Chris Dodd: “This $1.5 billion for special education is going to make a huge difference for schools and communities during the…”

“This $1.5 billion for special education is going to make a huge difference for schools and communities during the 2003-2004 school year. This is 1-year funding--it is not fully funding special education as we have promised, but it is a great step. As I look at the Presiding Officer, a former mayor, I know that Governors all across this country, as well as mayors, consistently put special education funding at or near the top of their list of priorities. And, it is especially important to note that unlike some other amendments that the Senate has adopted the past few days, this funding will not come through across the board cuts that include such critical programs as Head Start, WIC, and others that I have talked about. This is the way for us to address our priorities. I am very grateful to my colleagues for supporting this. Obviously, it makes a huge difference to our States, our communities, and, of course, families and children who will be the direct beneficiaries of these efforts.”