Correspondence from Faith leaders to Lawmakers about ADA opposing Chapman Amendment

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s-leg_553_004_010_tr

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Extent (Dublin Core)

2 Pages

File Name (Dublin Core)

s-leg_553_004_010

Title (Dublin Core)

Correspondence from Faith leaders to Lawmakers about ADA opposing Chapman Amendment

Description (Dublin Core)

Petition from religious groups stating their disapproval of the proposed "food handler" amendment to the Americans with Disabilities Act. They fear discrimination against those with HIV/AIDS and that it would disproportionately impact the impoverished and minorities.

Date (Dublin Core)

1990-05-16

Date Created (Dublin Core)

1990-05-16

Congress (Dublin Core)

101st (1989-1991)

Topics (Dublin Core)

See all items with this valueFood handling

See all items with this valueHIV-positive persons

Policy Area (Curation)

Health

Creator (Dublin Core)

unknown

Record Type (Dublin Core)

correspondence

Names (Dublin Core)

See all items with this valueChapman, Jim, 1945-

See all items with this valueUnited States. Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

Rights (Dublin Core)

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/

Language (Dublin Core)

eng

Collection Finding Aid (Dublin Core)

https://dolearchivecollections.ku.edu/index.php?p=collections/findingaid&id=23&q=

Physical Location (Dublin Core)

Collection 003, Box 553, Folder 4

Institution (Dublin Core)

Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS

Archival Collection (Dublin Core)

Robert J. Dole Senate Papers-Legislative Relations, 1969-1996

Full Text (Extract Text)

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

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

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