Tom Harkin: “I rise in support of S. 717, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997. On February 20, 1997, a…”

“I rise in support of S. 717, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997. On February 20, 1997, a bipartisan, bicameral working group was established to develop a bill reauthorizing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act [IDEA]. The working group included a representative from the Department of Education, Judy Heumann, Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, and congressional staff representing Senators Jeffords, Kennedy, Coats, Harkin, Frist, and Dodd; and Representatives Goodling, Martinez, Riggs, Miller, Castle, and Scott. The facilitator of the group was David Hoppe, the majority leader's chief of staff. The mission of the working group was to review, strengthen, and improve IDEA to better educate children with disabilities, and enable them to receive a quality education. With this mission in mind, the group agreed to start with current law and build on the actions, experiences, information, and research gathered over the life of the law, particularly over the past 3 years. The group further agreed that it must distinguish between problems of implementation and problems with the law, and respond appropriately, according to the issue raised. After 10 weeks of marathon negotiations, an agreement was reached on all outstanding issues. S. 717 is the outcome of this effort. Mr. President, IDEA is a powerful civil rights law with a long and successful history.…”