[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 64 (Wednesday, May 5, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E857]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          MEETING OUR COMMITMENT TO FUNDING SPECIAL EDUCATION

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                          HON. DAVID E. BONIOR

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 5, 1999

  Mr. BONIOR. Mr. Speaker, as I meet with teachers, school 
administrators and school board members in Michigan's 10th 
Congressional District, one thing becomes clear--paying for the costs 
of teaching children with special needs is expensive.
  Families with special needs children face unique challenges. I 
believe their children should be able to learn in the least restrictive 
environment. But that also means we have an obligation to help provide 
our schools with the tools they need to do the job. When it comes to 
educating our children--particularly for those who have special needs--
we all have a role to play.
  When the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was first 
enacted in 1975, Congress committed to funding 40 percent of the cost. 
Unfortunately, the federal government has consistently fallen short of 
this goal. As special education costs continue to rise, we fall further 
behind. Currently, federal support for special needs education is at 12 
percent. During such a prosperous moment in our history, surely we can 
do more to help our local communities and educators provide a thriving 
learning environmental for our children who face the most challenges.
  We need to step up to the plate and fulfill our commitment to our 
local schools. That is why I have joined a number of my colleagues in 
writing the President asking him to support a substantial increase in 
federal funding for special education, and it is why I believe we 
should fully fund the IDEA Act.
  As we debate our budget priorities, I will continue to work with our 
families and local schools to provide support for improving education 
for all our children. I am committed to ensuring that public education 
is among our highest budget priorities.

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