David Obey: “Mr. Chairman, again, the choice we face is this, both parties want to increase support for special education. The…”

“Mr. Chairman, again, the choice we face is this, both parties want to increase support for special education. The question is, are we going to do that by scaling back by just a tiny amount the size of the tax cuts that the majority party is pushing through this place, or are we going to do that by cutting back on funding for disadvantaged children? Are you going to do that by cutting back on Impact Aid to local school districts? Are you going to do that by cutting out increases for charter schools in this bill and the increases for education for homeless children? Are you going to really cut $31 million from Indian Education, 29 percent below the House bill and 33 percent below the request? I do not know how many times you have had the occasion to have Native American children either in your office or just talking to them at home. So often we see that they lack confidence. They are not sure of themselves. They do not want to speak up. They have not been treated very well in this society, and this amendment provides that that treatment is going to be just a little bit worse. I do not think that it makes sense fiscally. I do not think it makes sense in terms of human values. This amendment is opposed by the National Association of State Directors of Special Education, the very people that it purports to help. And it is also opposed by the Easter Seals Society.”