The email I just sent to my congressman regarding H.R. 620 (Tumblr x-post)

I called the local-to-me office, and was directed to Congressman McEachin’s government website, to send an email from there, so that my zip code (and thus my constituency status) could be confirmed.

This is what I wrote:

Dear Congressman Donald McEachin:

I am writing today to urge you to vote “No” on H.R. 620 (“ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017) when it comes up for a vote (Scheduled for Febuary [sic – oops] 15, 2018), filed under Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, 56.7 million, or 19% of Americans, are disabled and living outside of institutions (source: https://www.disabled-world.com/disability/statistics/cbfff.php), and thus, would be directly and adversely affected by this proposed legislation, not to mention the negative impact it would have on their family members.

The following is an excerpt from a summary of the bill, as written on Congress.gov:

"The bill prohibits civil actions based on the failure to remove an architectural barrier to access into an existing public accommodation unless: (1) the aggrieved person has provided to the owners or operators a written notice specific enough to identify the barrier, and (2) the owners or operators fail to provide the person with a written description outlining improvements that will be made to improve the barrier or they fail to remove the barrier or make substantial progress after providing such a description. The aggrieved person’s notice must specify: (1) the address of the property, (2) the specific ADA sections alleged to have been violated, (3) whether a request for assistance in removing an architectural barrier was made, and (4) whether the barrier was permanent or temporary. ”

The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed into law over 27 years ago, and even at the time, a grace period of 18 months was already written into the law in order to give businesses a chance to come into compliance.

The only legal protection that the Americans with Disabilities Act gives to citizens was the right to seek redress in court, if a business or employer denies them equal access to goods, services or jobs that are available to every other citizen. If The ADA Education and Reform Act were to become law, it would hobble these protections even further. In no other domain of public life is ignorance of the law a valid defense. And to ask the victims of discrimination to bear the sole responsibility for enforcement of the laws meant to protect them is a travesty.

Therefore, I urge you again to vote “no” on this bill. Thank you for your continued support of minorities in your district.

Sincerely,
[My name]