I am writing in response to the July 31 Butler Eagle article “Kelly speaks out against fed red tape.” Having spent 37 years in construction — and now retired and disabled — I think I can answer Congressman Mike Kelly as to why we need the requirements contained in the Americans with Disabilities Act. Ramps and grab bars are there to accommodate all people. They allow a kid or a coach in a wheelchair the same rights as every American. When building a ramp, installing grab bars or even building a jail, it helps to hire competent workers and subcontractors who can read a tape measure. Accepting low bids can often mean shortcuts and poor quality. Kelly wishes to deny women certain health care and deny the disabled access. Grab bars and other ADA requirements are not luxuries to be cut from a budget. Will the disabled heroes of war come home to this? People should stand up, if they are able to, and let Kelly know the indescribable offense he has directed to all Americans by way of his rant of oinks, squeals and curly tail-spinning while feeding at the trough of taxpayers’ dollars.
