[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 32 (Tuesday, February 20, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E206]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. LUIS V. GUTIERREZ

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 20, 2018

  Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably absent in the House 
chamber for roll call votes 79 and 80 on Thursday, February 15, 2018. 
Had I been present, I would have voted ``Yea'' on roll call vote 79 and 
``Nay'' on roll call vote 80.
  Had I been present for roll call vote 80, on final passage of the ADA 
Education and Reform Act of 2017 (H.R. 620), I would have voted nay due 
to the vast setbacks this bill poses for the disability community. As a 
civil rights issue, the ADA Education and Reform Act would gut 
protections and key enforcements for an already vulnerable population. 
The onus falls on businesses to be proactive and to follow proper 
guidelines to ensure access for all. I particularly find troubling the 
``notice and cure'' provisions detailed in the bill, which allows 
businesses to postpone compliance and fundamentally changes the 
American with Disabilities Act.