Political Quotes

“I rise in support of the final version of this bill to renew the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). As the only former State schools chief serving in Congress, I know firsthand the tremendous challenges facing our schools, teachers, parents and students when it comes to educating disabled children. This legislation includes a number of positive provisions that will help students with disabilities and the educators who serve them. Specifically, I am pleased that this final version of the bill will enhance the focus on professional development, early intervention, and paperwork reduction. I commend my colleagues for working in a bipartisan manner, an all-too-infrequent-occurrence in this Congress, to achieve a consensus bill. No legislation is perfect, and this bill is no exception. Specifically, this falls short on making good on the promise of the Federal Government to fund 40 percent of the costs of educating disabled children. I will continue to make this effort a high priority in the next Congress. Last year, I voted against the House version of H.R. 1350 because of its failure to improve current law regarding the education of disabled children. I again commend the conferees on this legislation for producing a final product worthy of support.”