Chuck Hagel: “I join with nine of my colleagues today in introducing the ``Helping Children Succeed by Fully Funding the Individuals…”

“I join with nine of my colleagues today in introducing the ``Helping Children Succeed by Fully Funding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.'' I am pleased that Senators Jim Jeffords, Ted Kennedy, Pat Roberts, Chris Dodd, Susan Collins, Tom Harkin, Olympia Snowe, Patty Murray, and Jack Reed have agreed to serve as original co-sponsors of this important legislation. This bill will have the Federal government fully meet its funding responsibilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, IDEA, for the first time since it was enacted in 1975. When Congress passed the IDEA a quarter of a century ago, it agreed that the Federal government would pay 40 percent of the cost of ensuring that all children, including those with disabilities, receive a free, appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment. That is the laudable goal of the legislation, one we all share. Sadly, however, we have never in all these years met our funding commitment. Despite substantial progress over the last five years, Congress has never appropriated more than 15 percent of the cost of IDEA. The bill we introduce today will finally make good on Congress's commitment to fund 40 percent of the cost of educating children with disabilities.”