Oppose the “Correcting Obstructions to Mediate, Prevent, and Limit Inaccessibility (COMPLI) Act 2015” (H.R. 4719)

Media 05.18,16

Recipient: Subcommittee on Constitution and Civil Justice

View the PDF of this letter here.

The Honorable Trent Franks, Chairman
Subcommittee on Constitution and Civil Justice
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515 

The Honorable Steve Cohen, Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Constitution and Civil Justice
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515 ​

Dear Chairman Franks and Ranking Member Cohen:

On behalf of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States, we write to express our strong opposition to the Correcting Obstructions to Mediate, Prevent, and Limit Inaccessibility (COMPLI) Act of 2015 (H.R. 4719).

The Leadership Conference believes in strong and vigorous enforcement of the ADA. Yet a number of bills have been introduced in Congress that limit the power of the ADA and reduce compliance with the law. We oppose any such efforts, including H.R. 4719, to limit the ability of people with disabilities to vindicate their rights in court.

H.R. 4719 imposes several additional steps on plaintiffs before they can file a civil action for an accessibility violation in a public accommodation case. Such restrictions and penalties on the ability of people to attempt to vindicate their rights fly in the face of the intent of civil rights statutes, which were enacted to ensure the protections of those marginalized in our society.

For these reasons, we urge you to oppose the COMPLI Act of 2015. If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Bornstein, Legal Director and Senior Legal Advisor, at [email protected] or (202) 263-2856.

Sincerely,

Wade Henderson
President & CEO

Nancy Zirkin
Executive Vice President