Joe Cunningham: “I volunteered to stay on this committee because I think, of all the areas in which Congress can improve, it is in…”

“I volunteered to stay on this committee because I think, of all the areas in which Congress can improve, it is in Washington, D.C., our Nation's Capital. We have made great strides, and Mr. Speaker, the chairmen have made great strides. But for the first time since I have been on the committee, I am not going to vote for this bill with some good things in it. Mr. Speaker, I speak, I think, from authority. I was chairman on authorization for the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education, and forwarded the legislation to President Clinton on IDEA, the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act. For 5 years I worked to take money out of lawyers' hands and pockets and shift it to children. We were able to save over $10 million a year, and instead of going to lawyers, it went to hire special education teachers. It set forth new programs for special education. It worked. In one setting, the chairman totally wiped out 5 years of everything that I have worked for. Am I upset? Yes, especially since it was staff-driven. Who is supposed to control this Chamber, the staff or the Members? Mr. Speaker, I want to say one lawyer in D.C. earned $1.4 million suing the city of D.C. over special education; a firm, $5 million. Those are just two individuals. I want to say I have spent my life working for children and getting the money down.…”