Bill Clinton: “I rise today to discuss a rising epidemic that is preventing a growing number of children in our Nation from learning…”

“I rise today to discuss a rising epidemic that is preventing a growing number of children in our Nation from learning and contributing fully as members of our society. Twelve million children under the age of eighteen now suffer from a developmental, learning or behavioral disability. Since 1977, enrollment in special education programs for children with learning disabilities has doubled. In New York, there are 206,000 learning disabled children--this is fifty percent of the special education population in New York. While we know that developmental disabilities are affecting more children and costing us more money, we still know relatively little about the causes of developmental disabilities. A National Academy of Sciences study suggests that genetic factors explain only ten to twenty percent of developmental disabilities. Considerable research suggests that toxic chemicals such as mercury, pesticides, and dioxin contribute to these problems, but proving the exact role of environmental factors in these problems will take time and significant research dollars. We can simply not stand back and watch our children suffer from this increasing epidemic. That is why I have worked hard to develop the 2003 Act to Prevent Developmental Disabilities in Education, which I am proud to introduce today with my colleague, Senator Collins.”