[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 53 (Wednesday, May 3, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H2414]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                H.R. 4055, IDEA FULL FUNDING ACT OF 2000

  (Mr. GARY MILLER of California asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. GARY MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to ask my 
colleagues to fulfill Congress' promise to fund special education at 
the 40 percent level that was promised in 1975.
  For the past 25 years, Congress has consistently ignored its 
responsibility to special education students. The result has impacted 
all students in public schools throughout our Nation.
  In Orange County, California, the special education funding shortfall 
now exceeds $70 million annually. Each year, local school boards face 
the inevitable question: What programs will be cut to meet our 
responsibility to educate students with special needs? The paradox is 
unfair. We have required these school districts to provide high quality 
services to a population with significant needs with only a fraction of 
the funds we promised.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the school districts which have struggled 
to balance the needs of all their students, I implore my colleagues to 
support H.R. 4055. This bill sets out a plan that will allow Congress 
to meet the 40 percent funding promise it made to all by 2010. If we 
fail to fulfill this commitment, we will continue to fail not only 
children with special needs, but all students in public schools.

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