WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the House Committees on Judiciary and Education and Labor acted simultaneously to move the Americans with Disabilities Restoration Act to the House floor. The legislation overturns several Supreme Court decisions interpreting the ADA in such a way that people with obvious disabilities from epilepsy to missing limbs have nonetheless been held to be not covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Senator Harkin, the Senate sponsor of the companion legislation, issued the following statement: “This is an important first step in making sure the Americans with Disabilities Act protections are restored to all Americans with disabilities. I look forward to floor action in the House and the opportunity to move forward in the Senate to once again make clear that Congress intends that every American with a disability has equality of opportunity and the chance to be economically self-sufficient.”