[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 82 (Monday, June 22, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1187]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN SUPPORT OF FUNDING THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT

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                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 22, 1998

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 
399, a resolution urging Congress and the President to fully fund the 
Individuals With Disabilities Education Act.
  In passing IDEA in 1975, Congress required the Federal, State and 
local governments to share the cost of educating children with 
disabilities. When enacted, the Federal Government was to assume 40 
percent of the national average per pupil expense for such children.
  While Congress has authorized this amount since 1982, the 
appropriation amount has never come close to the stated goal of 40 
percent. Last year, it reached the highest level ever at 11 percent. 
The balance has been left to the State and local governments.
  The result has been an enormous unfunded mandate on State and local 
school systems to absorb the cost of educating students with 
disabilities. In doing so, local school districts must divert funding 
away from other students and education activities. This has had the 
unfortunate impact of draining school budgets, decreasing the quality 
of education and unfairly burdening the taxpayers.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time for both Congress and the President to 
demonstrate that they are truly interested in our Nation's children's 
education. By fully funding IDEA, Congress will simultaneously ease the 
burden on local school budgets while ensuring that students with 
disabilities receive the same quality of education as their non-
disabled counterparts.

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