To:           The National Rehabilitation Association's Legislative Network

 

From:       Patricia Leahy, Interim Executive Director/Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy

 

Re:          The ADA Restoration Act/CRCC Press Release/The ADA Title II and III Regs.

 

Date:       Tuesday, June 17, 2008

 

 

               For those who read on the run, this abbreviated Washington Wire deals with three issues of importance to the members of the National Rehabilitation Association:  Announcement of House Hearings on The ADA Restoration Act; CRCC's Press Release on how much credentials count; Federal Register Notice on the ADA Title II and III regulations.

 

               First, the ADA Restoration Act.

 

               On Wednesday, June 18, 2008, the House Education and Labor Committee AND the House Judiciary Committees, will hold individual markups on H.R. 3195, the ADA Restoration Act.

 

                Chairman George Miller (D.CA.) and Chairman John Conyers, (D.MI.), Chairmen of the Committees, respectively, will offer a Substitute to H.R. 3195.

 

                 The Substitute is a product of months and months of deliberations between the disability community and the business community.

 

                  This bill (Substitute) is an attempt to restore some of the protections which were afforded and intended by the Congressional and community architects of the original bill, The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).  We will share the Substitute (bill) with you, once it has been formally introduced.

 

                  These markups may be accessed by logging on to the respective Committees' websites and clicking on "Real Player."

 

                   Turning to our second issue: CREDENTIALS COUNT

 

 

                   The Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) surveyed certificates to better understand the perceived value and role of the CRC credential and the CRCC.  From those results, the CRCC launched several key initiatives that have been completed or are underway.

 

                   The CRCC has shared a Press Release, which is attached, on the findings which they have shared with us in both a PDF and Word format.

 

                   Please take a moment to read the important findings of the CRCC study.

 

                   We would like to take this occasion to thank Susan Stark of the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification for sharing this information with the National Rehabilitation Association.

 

                   The third, and last issue in this Washington Wire, deals with another important issue:  The anticipated publication in today's Federal Register of the Department of Justice's proposed regulations for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title II and III.

 

                   Like other organizations, the National Rehabilitation Association is concerned that the comment period -- 60 days -- is insufficient time in which to thorough analyze the enormous amount of material contained in these regulations and will be asking for an extension of the period for formal public comment.

 

                   The National Rehabilitation Association will share its comments with you once we have read and analyzed these regulations. 

 

                    The information within regarding times and dates of hearings is current as of this time and date and could change quickly. 

        

           

Patricia Leahy

Interim Executive Director

Director of Governmental Affairs and Public Policy

National Rehabilitation Association

633 South Washington Street

Alexandria, VA 22314

1-888-258-4295

NRA Office - 703-836-0850

NRA Fax - 703-836-0848

TDD - 703-836-0849

E-mail - patricia@nationalrehab.org

NRA Website - www.nationalrehab.org