On the recordMay 25, 2011
I would like to yield the balance of my time to the gentlelady from Washington (Mrs. McMorris Rodgers). Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. I appreciate the gentleman yielding, and I rise in strong support of Mr. Hunter's amendment. Last November, we recognized the 35th anniversary of IDEA, the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act. And prior to IDEA, one out of five children was denied access to a quality education through the public school system because of a disability. IDEA has changed the opportunity for education, but the reality for many special needs students is it still requires an attorney in order to get the education that they need. From the time that a special needs student begins their education, a family needs an attorney. In fact, I was encouraged to hire an attorney to navigate the educational process for my son, Cole. But picture this scenario: for the men and women who serve our country, many of whom are parents of children with special needs, between deployment and transfers, our servicemen and -women don't have the resources to go through litigation, nor should they. Most military families do not choose where they live, and they usually don't get the choice when it comes to their schools.…
