May 16, 1990 Dear Conferee: We, the undersigned representatives of governing bodies within our respective faith groups, urge you to support and pass the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). We oppose any amendments which will serve to weaken the present bill. We especially urge you to oppose the “food handler” amendment that will be offered by Representative Jim Chapman. This amendment fosters the same type of irrational discrimination that the ADA is intended to eliminate. There is no medical reason to bar people with the HIV disease from working as food handlers. All research concludes that the virus cannot be spread through food, handshakes, coughing, sneezing or other daily casual contact. Recently, Dr. William Roper, Director of the Centers for Disease Control, wrote a letter which states clearly that people with AIDS do not pose a risk to others by handling food. The proposed amendment would undermine the education efforts of the federal government and our various faith groups, which are trying to educate the public about how AIDS is contracted and how it is not. The amendment will have a disproportionate impact on poor and racial/ethnic minority workers who rely on employment in the food service sector to care for themselves and their families. Adoption of this amendment will increase dependency upon federal income support payments and significantly decrease the opportunity for individuals to live independent lives. The proposed amendment is also directly contrary to the stated position of President Bush. Our President has publicly stated, on more than one occasion, that all people with AIDS should be covered by ADA. Exceptions due to public ignorance are not countenanced by President Bush. ADA already contains specific language that any worker who poses a direct threat (now defined as significant risk) to others is excluded from coverage in the employment section of the bill. We, as people of faith, cannot endorse this amendment which reinforces precisely the type of irrational discrimination ADA is designed to eliminate. It responds to public misperception and fear by legitimizing that fear through explicit accommodation in the law. Thank you for considering our views. Sincerely, Rev. Ken South Washington Representative AIDS National Interfaith Network Carol B. Franklin American Baptist Churches, USA Judith Golub Legislative Director American Jewish Committee Dole Archives: s-leg_553_004_010_d.pdf Page 1 of 2 Mark J. Pelavin Washington Representative American Jewish Congress Melva B. Jimerson Acting Director Church of the Brethren, Washington Office Sally Timmel Director, Washington Office Church Women United Dr. Kay Dowhower Director, Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Joe Volk Executive Secretary Friends Committee on National Legislation Joseph R. Hacala, S.J. Jesuit Social Ministries National Office Delton Franz Director Mennonite Central Committee, Washington Office Mary Anderson Cooper Acting Director, Washington Office National Council of Churches Joan Bronk National President National Council of Jewish Women Rev. Elenora Giddings Ivory Director, Washington Office Presbyterian Church (USA) Jane Hull Harvey Director, Department of Human Welfare, General Board of Church & Society, The United Methodist Church Joyce V. Hamlin Women's Division, General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church Rev. Jay Lintner Director, Office for Church in Society United Church of Christ Father Robert J. Brooks Washington Office of the Episcopal Church Dole Archives: s-leg_553 004 _010_d.pdf Page 2 of 2