(Washington, DC) – The House Education and Labor Committee today held a hearing on H.R. 3195, the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Restoration Act. The National Restaurant Association expressed opposition to the proposed bill, noting that it does not “restore” the ADA but rather broadly expands it so that virtually every American could be considered disabled.

“The Americans with Disabilities Act provides important protections for employees and those seeking employment,” said John Gay, senior vice president of government affairs and public policy for the National Restaurant Association. “However, H.R. 3195 would dramatically broaden the original legislation to change what constitutes an impairment under the law. We urge members of the House Education and Labor Committee to carefully consider the unintended consequences of greatly expanding the ADA.”
 
Current law requires a disability to “substantially limit a major life activity” such as walking or seeing. The proposed ADA Restoration Act is inconsistent with Congressional intent expressed when the law was passed in 1990 and would trivialize the concept of disability and inappropriately divert employer resources from those who need them most.
 
The National Restaurant Association recently joined several other business groups in a letter sent to all members of Congress outlining concerns with the ADA Restoration Act.