Rodney Frelinghuysen: “I rise to commend the House of Representatives on considering H.R. 5, a bill to reauthorize and reform the Individuals…”

“I rise to commend the House of Representatives on considering H.R. 5, a bill to reauthorize and reform the Individuals With Disabilities Act [IDEA]. This bill renews and strengthens our promise to children with disabilities and their families that they will receive an education equal to that of their peers. While the original IDEA legislation was critical in opening up educational opportunities to disabled students and enhancing efforts to include them in classes with other students, this legislation continues the commitment of the previous Congress to address the issue of actually providing adequate resources to individual States in educating children with disabilities. Last year, the Appropriations Committee, of which I am a member, increased funding for IDEA by almost $800 million to $3.1 billion for fiscal year 1997, the most in IDEA's history. H.R. 5 authorizes a $1 billion increase for IDEA in fiscal year 1998 and, within 7 years, funding for the program increases to $11 billion. This bill, if enacted, will also improve the way States, schools, teachers, and parents work together to provide better education for children with disabilities. The new IDEA reform legislation will help children with disabilities by focusing on their education, instead of process and bureaucracy. It will also give parents increased participation and give teachers the tolls they need to teach all children.”