Judd Gregg: “just to clarify the record on this, this amendment was addressing the issue of funding relative to special education…”

“just to clarify the record on this, this amendment was addressing the issue of funding relative to special education which is, I believe, a critical element of the whole issue obviously of special education, especially the fact that the Federal Government has failed to live up to its obligation to fund 40 percent of the cost of special education. It is only funding approximately 7 to 8 percent of the cost. After discussions with the majority leader, and with members of the Appropriations Committee on which I serve, I think there is a reasonable opportunity that we will receive the type of funding and support we need in order to start on the path toward reaching the 40 percent. This path was outlined in S. 1, Senate bill 1, which is the Senate Republican position and which commits to having us fund 40 percent over a 7-year period. This year I am hopeful we can increase funding for special ed so we can get up above the $4 billion mark in this account, which would allow us to--under the new bill, if it is passed, as I presume it will be--allow us to kick in the ability of the local communities to use some of this special ed funding which the Federal Government was supposed to be paying for, which presently is being paid for by local taxpayers, to use those local taxpayer dollars for other areas of education and to relieve some of the pressure on the communities and the local taxpayers.”