Karen Bass: “I believe that funding of special education provides broader funding for more people. I certainly agree that it might be…”

“I believe that funding of special education provides broader funding for more people. I certainly agree that it might be a good idea in some school districts for sixth, seventh, and eighth graders to receive counseling preparatory to college. But I also feel that providing services for developmentally disabled students is a higher priority for me. That is essentially a difference that we have between the two of us. The fact of the matter is by providing more funding for special education, we free up local funds so that local school boards in his district or mine can provide counseling if they want to for sixth, seventh, and eighth graders to prepare themselves for college. Mr. Chairman, I support my amendment. I think, as the gentleman from Tennessee has pointed out, it is a question of priorities. I think this GEAR UP program is a troubled program. It is a new program. The TRIO program already funds it. I urge support of my amendment.”