Chuck Hagel: “the amendment we are offering today would fully fund the Federal commitment to the Individuals with Disabilities…”

“the amendment we are offering today would fully fund the Federal commitment to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, IDEA. When Congress approved IDEA in 1975, which mandates that States provide an appropriate education to students with special needs, it pledged to provide 40 percent of the funding. Congress has repeatedly passed nonbinding resolutions supporting the full funding of this commitment. However, even with large increases in funding over the last 5 years, from $3.1 billion in 1997 to $6.3 billion in 2001, the Federal portions of the funds for IDEA has not exceeded 15 percent. This leaves State governments and local school districts to pick up the tab for this federally mandated program, taking away vital local education funds and options. There is no question of the intent of this legislation. There was no question of the intent 25 years ago. Surely there is no question of the rightness of the intent of this program today. IDEA has proven to be a great success in ensuring all children, including those with special needs, receive a free and appropriate education across the United States. Prior to its enactment, only 50 percent of students with disabilities were receiving an appropriate education. Today the majority of children with disabilities are receiving an education in their neighborhood schools in regular classrooms with their nondisabled peers.”