BOB DOLE KANSAS United States Senate OFFICE OF THE REPUBLICAN LEADER WASHINGTON, D.C. 20510 June 17, 1991 The Honorable Warren Rudman Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, and Judiciary 152 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Mr. Chairman: The purpose of this letter is to make a personal request that you give careful consideration to the level of funds provided to the Department of Justice, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Federal Communication Commission for the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, landmark civil rights legislation that prevents discrimination against people with disabilities. We request that you to include, at a minimum, $2.5 million to the Justice Department and $4 million to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for salaries and expenses. In addition, we request that you include $10 million for the Justice Department, $7 million for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and $1 million to the Federal Communications Commission for technical assistance, including public education and training. Funding for technical assistance will be instrumental in enabling the disability community and the business community to establish partnerships that will foster voluntary compliance and in providing invaluable information to small businesses, small communities and others responsible for making the necessary accommodations required by the legislation in the most cost-effective manner. The Department of Justice, in coordination with the other federal agencies, has already developed a comprehensive technical assistance plan. Similar technical assistance efforts, funded at a $50 million level over a three year period, were used following the issuance of regulations implementing section 504 of the [Page 1] Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by recipients of Federal financial assistance. These effort proved to be invaluable in increasing compliance and decreasing litigation. Thank you for considering our request. Sincerely, [Signature of Bob Dole] Bob Dole U.S. Senator [Signature of Tom Harkin] Tom Harkin U.S. Senator [Page 2] BOB DOLE KANSAS United States Senate OFFICE OF THE REPUBLICAN LEADER WASHINGTON, D.C. 20510 June 17, 1991 The Honorable Warren Rudman Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, and Judiciary 152 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Mr. Chairman: The purpose of this letter is to make a personal request that you give careful consideration to the level of funds provided to the Department of Justice, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Federal Communication Commission for the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, landmark civil rights legislation that prevents discrimination against people with disabilities. We request that you to include, at a minimum, $2.5 million to the Justice Department and $4 million to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for salaries and expenses. In addition, we request that you include $10 million for the Justice Department, $7 million for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and $1 million to the Federal Communications Commission for technical assistance, including public education and training. Funding for technical assistance will be instrumental in enabling the disability community and the business community to establish partnerships that will foster voluntary compliance and in providing invaluable information to small businesses, small communities and others responsible for making the necessary accommodations required by the legislation in the most cost-effective manner. The Department of Justice, in coordination with the other federal agencies, has already developed a comprehensive technical assistance plan. Similar technical assistance efforts, funded at a $50 million level over a three year period, were used following the issuance of regulations implementing section 504 of the [Page 3] Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by recipients of Federal financial assistance. These effort proved to be invaluable in increasing compliance and decreasing litigation. Thank you for considering our request. Sincerely, [Signature of Bob Dole] Bob Dole U.S. Senator [Signature of Tom Harkin] Tom Harkin U.S. Senator [Page 4] TOM HARKIN IOWA (202) 224-3254 TTY (202) 225-1904 COMMITTEES AGRICULTURE APPROPTIATIONS SMALL BUSINESS LABOR AND HUMAN RESOURCES United States Senate WASHINGTON, DC 20510 June 17, 1991 The Honorable Ernest F. Hollings Chairman, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, and Judiciary S146-Capitol Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Mr. Chairman: The purpose of this letter is to make a personal request that you give careful consideration to the level of funds provided to the Department of Justice, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Federal Communication Commission for the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, landmark civil rights legislation that prevents discrimination against people with disabilities. We request that you to include, at a minimum, $2.5 million to the Justice Department and $4 million to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for salaries and expenses. In addition, we request that you include $10 million for the Justice Department, $7 million for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and $1 million to the Federal Communications Commission for technical assistance, including public education and training. Funding for technical assistance will be instrumental in enabling the disability community and the business community to establish partnerships that will foster voluntary compliance and in providing invaluable information to small) businesses, small communities and others responsible for making the necessary accommodations required by the legislation in the most cost-effective manner. The Department of Justice, in coordination with the other federal agencies, has already developed a comprehensive technical assistance plan. Similar technical assistance efforts, funded at a $50 million level over a three year period, were used following the issuance of regulations implementing section 504 of the [several addresses at the bottom of Tom Harkin letterhead] 210 WALNUT ST ROOM 733 FEDERAL BLDG. DES MOINES 1A 50309 (515) 284-4574 880 LOCUST ST SUTE 125 DUBEQUE IA 52001 (319) 584-2130 307 FEDERAL BLDG. BOX H COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA 51502 [illegable phone number] BOX 74684 LINDALE MALL CEDER RAPIDS, IA 52407-4884 (319) 393-[illegable] 131 E 4TH ST. 3146 FEDERAL BLDG. DAVENPORT, IA 52801 (319) 322-1338 FOURTH AND JACKSON 901 BADGEROW BULDING (712) 252-1550 [Page 5] Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by recipients of Federal financial assistance. These effort proved to be invaluable in increasing compliance and decreasing litigation. Thank you for considering our request. Sincerely, [Signature of Tom Harkin] Tom Harkin U.S. Senator [Signature of Bob Dole] Bob Dole U.S. Senator