In This Issue
ADA ACTION ALERT!
ACTION ALERT!
We need your help!
On March 16, Representative David Schweikert (R-AZ) introduced H.R. 4200, "To Amend the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990." On March 26, Representative Mick Mulvaney (R-SC) introduced H.R. 4256, "The Pool Safety and Accessibility for Everyone (pool SAFE) Act."
These bills will prevent the Department of Justice from enforcing its own regulations and keep public pools from being accessible as required by the ADA. That's right—22 years after the ADA our rights are being threatened—and could be rolled back. We need to act today!
The House Judiciary Subcommittee on The Constitution has scheduled a hearing to discuss this legislation.
When: Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Time: 4:30pm EST
Room: 2141 Rayburn House Office BuildingTake Action:
Come to the hearing and show your support! Tell your friends and spread the word.
Contact your representative using this form. In your letter, identify yourself as a constituent and urge your senator / representative to "Please do not support H.R. 4200 or H.R. 4256. These bills would cut back the ADA and block our right to accessible pools."
If your representative is a co-sponsor on either of these bills, call them today and ask them to remove their name as a co-sponsor!
Here's what your representatives need to know:
Swimming pools are not a luxury; they are part of American life. Every family deserves the chance to enjoy vacations together without leaving a child, spouse, or parent behind just because they have a disability.
People with disabilities have the same rights as everyone else to use swimming pools.
Backtracking on the ADA is never acceptable. We cannot roll back civil rights for any group.
The ADA was signed into law 22 years ago. Swimming pool owners have had decades to come into compliance and have known about the requirements of the law.
The final regulation language and the accessibility standards have been out since September 2010, so the pool owners have had 18 months to come into compliance under the law.
Providing access to swimming pools and spas is doable, not burdensome. The ADA accessibility requirements for barrier removal in existing facilities are very reasonable—they only require what is easily accomplishable and able to be carried out without much difficulty or expense. The rules are carefully crafted to take the needs of covered entities like hotels into account.
© 2012
Combined Federal Campaign #11944
Resources
Read DREDF comments on the recent Department of Justice proposal to extend the compliance deadline for the ADA swimming pool provisions
Support DREDF when you shop.
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