slated to go into effect 22 years after the ADA was passed. No more delays, no more weakening of the ADA. It is not acceptable for Congress to backtrack on ADA requirements. Today it’s the hotel industry. What changes impacting your civil rights will come next? Let’s join together and stop this now.
