119 S2913 IS: Protecting Students with Disabilities Act U.S. Senate 2025-09-18 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

II 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2913 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 18 (legislative day, September 16), 2025 Ms. Alsobrooks (for herself, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Luján, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Sanders, and Ms. Blunt Rochester) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To prohibit the use of appropriated funds to eliminate, consolidate, or otherwise restructure any office within the Department of Education that administers or enforces programs serving individuals with disabilities.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Protecting Students with Disabilities Act.

2.

Findings

Congress finds the following: (1) Section 603 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1402) explicitly states that the Office of Special Education Programs shall be housed within the Department of Education and tasked with administering and carrying out programs and activities concerning the education of children with disabilities. (2) Section 3 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 702) explicitly states that the Rehabilitation Services Administration shall be housed within the Department of Education and tasked with administering and carrying out programs and activities concerning workforce investment activities of individuals with disabilities. (3) The executive branch does not have the unilateral authority to alter this statutory framework. This Act reaffirms Congress’s intent and ensures compliance with existing statutes.

3.

Prohibition

None of the funds made available by Acts making appropriations may be used to— (1) eliminate, consolidate, or otherwise restructure any office within the Department of Education that administers or enforces programs serving individuals with disabilities, including such programs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.), or any other applicable Federal laws; (2) terminate, reassign, or alter the responsibilities of any personnel of any such office, such that statutory obligations under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.), or any other applicable Federal laws are not met; or (3) contract with, or delegate to, any entity outside of the Department of Education to administer or enforce such programs.