John Larson: “I rise today in support H.R. 1350, the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. IDEA is a…”

“I rise today in support H.R. 1350, the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. IDEA is a fundamental civil rights program that provides funds to states for the education of children with disabilities. As the world of education faces the challenge of leaving no child behind, this program takes on extra importance. Children with disabilities should have as much opportunity as any child to reach and even exceed their potential. However, since 1975, Congress has placed yet another unfunded mandate on local communities. Since IDEA became law, Congress has authorized spending of up to forty percent of the cost of the average per pupil expenditure on special education. We in Congress have failed to meet that commitment time after time. Fiscal Year 2004 meets 18.6 percent of that commitment, not even half of what we have promised. And this represents the highest percentage since the law was passed. As a former teacher, member of a school board, State Senator, and now Congressman, I have heard for years from numerous local officials, school administrators, and teachers about the burden IDEA has placed on their budgets and their classrooms. Our communities are dedicated to meeting their moral obligation to provide an appropriate public education for children with disabilities, but they must face the difficult decisions of cutting nonessential school programs like arts, music, and sports or raising property taxes.”