Constitutional and Civil Rights

Last updated: 1/31/08

(from 2007 Legislative Agenda)

Constitutional and Civil Rights Links

H.R. 3995 1) NDRN Letter Opposing H.R. 3995 (October 2007) 2) CCD Letter Opposing H.R. 3955 (December 2007)  3) Background On Why Frank Bill Is Discriminatory and Out-Of-Date 4) Talking Points Opposing H.R. 3995 (April 2008). 5) Fact Sheet on Current Class Action Rules (January 2008)  6) Fact Sheet opposing H.R. 3995 Americans with Disabilities Act 1) ADA Restoration Act Fact Sheet 2) ADA restoration talking points Hate Crimes Material Thornburgh Letter in Support of Passage of Hate Crimes Bill (September 2007) Op-Ed Refuting Hate Crime Bill Infringes On First Amendment Rights (August 2007).

The First Session of the 110th Congress should:

• Protect and expand existing civil rights laws for people with disabilities, particularly the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); the Individual with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (commonly abbreviated as IDEA); the Fair Housing Act (FHA); the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA); Title V of the Rehabilitation Act; the Help America Vote Act (HAVA); and the Air Carriers Access Act.
  
• Promote and fund stronger enforcement of these important laws, assuring equal opportunity and protection for people with disabilities.
  
• Restore IDEA, ADA, and Medicaid protections eroded by recent court decisions.
  
• Implement and monitor HAVA provisions and fully fund the PAVA program.
  
• Pass hate crimes legislation that includes individuals with disabilities as a protected class.
  
• Implement electoral reform to remedy systemic problems in the administration of elections and eliminate obstacles to full and equal political participation.
  
• Prohibit abuse, neglect, and inappropriate use of physical and chemical restraint and seclusion in all settings, including schools.
  
• Prohibit genetic discrimination.