Rep. Nadler Congratulates President Bush on the Signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-08), Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, lauded President Bush for signing into law the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008.  At this morning’s signing at the White House, Rep. Nadler joined President George W. Bush, former President George H.W. Bush, Attorney General Michael Mukasey, and his colleagues – Representatives Steny Hoyer, James Sensenbrenner, Buck McKeon and James Langevin, and Senators Tom Harkin and Michael Enzi, and Mrs. Cheryl Sensenbrenner – who worked diligently on this important bi-partisan legislation.

As Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, Rep. Nadler held a hearing on the Americans with Disabilities Act and worked hard to shepherd the bill through the House.  The new law will improve the ADA by broadening the definition of “disability” and demanding that the courts hew more closely to the original spirit of the law.  For too many years, individuals whom Congress intended to protect from disability discrimination have been denied protection because of the Supreme Court’s cramped interpretation of this landmark civil rights law.

“Today marks a civil rights victory that we – Democrats, Republicans and all Americans – can celebrate,” noted Rep. Nadler.  “I thank the President for his good judgment in signing this legislation into law, and I thank the many Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle for their impressive efforts in making this a reality.  This new legislation will provide veterans and disabled Americans with enhanced protections against employers who would discriminate on the basis of disability.  We must continue to ensure that no such discrimination against the disabled be tolerated, and that individuals with disabilities are afforded every opportunity to use their professional talents and contribute to our society.  Thank you to everyone who helped make this happen.”