Keywords: Americans with Disabilities Act, ADA, disabilities, protection, United States Congress, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, President Bush, law

Congress has passed a comprehensive reform to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which will give people with disabilities a much easier road to prove discrimination, according to The New York Times. The measure, which passed in the Senate unanimously, clarifies and rejects decisions made by the U.S. Supreme Court that undermined the ADA.

Under the new law, which President Bush is expected to sign, the definition of "disability" would be expanded. Additionally, according to the article, cases that were thrown out by courts would once again be heard because of the newly applied standards.

"This is one of the most important pieces of civil-rights legislation of our time," says Rep. Jim Langevin, D-R.I., who uses a wheelchair.  

Click here to read the full story in The New York Times.