Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, I rise today to oppose the amendment offered by Representative Porter and Representative Trone. Much of this amendment is well-intentioned. The amendment authorizes the Department of Education to conduct a study to better understand the prevalence of mental health disabilities and substance use disorders on campus. The amendment also authorizes the Department of Education, in conjunction with the Department of Justice, to issue guidance to institutions on how they can continue to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and other legal obligations, when serving students with mental health disabilities and substance use disorders. However, this amendment has some issues. This amendment includes broader language that could allow the Department of Education to deviate from issuing guidance on complying with these existing laws and open the door for the Department of Education to speculate on a variety of other institution policies. For example, language in this amendment could permit the Department of Education to prohibit colleges and universities from enforcing their codes of conduct when students engage in drug use that violate campus policies, which would make campuses less safe and less able to support students with mental health disabilities or substance use disorders.…”