Thad Cochran: “I hope to clarify the operation of certain provisions in the bill. As the chairman knows, the section of the bill…”

“I hope to clarify the operation of certain provisions in the bill. As the chairman knows, the section of the bill titled, ``Household Applications,'' provides school districts with an incentive to reduce the nonresponse rate during the income verification process. I would like to offer an example of the operation of 10-percent improvement criteria in nonresponse rates, so that the committee's intent is not misinterpreted. A district with a nonresponse rate of 40 percent, for example, would have to reduce its nonresponse rate to 36 percent, in order to meet the 10-percent improvement criteria and be entitled to maintain existing verification procedures under current law.”