Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, as the first quadriplegic elected to Congress, I am here today not just as a Member of Congress, but as someone here with a disability--and, I hope, providing a voice for so many in our country who also have disabilities--to give my perspective on H.R. 620, the misnamed ADA Education and Reform Act. Mr. Speaker, the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed nearly 30 years ago as an enduring promise to an entire population of Americans that discrimination on the basis of disability, including access to public accommodations, will not be tolerated. Now there have been decades for people and organizations to understand and implement provisions of the ADA. And for those who are just learning about the ADA or who need a refresher on the law, there are many free resources that provide information and technical assistance. The ADA provides a lifeline to so many who need access to classrooms, restrooms, businesses, restaurants, transit, and so much more. I recognize that there are some individuals who are unfairly targeted in States that have failed to protect against things like these ``drive-by lawsuits.'' But the root of the problem is not the ADA; it is the unscrupulous lawyers who take advantage of State laws that go beyond the Federal law to permit monetary damages. Now, the ADA does not allow people to sue for compensatory or punitive damages, only injunctive relief, meaning that they solve the problem. H.R.…”