Charles Norwood: “In 1975, IDEA was passed by a Democratic Congress and signed by a Republican President. From 1975 to 1995 the Congress…”

“In 1975, IDEA was passed by a Democratic Congress and signed by a Republican President. From 1975 to 1995 the Congress was controlled by the Democrats. Where were my Democratic colleagues' amendments then to fund IDEA? Why did they not fund it in the 20 years while they were in control? Why has it been only since Republicans have been in control of this House that we have increased funding for IDEA? There is a very good reason for that, my colleagues. If the Federal Government does not pay its share, it comes out of the school districts and that affects disabled children and nondisabled children. I wish to advise the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller) that this bill protects the civil rights of 88 percent of our schoolchildren that are not in special education without reducing the civil rights of special education children. To say it otherwise is simply not the way it is done. It is not the truth. I want to also just briefly mention the cap on attorneys' fees.”