[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 28, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S702-S703]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                  IDEA

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, before speaking on the issue of LIHEAP, I 
want to thank the chairman of our Human Resources Committee, Chairman 
Jeffords, and also the Senator from Tennessee, Senator Frist, for 
introducing the IDEA legislation today and to indicate this is one of 
the prime areas of priority for the Human Resources Committee.
  This issue, in terms of helping and assisting the special needs of 
children in education, is of incredible importance to millions of 
families all across this country, and we cannot afford to let the 
authorizing legislation expire.
  I join in commending the leadership that has been provided by Senator 
Frist in our last Congress, along with Senator Harkin, who has been our

[[Page S703]]

ranking member on the Subcommittee on Disability and who has made such 
a very important contribution on all of the issues relating to the 
disabled in this country over a very distinguished career, Senator 
Jeffords, and others on our committee.
  This has been a strong bipartisan effort. We welcome the opportunity 
to work very closely with them. This is not to minimize the issues that 
are outstanding, but it does represent a continuing commitment of those 
who support the legislation to try to continue the very important 
efforts that have marked this legislation and finding cooperation and 
finding ways to deal with some of the still outstanding issues.
  So I am very, very grateful for their statements on the floor today.

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