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Friday, April 20, 2012

21 years after the ADA we could see our rights rolled back - House Judiciary Subcommittee on The Constitution hearing on April 24, 2012

ACTION ALERTS from American Association of People with Disabilities

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.

H.R.4200 - Latest Title: -To amend the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 to prohibit the Attorney General from administering or enforcing certain accessibility regulations relating to pools at public accommodations or provided by public entities.

That's right-21 years after the ADA we could see our rights 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 Building

Take Action:

Come to the hearing and show your support!
Contact your representative: Find the representative for your district and call their office or click on their contact form to submit a letter online. 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! Find out if your representative is a co-sponsor here.

The American Association of People with Disabilities:
Tell Congress to allow ADA pool regulations to go into effect!
http://www.aapd.com/

H.R.4200 Sponsor: Rep Schweikert, David [AZ-5] (introduced 3/16/2012)

Related Bills: S.2186, S.2191

Latest Major Action: 3/26/2012 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

COSPONSORS(18), ALPHABETICAL

Rep Alexander, Rodney [LA-5] - 3/29/2012
Rep Bachus, Spencer [AL-6] - 4/16/2012
Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] - 3/29/2012
Rep Coffman, Mike [CO-6] - 3/27/2012
Rep Cravaack, Chip [MN-8] - 3/29/2012
Rep Franks, Trent [AZ-2] - 3/16/2012
Rep Gosar, Paul A. [AZ-1] - 3/16/2012
Rep Gowdy, Trey [SC-4] - 3/29/2012
Rep Griffin, Tim [AR-2] - 3/29/2012
Rep Huizenga, Bill [MI-2] - 4/16/2012
Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] - 3/27/2012
Rep Landry, Jeffrey M. [LA-3] - 3/29/2012
Rep Lankford, James [OK-5] - 3/29/2012
Rep Lummis, Cynthia M. [WY] - 4/16/2012
Rep Mulvaney, Mick [SC-5] - 3/16/2012
Rep Paul, Ron [TX-14] - 4/16/2012
Rep Quayle, Benjamin [AZ-3] - 3/16/2012

Illinois Rep Aaron Schock, [IL-18] - 4/18/2012


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 21 years ago. Swimming pool owners have had decades to come into compliance.

The final regulation language and the accessibility standards have been out since September 2010, so the pool owners have had 18 months to comply with those specific
The regulations are subject to an "undue burden" defense, so any hotel or pool owner that cannot afford to come into compliance need not do so immediately

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