[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 53 (Wednesday, May 3, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H2449-H2457]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IDEA FULL FUNDING ACT OF 2000

  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4055) to authorize appropriations for part B of the 
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to achieve full funding for 
part B of the act by 2010.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4055

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``IDEA Full Funding Act of 
     2000''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds the following:
       (1) All children deserve a quality education, including 
     children with disabilities.
       (2) The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 
     U.S.C. 1400 et seq.) provides that the Federal Government and 
     State and local governments are to share in the expense of 
     educating children with disabilities and commits the Federal 
     Government to provide funds to assist with the excess 
     expenses of educating children with disabilities.
       (3) While Congress committed to contribute up to 40 percent 
     of the average per pupil expenditure of educating children 
     with disabilities, the Federal Government has failed to meet 
     this commitment to assist States and localities.
       (4) To date, the Federal Government has never contributed 
     more than 12.6 percent of the national average per pupil 
     expenditure to assist with the excess expenses of educating 
     children with disabilities under the Individuals with 
     Disabilities Education Act.
       (5) Failing to meet the Federal Government's commitment to 
     assist with the excess expense of educating a child with a 
     disability contradicts the goal of ensuring that children 
     with disabilities receive a quality education.

     SEC. 3. PURPOSE.

       It is the purpose of this Act to reach the Federal 
     Government's goal under part B of the Individuals with 
     Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1411 et seq.) of 
     providing 40 percent of the national average per pupil 
     expenditure to assist States and local educational agencies 
     with the excess costs of educating children with 
     disabilities.

     SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR PART B OF THE 
                   INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT.

       Notwithstanding section 611(j) of the Individuals with 
     Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1412(j)), for the 
     purpose of carrying out part B of such Act, other than 
     section 619, there are authorized to be appropriated--
       (1) $7,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2001;
       (2) $9,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2002;
       (3) $11,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2003;
       (4) $13,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;
       (5) $15,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2005;
       (6) $17,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
       (7) $19,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
       (8) $21,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
       (9) $23,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
       (10) $25,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
       (11) such sums as may be necessary for each subsequent 
     fiscal year.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. 
Kildee) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling).
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I have looked forward to this day for 26 years, and I am 
glad it has arrived and I hope it is just the beginning.
  For many years in the minority, I pleaded and pleaded and pleaded to 
do something about getting somewhere near that 40 percent of excess 
costs. Finally, I got the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) to join 
with me on the Committee on the Budget and as powerful as we two are, 
we did not move the Committee on the Budget nor did we move the 
appropriators. But we are still fighting.
  Today, of course, we have an opportunity to do something about it. As 
I have said over and over again, if we would meet that obligation, if 
we had met it over the years of paying 40 percent of the excess costs, 
today we are talking probably about $2,500 per student for each child.
  I have said over and over again that how much we could have done over 
those years in maintaining school buildings, improving school 
buildings, reducing class size. And then people will say that is not 
very much money. Well, I have got news for my colleagues. New York City 
would get $170 million a year. Twenty times $170 million sounds like a 
lot of money to me. Los Angeles, $95 million every year. Twenty times 
$95 million every year sounds like a lot of money to me.
  The problem is, we have not met our obligations. If we had met our 
obligations, of course, we can see on the chart the number of children 
with disabilities, the national average per pupil in the year 2000 was 
$6,300. So 40 percent of that gives about $2,500 per child.
  On the other chart, of course, I indicate what Los Angeles, Chicago, 
New York City, Dallas, Miami, Washington, D.C., St. Louis, just to 
mention a few, would have gotten year after year after year if they had 
gotten the 40 percent that they expected us to put forth on the excess 
costs.
  I ought to caution, however, that unless we can control over-
identification, we can never get to the 40 percent. There is not 
anybody that has enough money to get to that 40 percent. So we have to 
work at both ends.
  The legislation was proper because the legislation said every child, 
whether you have a disability or not, should have an equal opportunity 
for a good education. Our problem is that we did not put our money 
where our mouth was. That meant that local school districts have had to 
raise all of this money locally and take it away from reducing classes 
and away from school construction and maintenance, and they have had to 
take it away from better education for every other child because they 
had to fund this 40 percent.
  I am very pleased to indicate, however, in the last 4 years we have 
convinced the budget people and we have convinced the appropriators, 
and they have upped us $2 billion each year. That gives us 115 percent 
increase in a 4-year period, and I am very thankful for that. If we 
keep doing the same for the next 10 years, we will be in very good 
shape.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I join the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Chairman 
Goodling) in supporting H.R. 4055. I want to commend the gentleman for 
bringing this legislation before the House today.
  Several years ago, when we both served on the Committee on the 
Budget, the gentleman from Pennsylvania had the wisdom and the courage 
to vote for full funding of IDEA. He was the only one on his side of 
the aisle in that committee to vote ``yes,'' and I certainly appreciate 
his courage. Despite opposition to this effort, he doggedly pursued 
this goal.
  Mr. Speaker, I admired him for his perseverance then and continue to 
admire him for it now. The work of the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Goodling) has touched the lives of so many children during his career, 
providing many of them with the means to better themselves.
  Today, I find myself as a better person because of the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania. His retirement at the end of this Congress is a great 
loss to this institution and to the children of our country.
  Having extolled the virtues of my chairman, and he is my chairman and 
my friend, I also want to discuss the importance of this legislation. 
When the gentleman from Pennsylvania introduced H.R. 4055, I was 
pleased to learn that his bill is similar to the text of H.R. 3545, the 
bill introduced by the gentleman from California (Mr. Martinez) and 
myself.

[[Page H2450]]

  I want to especially acknowledge the leadership of the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Martinez) on this issue. It has been a goal of mine, 
and that of Members on both sides of the aisle, to provide full funding 
for IDEA.
  With this legislation, we will create guideposts that the Committee 
on Appropriations can use to put us on a 10-year path to reaching our 
goal of providing 40 percent of the excess costs of educating a child 
with a disability. I truly hope that this bill provides the impetus to 
reach full funding of IDEA. That would be the greatest tribute we could 
pay to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Chairman Goodling).
  Clearly, the educational needs of children with disabilities and 
their access to a free, appropriate public education is a critical 
issue in assuring they become productive members of our society. 
Moreover, Mr. Speaker, I believe that Federal funding we target to all 
populations often provides the link to a high-quality education that 
would not exist without that funding.
  This legislation allows us to take a bigger step towards fully 
funding IDEA and increasing the funding for all of our Federal 
educational programs.
  Every child has dignity. Every child has worth. Their education must 
be a high priority. Together with the President, who has shown great 
leadership in the area of increased education funding, we can and 
should be making increased investments in education for our Nation and 
for our children.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, I want to urge Members to support this 
bipartisan legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Chairman Ballenger), and I too want to congratulate the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Martinez) for his doggedness to help us 
get this legislation to the floor.
  Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the IDEA Full 
Funding Act of 2000.
  In October 1997, the 105th Congress reauthorized IDEA, allowing 
continued funding to the States for education of children with 
disabilities. In 1997, funding for IDEA was only $2.6 billion. In the 
last 3 years, the Republican-controlled Congress has nearly doubled 
Federal funding on IDEA to approximately $4.3 billion. Although 
Congress has allocated more money to IDEA, there is still a shortfall 
in the obligation to States and local school districts to fund this 
act.
  This bill would free up funds that currently States and local school 
districts are forced to use to compensate for the Federal Government's 
failed commitment to fund IDEA. By steadily working to increase IDEA 
funding to $2 billion each year annually until 2010, Congress would 
increase opportunity and flexibility for local school districts to fund 
the programs that they feel are best for their students, whether it be 
school construction, Title I funding, teacher training or smaller 
classrooms.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time that Congress honors its commitment to States 
and local school districts, and I urge my colleagues to vote for H.R. 
4055.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Martinez).
  Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4055. I 
would like to give a little history. In 1972, two landmark cases, Parc 
versus the State of Pennsylvania and Mills versus the Board of 
Education, found that children with disabilities are guaranteed an 
equal education under the 14th amendment.
  In response to these cases, Congress enacted the Education for All 
Handicapped Children Act of 1975, the predecessor of today's 
Individuals with Disabilities Education act, to assist State and local 
governments in meeting their responsibility to these children by 
agreeing to pay up to 40 percent of the excess costs of educating 
children with disabilities.
  However, to date, as the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Chairman 
Goodling) has said, the Federal Government has never contributed more 
than 12.6 percent, leaving States and school districts to make up the 
difference.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to give an example in my own district. Los 
Angeles Unified School District, which serves schools in my district, 
currently spends $891 million to educate 81,000 disabled students. 
While the school district receives approximately $500 million from the 
State and $42 million from the Federal Government for that purpose, it 
still must tap into its general education funds to make up the $300 
million shortfall.

                              {time}  1345

  I will say that again, $300 million shortfall. The share of 
responsibility that falls on the school district grows every year. That 
fact has not been ignored by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Chairman 
Goodling), as he has at various times tried to rectify the wrong. 
Therefore, to help him, to help the L.A. school district and school 
districts all over the country facing similar situations, I introduced 
a bill to incrementally increase the amount until we achieved the 40 
percent commitment.
  My bill would authorize an additional $2 billion a year for 10 years 
to reach full funding of IDEA by 2010.
  I am extremely pleased that the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Chairman 
Goodling) who has been calling for funding and increased funding for 
IDEA for many years, long before it was politically popular, has 
embraced this idea of funding IDEA incrementally over a period of time, 
in his own bill, H.R. 4055.
  In my view, his bill, H.R. 4055, is a first good step to funding our 
commitment, not only to children with disabilities, but to all 
children, because, after all, the money that goes to disabled children 
comes from the general fund for the other children.
  I hope that H.R. 4055 is the first of many education full funding 
bills considered by the Congress.
  As we move into the 21st century, we must make critical decisions 
about the priorities of this Nation. In countries like Japan and China, 
education is a top priority above even defense. This year alone the 
Department of Defense will ask for $11 billion in new spending. I do 
not deny them that. According to OMB's most recent estimates, we can 
expect an $80 billion budget surplus.
  Certainly if the Department of Defense can get $11 billion in new 
spending, we can spare $2 billion a year to ensure a brighter future 
for all our children.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Delaware (Mr. Castle).
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for 
yielding to me. I, too, rise in support of the legislation before us.
  I am a strong believer this is something we really should have done a 
long time ago at the Federal government level. It is something we 
should make the commitment to do now because we have to make up for 
lost time, and it really does free up other opportunities with respect 
to local and State spending.
  We need to understand that we at the Federal Government level only 
supply about 6 or 7 percent of all of the funding of education in this 
country. But every now and then, we mandate something. We have done 
that with children with disabilities. We have said that we have got to 
educate. The Supreme Court has come along and said, not only do we have 
to educate, but we have to provide some health services as well.
  This is extraordinarily expensive on a local basis; and as a result, 
we have an obligation, I think, to stand up and to do something about 
it.
  So for all these reasons, I rise in support of the legislation and 
what the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Chairman Goodling) is doing, and 
hopefully this entire body will speak to it in a positive sense.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Kind).
  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Michigan for 
yielding me the time.
  Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce, I rise in strong support of this legislation. I commend the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling), chairman of the Committee 
on Education and the Workforce for his resolute stand on this issue. I 
am proud to be a supporter, along with the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. 
Kildee),

[[Page H2451]]

the ranking member on the subcommittee, on this issue as well.
  It is a wise investment of Federal funds to see that schools 
accommodate students with special needs. It is one that Congress has 
not taken seriously enough throughout the years.
  I am concerned, however, that too many of my colleagues, both on the 
Committee on Education and the Workforce and throughout the rest of the 
body, use the IDEA funding issue as a tool for divisiveness on 
education policy.
  Reasonable minds, I believe, can disagree over whether the statutory 
language of IDEA created a Federal mandate to fund 40 percent of the 
excess cost of education for special education students. If it does 
create that 40 percent obligation, then we have only lived up to, over 
the years, roughly 12 or 13 percent of that responsibility. Reasonable 
minds can also disagree over how exactly those educational services 
should best be provided.
  But we all should be able to agree that this kind of targeted funding 
to help schools provide a quality education for students with special 
needs is exactly the proper role for the Federal Government in 
education.
  Accordingly, we should do all we can to fund IDEA at adequate levels. 
But we should not use IDEA funding to hold the rest of the Federal 
education program hostage. We should not, as some of my colleagues are 
quick to do, insist on funding IDEA only or as a prerequisite for any 
other funding for other important educational goals in this body.
  This country has the wealth and the public will to do great things on 
behalf of our children's educational needs. The question remains, does 
the Congress have the will to make hard choices across the whole of the 
Federal budget to see that America's commitment to education is 
supported?
  Unfortunately, the battles over ESEA in both Houses that seem 
inevitable in the closing months of the 106th Congress leave many in 
America doubting our collective will and wisdom.
  Again, Mr. Speaker, I support the efforts of my colleagues here today 
in focusing attention on helping to provide quality education to all 
students. Let us hope that we can continue this effort in a bipartisan 
fashion when it comes to reauthorizing the whole of the ESEA 
legislation throughout the remaining months of this session of 
Congress.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman 
from California (Chairman McKeon).
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I, too, rise in strong support of H.R. 4055, 
the IDEA Full Funding Act. First, I would like to commend the gentleman 
from Pennsylvania (Chairman Goodling) for all of his hard work on this 
important issue. He has long been an advocate for special needs 
children. His leadership will sorely be missed when he retires at the 
end of this year.
  Now, in this era of budget surpluses, we must resist the temptation 
to create new untested Federal programs. Instead, I believe that, 
before we pass any new programs, we must first fulfill a promise we 
made a quarter of a century ago, a promise to assist our local schools 
so that they can provide our special needs children with a public 
education.
  Time and again, I hear our States and schools must sacrifice other 
educational needs and priorities in order to make up for the Federal 
shortfall on IDEA funding.
  For example, the Antelope and Santa Clarita Valleys in my 
Congressional District must find nearly $5 million in additional funds 
to cover the Federal share for educating special education students.
  I am sure there are a lot of other things those schools could do with 
$5 million if the Federal government would simply live up to its 
obligation.
  I am hopeful the President will join us in this important endeavor. 
If the President would first fund the special education mandate, our 
State and local school districts would have the funds to do the things 
the President proposes, such as building new schools, hiring new 
teachers, buying more computers, and ensuring accountability.
  Already, as earlier speakers have said, the Republican Congress has 
dramatically increased funding for special education. Under H.R. 4055, 
this Congress will provide fair Federal funding for special education 
so, in the end, we can approve special education for all of our 
children.
  Therefore, as a proud cosponsor of the IDEA Full Funding Act, I urge 
all of my colleagues to vote for this bill.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the time be 
extended 5 additional minutes on each side.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman 
from Georgia (Mr. Isakson), a member of the committee.
  Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
(Chairman Goodling) for his commitment to Georgia's children and 
America's children. Twenty-five years ago, this Congress made a promise 
with the passage of 42-194 and established public education, a mandate 
to teach all children regardless of their disability, physical or 
otherwise. Today, millions of American children, because of special 
education improvements, now live far more productive lives.
  I want to talk about two citizens in my district Jonathon Hughes, a 
young man wheelchair bound, a young man with learning disabilities, a 
young man who, at the age of 23, graduated from public high school. It 
took him 9 years to do it, but because of special education and IDEA, 
he did it. Had he been born 20 years sooner, he would have been in a 
baby-sitting service and never lived the productive life he will now.
  Paul Cobb, a foster child, who, without special education, would not 
have graduated, but today is a productive worker in our society as a 
professional photographer.
  Thousands of stories all over America are true all because of IDEA, 
but today the promise made 25 years ago is now a promise kept because 
we in this Congress are saying to America's public schools, we are 
sending along with a mandate the funds; and with those funds, we will 
alleviate local pressures, enhance the education of children with 
special needs. This Congress will have done what it should have done a 
long time ago; and that is, made an investment in those American 
children most in need of our attention, most in need of our love, and 
most in need of this funding.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman 
from Kansas (Mr. Moran).
  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania for yielding me the time, and I thank him for his support 
and his introduction of H.R. 4055.
  Mr. Speaker, I served for 8 years in the Kansas legislature before 
being elected to Congress. During that 8-year period of time, it became 
clear to me that the consequences of the Federal Government's failure 
to fund special education were dramatic and significant upon the 
taxpayers of the State of Kansas, upon our school system, and most 
importantly upon the students.
  So it is with pleasure that, upon arriving in Congress, I discovered 
there was a group of individuals, including the chairman and the 
ranking member, who were willing and interested in this topic, that 
cared about the quality of education across the country, and were 
willing to assist in allowing the Federal Government to at least now 
gradually meet that mandate.
  This year, the Kansas legislature just concluded its session. For 
that 90-day session, we spent most of it wrangling over the cost of 
education with a budget shortfall predicted of about $73 million or $74 
million. Had the special education funding mandate by the Federal 
Government been fully funded as promised in 1975, the $75 million that 
we were struggling to try to find in Kansas would have been there. In 
fact, it would have been there in double. We would receive about an 
additional $143 million.
  So it is with pleasure today that I rise in strong support of H.R. 
4055 on behalf of the students, teachers, parents, and taxpayers of our 
State and believe that it is well past time that the Federal Government 
step forward to meet its commitment. This is a matter of significant 
importance, and I urge its passage.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen).

[[Page H2452]]

  (Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today as a 
cosponsor and in support of H.R. 4055, the IDEA Full Funding Act of 
2000 and to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling) and 
his committee for their historic leadership on this special education 
issue, which is so vital.
  Every year, we in Congress talk about the importance of fully funding 
the Federal Government's share of the Individuals with Disabilities 
Act, and this bill finally does it, this bipartisan bill.
  When the Federal Government neglects its share of IDEA, the State and 
local governments are forced to pick up the tab. In my State of New 
Jersey alone, full funding of IDEA would mean an additional $300 
million more per year from the Federal Government, money that local 
governments could spend to hire new teachers, improve school 
facilities, or reduce local property taxes.
  After 25 years of underfunding IDEA, we are considering legislation 
which will finally authorize the money needed to finally meet the 
Federal Government's obligation to this critical program for our 
children. H.R. 4055 authorizes enough funding to fully fund IDEA by the 
fiscal year 2010, and it deserves our full support.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New 
Hampshire (Mr. Bass) who has been helping us lead this battle the last 
several years.
  Mr. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for 
yielding to me. Nobody has led the battle longer and harder than the 
distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling), chairman of 
the Committee on Education and the Workforce.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the IDEA Full Funding Act of 2000. 
Full funding of IDEA, as I said, for many, many years now is good for 
communities. It is good for families. It is good for school boards. But 
most importantly, it is good for the children who are affected by the 
funding of this program.
  We all recognize that we have a constitutional obligation to provide 
equal education opportunity to everyone, regardless of disability or 
need.
  Unfortunately, as we have heard over the last few minutes, this 
government has failed to meet its statutory obligation year after year 
after year.
  Now, with the passage of this bill, we will fully authorize the 
funding of IDEA over a 10-year period. Now, Mr. Speaker, after the 
passage of this bill, the challenge moves to the Committee on 
Appropriations, and it is my sincere hope that the Committee on 
Appropriations can meet its commitment as is outlined in the sense of 
Congress and the Budget Resolution to increase funding for special 
education by $2 billion for fiscal year 2001 and meet the authorized 
levels in H.R. 4055, which I strongly support.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Louisiana (Mr. Vitter).
  Mr. VITTER. Mr. Speaker, I, too, rise in strong support of this bill, 
which I have cosponsored, and I applaud the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
(Chairman Goodling) for his leadership.
  Over the last Christmas recess, I spent a lot of my time visiting 
dozens of schools in my District, and I heard one theme over and over 
and over again, and it was with regard to IDEA and full funding. We 
have all heard how, since 1975, the Federal Government has been quick 
to put mandates on local school systems but has never lived up to its 
financial commitment. That is what this bill is all about, to finally 
fund what has been heretofore an unfunded mandate.
  It is also important in so many other ways because we talk about 
reducing class size, putting computers in the classroom, all of these 
other needs. Fully funding IDEA is probably the quickest way to do 
that, because this will free up local and State money for other needs 
that school systems need to address and give them flexibility in the 
process. That is another reason it is so important.
  I have sponsored a separate bill to immediately fully fund IDEA, and 
I certainly would like to do it quicker. But this bill is very 
aggressive, very productive. I am a proud cosponsor, and again I 
applaud the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Chairman Goodling) on his very 
productive efforts.

                              {time}  1400

  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio 
(Mr. Traficant).
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my distinguished friend 
and the ranking member, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee), for 
yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, I was not going to speak, but I decided to take just a 
short period of time. I want to compliment the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling) from our neighbor State. I know he is now 
tied up and occupied over there with matters of this bill, but I just 
want to tell him that he has helped every American, and I want to echo 
and associate myself with the comments of one of the most distinguished 
Democrats in America, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee), when he 
said that every child and every student in America owes the gentleman 
from Pennsylvania a debt of gratitude.
  I want to personally thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for being 
a leader on this bill. This bill would not have happened without him. 
And I also want to say that he and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. 
Kildee) over the years have set an example for many Members to look at 
where bipartisanship has helped to make America better and stronger.
  But I know the gentleman is leaving, and I am sad to hear he is 
leaving. I think he is truly one of our great leaders. I want to thank 
him for this bill. I think what he has done on this bill will help 
America more than anybody might imagine, and I think the fingerprints 
of the gentleman will be on improvements in education for years to 
come, even as he is out golfing or doing whatever he wants to do.
  I want to close by saying to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) 
that he has also been an outstanding leader too. And for the two of 
these Members to have worked together like they have, and to bring 
legislation like this to the Congress, is truly helpful for all 
Americans.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman 
from Kansas (Mr. Tiahrt).
  (Mr. TIAHRT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
legislation, and I also want to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
(Mr. Goodling) and members of his committee for their outstanding work 
on this legislation. Since 1995, when I came to Congress, we have 
doubled IDEA funding and that has been a great accomplishment.
  Mr. Speaker, Americans are compassionate people. We want every 
American to be able to climb the ladder of success, even if we have to 
provide the less fortunate with an escalator. Twenty-five years ago, 
when the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was enacted, the 
Federal Government mandated that our local school systems educate all 
children, even those with severe mental and physical disabilities.
  During the floor debate, it was clear that the Federal Government was 
committed to paying 40 percent of the cost needed to educate a special-
needs child. Today we are falling far short of that mark. Now our good 
intentions have turned into bad consequences.
  The Federal Government's mandate has undermined the public school 
system's ability to adequately meet the needs of these special 
children. This is not acceptable for either the children who need 
special education or those without disabilities who watch their 
education programs cut in order to fund IDEA.
  Educating every child is the right thing to do and I am proud that we 
are doing that today. Yet IDEA has placed an extreme financial burden 
on our public schools forcing school districts to rob Peter to pay 
Paul.
  But we can fix this problem. By fully funding IDEA we can put an end 
to this practice, helping all of our children reach their full 
potential.
  Last week I visited with Barbara Fuller, president of the United 
Teachers of Wichita, along with a group of special education teachers 
in my home district. Speaking with them, it became clear the paperwork 
was also a big burden.

[[Page H2453]]

  It takes a special and loving person to care for our mentally and 
physically disabled children. We should be commending their work and 
doing all we can to make their jobs easier. Instead, Washington and the 
States drain our teachers' time and patience by forcing them to fill 
out endless paperwork and Individual Education Plans (IEPs).
  This Congress has passed special laws reducing paperwork for small 
businesses and others; yet we have allowed bureaucrats to expand the 
number of forms educators are required to fill out. Congress needs to 
provide an escalator for those with special needs and paper relief for 
those teachers who dedicate their lives to educating them.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt).
  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, with thanks and appreciation to the chairman 
and the gentleman from Michigan, I rise in strong support of increased 
funding for IDEA.
  Mr. Speaker, there is nothing better we can do for this nation than 
to ensure that all children in all communities have access to a quality 
education. IDEA was enacted with this credo in mind.
  In 1975, Congress enacted this legislation to help states and 
localities meet their legal responsibility of providing a free and 
appropriate public education to children with disabilities. Congress' 
goal was to contribute up to 40 percent of the national average per 
pupil expenditure for each child with a disability. We are nowhere 
close to that goal. In fact, we currently provide only 12.6 percent of 
the national average per pupil expenditure--the most we have ever 
contributed. According to estimates from the Department of Education, 
there are 6.3 million children with disabilities being served by our 
Nation's schools, at a cost to the states of roughly $73 billion. 
However, this year, Congress is contributing only $5 billion in 
assistance. That is not enough. We must do more to help the state meet 
our responsibility that we as a society have undertaken.
  The Federal Government has always played a role in helping the states 
provide an education. We have given billions of dollars to ensure that 
kids from disadvantaged backgrounds have the same educational 
opportunities as kids from more privileged homes; we have given money 
to help the states recruit and train teachers; and we have provided 
assistance to help schools get connected to the Internet. We must not 
short change the state in this area of IDEA.
  This IDEA money benefits more than 6.3 million kids in our schools. 
It benefits our whole community. It helps ensure that our children will 
grow up to be valuable and productive members of our communities. Even 
in this era of hi-tech stocks, where people are becoming millionaires 
and even billionaires almost overnight, I believe there is no better 
investment we can make for our future than providing a quality 
education for all children.
  This bill seeks to do that, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 
4055.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Michigan (Ms. Rivers).
  Ms. RIVERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time, and I rise in support of this proposal today.
  I am very pleased that we are finally considering moving forward on 
funding of IDEA. I am concerned, however, that promises are easy and 
follow-through is not always so easy, especially when follow-through is 
costly.
  Mr. Speaker, there is a $15 billion walk that goes along with this 
talk, and I think it is imperative that we discuss that today. Because, 
frankly, I fear that what we will have is an authorization bill which 
allows us to make a promise, but no appropriation which allows us to 
fund the program.
  As a matter of fact, I am very concerned that this activity today 
really represents a fig leaf rather than real progress for American 
schools. We need authorization, yes; but the real commitment comes when 
we pass appropriations, when we see the Subcommittee on Labor, Health 
and Human Services and Education of the Committee on Appropriations 
pass full funding for this program and then see it pass in the full 
House.
  Now, I am sure this bill will pass today overwhelmingly. I question, 
however, whether this body will be willing to give the money to 
effectuate the promise that we make today.
  I am also concerned that any proposal that comes forward in 
appropriations will take from existing educational programs. And of 
course we will create exactly the same problem that schools struggle 
with today, which is when we do not fund Federal programs, when we do 
not fund programs with dollars that schools can rely upon, we ask them 
to spend their own money to pursue the goals that are currently in 
effect.
  This is a big commitment. The commitment is not just to say we are 
for it; the commitment is to say we will pay for it. I for one will 
look at the proposal that comes out of appropriations. Will it be new 
money? Will it actually be monies going to the schools in a new way 
that can be used? Or will it simply be a fig leaf which will allow some 
people to say they support IDEA.
  I would hope that the American public will take a look at the names 
of the people who vote for this proposal today and then line them up 
come August with the people who vote for appropriations, and we will 
see whether or not people who give the talk are willing to walk the 
walk.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman 
from South Dakota (Mr. Thune).
  Mr. THUNE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time and for his leadership on this issue.
  Mr. Speaker, for too many years the Federal Government has broken its 
promise to children with disabilities as well as to the local 
taxpayers. Back when IDEA was first mandated, Congress promised to 
provide 40 percent of the cost of educating a child with special needs. 
Yet today we fund less than 13 percent of those costs. As a result, 
States and local school districts must turn to other sources, mostly 
local taxpayer dollars, to compensate for the lack of Federal funding. 
It is time to put an end to this practice.
  All across my State of South Dakota, local school districts are 
forced to take money out of their general funds. Construction plans get 
put on hold, new teachers are not hired, new programs get pushed aside, 
and our children pay the price.
  I would hope that the administration would support full funding, Mr. 
Speaker; yet the President's budget falls short of this bill's funding 
level. I believe the Federal Government must do a better job. This bill 
will simply commit the Federal Government to do today what it promised 
to do 25 years ago, and that is provide States and local school 
districts with the full 40 percent funding.
  Mr. Speaker, let us end the IDEA funding gap and support this 
legislation. And I once again thank the chairman for his leadership on 
this issue.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, how much time do I have remaining?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Ose). The gentleman from Pennsylvania 
(Mr. Goodling) has 9\1/2\ minutes remaining, and the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Kildee) has 12\1/2\ minutes remaining.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Maryland (Mrs. Morella).
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time; and I want to thank him for his leadership on IDEA. Indeed, as he 
goes off to do other things, leaving this Congress, he will be 
remembered for many education programs, and IDEA will indeed be among 
them.
  Mr. Speaker, I certainly want to express my support for H.R. 4055 to 
fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Twenty-five 
years ago, Congress enacted and President Ford signed the Education for 
all Handicapped Children Act. Mr. Speaker, in this country education is 
a right; it is not a privilege. In my opinion, IDEA is one of the most 
important civil rights that has ever been written into law.
  The basic premise of this Federal law, now known as IDEA, the 
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, is that all children with 
disabilities have a federally protected civil right to have available 
to them a free appropriate public education that meets their education 
and related services needs in the least restrictive environment. The 
statutory right articulated in IDEA is grounded in the Constitution's 
guarantee of equal protection under law and the constitutional power of 
Congress to authorize and place conditions on participation in Federal 
spending programs.
  Actually, getting to the heart of it, IDEA established the Federal 
commitment to provide funding at 40 percent of the average per-pupil 
expenditure to

[[Page H2454]]

assist with the cost of educating students. Today, IDEA is funded at 12 
percent of the average per-pupil expenditure, much higher than the 7 
percent of 5 years ago, but this is not good enough when we talk about 
40 percent.
  That is the goal that we have to continue to work to reach, and this 
bill is a good step. It urges Congress to fully fund IDEA while 
maintaining its commitment to existing Federal education programs so 
that we can ensure that children with disabilities receive a free and 
appropriate public education and, at the same time, ensure that all 
children have the best education possible if we just provide fair 
Federal funding for students with disabilities. I urge my colleagues to 
support H.R. 4055.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman 
from Florida (Mr. Weldon).
  Mr. WELDON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding me this time, and I rise today in support of H.R. 4055, 
authorizing full funding for IDEA.
  Before we even consider any new programs for education, we need to 
fulfill our promise to fund this program. In 1975, the Federal 
Government committed to providing 40 percent of the funding for IDEA, 
while 60 percent was to come from State and local governments. Under 
the Democrat-controlled Congress, IDEA was funded at a dismal 7 
percent. Only 7 percent for 24 years. Today it is at 12 percent.
  This Republican Congress has nearly doubled the Federal commitment to 
these children, but much more needs to be done. Teachers in my district 
have told me over and over again how much difficulty they have meeting 
the IDEA requirements, and still these teachers are expected to perform 
with inadequate Federal funding. It is a disgrace that my State and all 
others have been forced to take money away from other programs to cover 
unpaid Federal shares of IDEA.
  Let us fully fund IDEA and free up State and local money to meet 
other needs, such as books, construction, and, yes, more teachers and 
technology in the classroom.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Ford).
  Mr. FORD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time; and to my friend, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling), 
I join with all my colleagues in thanking him for his service over the 
many, many years.
  The gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling) and I have some things 
in common, as he and I both know, but perhaps some of our colleagues 
who might listen to some of our exchanges in the committee may not 
believe. The gentleman from Pennsylvania came to Congress in 1974, 
succeeding his father. I succeeded my father in 1996. My father started 
in Congress the same year the gentleman from Pennsylvania started.
  Mr. Speaker, I can remember standing with my dad as he took the oath 
of office here on the floor, and me holding my hand up as well with my 
dad knowing one day I wanted to come here and serve as well.

                              {time}  1415

  The gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling) obviously had that 
same passion early in life and was able to not only come here and do a 
great job representing his constituents but do a good job on behalf of 
the children around this country.
  I rise in strong support of this effort today and would join 
colleagues on both sides of the aisle in searching for ways in which to 
make this a reality.
  In fairness to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Chairman Goodling), 
there are many on both sides who demagogue this issue at times, and in 
fairness to him, he has been since my short time in the Congress, he 
has been an outspoken leader on the committee and has been consistent 
in all of his language. And I appreciate that.
  I would hope that as the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Chairman 
Goodling) moves on to do what I would not necessarily say bigger and 
better things, because I think we are doing important things here in 
the Congress, but as he moves on to do more fulfilling things in his 
life, I would hope that those of us here would take seriously what he 
is asking us to do today.
  As we propose tax proposals and other revenue generating in other 
ways in which to further the prosperity or prolong the prosperity of 
this great economy, I would hope that we would be mindful of the fact 
that we have initiatives and programs like this, commitments that this 
Congress made to States including mine, Tennessee; California; 
Michigan; Pennsylvania; and New York. I would hope that as we offer 
proposals before this Congress that we would keep in mind that we have 
obligations and have commitments.
  I thank the chairman for his leadership on this issue for many, many 
years. I look forward to even working with him when he leaves this 
Chamber in continuing to work on behalf of children.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman 
from New York (Chairman Gilman).
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today in full support of H.R. 4055, 
calling for full funding for IDEA, the Individuals with Disabilities 
Act.
  I commend the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling), our 
distinguished chairman of our Committee on Education and Workforce, for 
his continual efforts to raise the need for fully funding IDEA.
  In passing IDEA in 1975, Congress required Federal, State and local 
governments to share the cost of educating children with disabilities; 
and 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 program since 1982, appropriation 
levels has never come close to the stated goal of 40 percent.
  The result has been an enormous unfunded mandate on State and local 
school systems to absorb their cost of educating students with 
disabilities, leading to the draining of school budgets, decreasing the 
quality of education, and unfairly burdening our taxpayers. Local 
school districts have had to spend as much as 20 percent of their total 
budgets to fund IDEA.
  Once the Federal Government begins to pay its fair share, local funds 
will be available for school districts to hire more teachers, reduce 
class size, invest in technology, and even lower local property taxes 
for their constituents.
  H.R. 4055 demonstrates our commitment to our Nation's children and 
their education in their already overburdened school districts.
  I applaud the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Chairman Goodling) and the 
Committee on Education and the Workforce for their dedication to the 
education of children around the Nation. And accordingly, I urge our 
colleagues to fully support this important legislation.
  Since the Republican Party took control of Congress, I.D.E.A. 
appropriations have jumped dramatically. Since 1995, the funding levels 
have jumped 85 percent and have demonstrated our commitment to help 
States and local school districts provide public education to children 
with disabilities. It is now time for this Congress to make good on its 
promise to fully fund I.D.E.A at 40 percent. We can no longer let the 
States try to make up the difference between the funds they have been 
promised and the funds that they actually receive.
  In my congressional district, the schools are feeling the negative 
effects of the lack of idea funding. East Ramapo School District in 
Rockland County should receive $2.04 million in I.D.E.A. money but 
according to 1995 figures, they only saw $398,000. That is a difference 
of $1.6 million. Similarly, the Middletown City School District in 
Orange County was expecting $1.6 million but actually only saw 
$316,000. A difference of $1.3 million.
  In addition to cutting I.D.E.A. funding, the President refuses to 
recognize the strain on local school districts by requesting no 
increase in funds for grants to States for providing assistance to 
educate children with disabilities. Moreover, the President wants to 
create new Federal programs which will do good things for this country, 
but shouldn't we be concerned about the programs we already have, but 
never fund completely? We cannot continue to underfund I.D.E.A. and 
impose this unfunded mandate on the States while introducing new ones.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time for this Congress to show that we are truly 
concerned about our Nation's children's education. By fully funding 
I.D.E.A., Congress will simultaneously ease the burden on local school 
budgets while ensuring that students with disabilities receive

[[Page H2455]]

the same quality of education as their non-disabled counterparts.
  H.R. 4055 demonstrates our commitment to our Nation's children, their 
education and the already over-burdened school districts. I applaud 
Chairman Goodling and the Education and Workforce Committee for their 
dedication to the education of our children around the country and, I 
urge my colleagues to fully support this vital legislation.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill starts us on a real measurable track to full 
funding of IDEA. Again, I wish to thank my chairman and my good friend, 
the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling), for bringing this bill 
to the floor and to the children of this country.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of the time.
  Mr. Speaker, as I said at the beginning of our discussion this 
afternoon, it was a lonely road for many, many years; and then I met my 
good buddy, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) and the road was 
not as lonely as it was. And then we picked up one or two, the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), and then since that time it has 
grown and grown and grown.
  Because the people back home are realizing that, hey, we cannot 
provide the education for all of our students because of something that 
they did not necessarily mandate, they highly recommended, and I put 
that in quotes, because if they did not do it they were in real 
trouble. And rightfully so. Because, as I also said earlier, every 
child should have an opportunity for a good education.
  I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Martinez) again who joined 
with us in this effort.
  What I want to point out, the gentlewoman from Michigan was quite 
concerned as to whether we would keep our promise that we are making 
today since we did not keep our promise before. Well, I will not be 
here, so I cannot say, yes, they will.
  Many of my colleagues who spoke today will be here, and so it is 
their responsibility to make sure that that happens.
  However, I to want to point out that keeping what we are promising 
today is not anything differently than we were able to get the 
leadership and then the appropriators to do the last 4 years. That is 
what they have been doing.
  So on the chart I show the President's request in yellow and what the 
Congress came up with. So we see in 1997 the yellow, and then the red 
is the Congress. And we see in 1998 the yellow, and the red is the 
Congress. In 1999 the yellow is the present; the red is the Congress. 
Each time we have gone up, up, up. So we have increased 115 percent in 
the last 4 years.
  So I would say to her, if she is able to keep moving everybody the 
way they have been moving the last 4 years, the way our leadership and 
the way the appropriators have moved the legislation, we should not 
have any problem because those are the steps that we are suggesting 
that they take now.
  Again let me remind everyone that when I came here as a 
superintendent, I realized that one of the most difficult things we had 
to do back in the local district was to take State mandates, Federal 
mandates, rules and regulations from both the State and the Federal 
Government, and then try to find some way to finance the overall 
education program.
  With this 40 percent, as I mentioned, just in New York City alone we 
are talking about $170 million every year. In Los Angeles, another $90-
some million. So we are talking about big dollars that would have been 
coming every year to help local districts if we would have only put our 
money where our mouth was.
  Well, we cannot do anything about the past. We can do something about 
the present. Continue what we have been doing in the last 4 years and 
we will give the greatest gift to children in this country we possibly 
can give because we will give an opportunity for local districts to 
give every child a good education because they will have the money 
freed up from the mandates that come from here.
  Let me caution all of those on the State level. I am seeing all over 
this country that their regulations are even worse or greater than ours 
from the Federal level. So to the local school boards and to the local 
parents, I say make sure they know exactly what regulations have been 
piled on at the State level on top of what we have done.
  Now, they do it for one reason I am sure; and that reason is they 
fear that if they are not doing everything we say they are supposed to 
do, they are going to lose their money, so they go overboard.
  Again, we are on the right track. For those of my colleagues who will 
be back for years to come, and I am sure some of them will, make sure 
that they put their money where their mouth is and every child will 
have a far better education in this country.
  Mr. TERRY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of full funding for 
special education.
  All children deserve a quality education, including children with 
disabilities. Over 24 years ago Congress committed to contribute up to 
40 percent of the average per pupil expenditure of educating children 
with disabilities. We must keep this promise. The Federal Government 
has failed to keep its commitment to assist states and localities. This 
contradicts the goal of ensuring that children with disabilities 
receive quality educations. By keeping our promise, Congress will give 
state and local school districts the flexibility to educate children in 
the best possible way.
  This vote is an important step in securing the future of our 
children. Currently school districts have to divert money from their 
general fund to cover the costs of special education. When school 
districts are relieved of these federally mandated costs, the result 
will be increased flexibility in education. Necessarily undertakings 
such as wiring schools for new technology, increasing teacher salaries, 
new school construction, and local tax relief will be possible with 
these long-overdue funds.
  This vote is an important step forward in fulfilling our Nation's 
commitment to children and families who need special education services 
and to the local school districts that have been paying these mandated 
costs since the mid-1970's. Recent increases in Federal funding and the 
proposed schedule to fully fund these costs by 2010 represent 
significant relief for the local school districts in Nebraska and all 
across America.
  Mr. TALENT. I rise today in strong support of the IDEA Full Funding 
Act of 2000. Mr. Speaker, 25 years ago Congress made a promise to 
children and families with special education needs under the 
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act [IDEA]. Under IDEA the 
Federal Government promised to provide children with disabilities 
access to quality public education, as well as to contribute 40 percent 
of the average per pupil expenditure to assist state and local schools 
with the additional cost of educating these students. Mr. Speaker, to 
date the Federal Government has failed to meet this commitment to 
assist the states and local school districts.
  During the past four fiscal years the Republican majority in Congress 
has increased Federal funding for IDEA by 115 percent or $2.6 billion. 
Sadly, even with the increase, the Federal Government has never 
contributed more than 12.6 percent of the national average per pupil 
expenditure the assist children with disabilities. That is less than 
\1/3\ of the funding Congress promised under IDEA.
  The Congressional Research Service estimates that more than $15 
billion would be needed to fully fund the Federal portion of IDEA. In 
fiscal year 2000 IDEA received $4.9 billion, leaving states and school 
districts with an unfunded mandate of more than $10 billion. This is 
$10 billion dollars that states and local school districts could have 
spent on smaller class size, school construction, new computer 
equipment, and hiring new teachers; instead this money is being spent 
to cover the Federal share of IDEA. What does that mean for the State 
of Missouri, Mr. Speaker? The additional funds needed to meet the 
commitment to the State of Missouri is over $161 million this year. 
What does that mean for St. Louis? The additional funds needed to meet 
the commitment to St. Louis is over $8 million this year.
  Mr. Speaker, it is essential that Congress fully fund IDEA and this 
legislation is a step in the right direction. This legislation 
authorizes an increase of $2 billion per year to meet the Federal 
commitment of 40 percent by the year 2010. Mr. Speaker, 25 years ago 
the Federal Government placed a mandate on our state and local school 
districts to provide education for all special needs and disabled 
students. The Federal Government also promised to pay 40 percent of the 
average cost of the average per pupil expenditure. Today, there is a 
lot of talk about new education programs and new education initiatives 
but we still have yet to meet the Federal commitment to IDEA. IDEA is 
the mother of all unfunded mandates. Local schools are required by 
Federal law to meet the special education needs of our Nation's IDEA 
students. It is time that Congress gives

[[Page H2456]]

our schools the resources that were promised to provide all children 
with disabilities a quality education.
  Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with my colleague, Mr. 
Goodling, in supporting H.R. 4055 that will increase the educational 
opportunities of all of America's students. Twenty-five years ago, 
Congress passed the Individuals with Disabilities Act, making it 
possible for children with disabilities to receive a quality public 
education, get jobs, and lead more productive and fulfilling lives. 
When this legislation was passed, the Federal Government committed to 
paying 40 percent of the cost of educating these students. Currently, 
the Federal Government pays only 13 percent of the cost of IDEA.
  Over the past 5 years, special education funding has increased by 
more than $2.7 billion. I commend my colleagues on the House Budget 
Committee and the Appropriations Committee for recognizing the 
importance of special education. As important as these increases are, 
they are not enough. Special education is expensive. The average cost 
of educating a special education student is more than twice the 
national average per pupil cost of $5,955. Schools with already 
strained resources are struggling to educate these students.
  To mandate that the States provide special education services without 
adequate funding is grossly unfair, both to the States and to the 
students themselves. H.R. 4055 would eliminate this unfunded mandate by 
requiring that the Federal Government provide the 40 percent that it 
promised. This legislation is an important step in ensuring that this 
commitment is honored. The additional funding provided by this 
legislation will significantly improve the quality of education for 
special education students across the country. I urge my colleagues to 
support H.R. 4055 and I urge the House to pass it.
  Mr. McINTOSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4055, the IDEA 
Full Funding Act.
  In the 1970's, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that children with 
disabilities are entitled to a free, appropriate public education. In 
1975, Congress passed the All Handicapped Children Act to ensure that 
children with disabilities received a quality education. In the 105th 
Congress, we built on this law by passing the IDEA Improvements Act of 
1997 which strengthened the program. The IDEA Improvements Act, like 
the earlier 1975 act, pledged to fund 40 percent of the average per-
pupil expenditure to educate children with special needs. 
Unfortunately, the Government has fallen far short of this goal, 
providing a mere 11 or 12 percent a year for the costs of IDEA. 
Although Republicans have increased funding for this program, funding 
still falls woefully short.
  Last year, Congress provided $5.0 billion for the grants to states 
program, which assists participating states in providing a free 
appropriate public education to school-age children with disabilities. 
An estimated $15.8 billion would be required to provide states the 
maximum allotment allowed per disabled child served last year, about 
3.1 times more than the appropriation of $5.0 billion.
  To address the underfunding of IDEA, I joined the chairman of the 
Education and the Workforce Committee Bill Goodling in introducing the 
IDEA Full Funding Act of 2000, which provide an authorization schedule 
for reaching the Federal mandate to assist states and local school 
districts in the excess costs of educating children with disabilities. 
It will fulfill the promise made by Congress in 1975 and again in 1997 
to provide 40 percent of the national average per pupil expenditure to 
assist states and local school districts in paying the excess costs of 
educating children with disabilities. In other words, it will help us 
fulfill our promise to states and schoolhouses and ultimately, the 
children who attend those schools. It will help ensure that no child is 
left behind.
  The IDEA Improvements Act makes the following statement, ``Disability 
is a natural part of the human experience and in no way diminishes the 
right of individuals to participate in or contribute to society. 
Improving educational results for children with disabilities is an 
essential element of our national policy of ensuring equality of 
opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-
sufficiency for individuals with disabilities.''
  The IDEA Full Funding Act backs this statement with the funds to 
carry it out. There are 146,550 special education students in Indiana. 
For their sake and for the sake of other special education students, I 
support this important piece of legislation.
  Mr. KUYKENDALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong 
support of H.R. 4055, a measure to fully fund the Individuals with 
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Twenty-four years ago, Congress made 
a promise to children and families with special needs. That promise was 
to provide children with disabilities access to a quality public 
education by contributing 40 percent of the average per student 
expenditure to assist states and local schools with the extra costs of 
educating these children. However, since 1975 when IDEA was signed into 
law, Congress has consistently failed to meet its financial commitment.
  Every child deserves a first rate education. We can no longer 
tolerate the inadequate education that special-needs children have 
received. Congress has ignored its IDEA funding obligation, burdening 
state and local governments with unfunded mandates. The time has come 
for Congress to fulfill its commitment to children with disabilities 
and fully fund IDEA.
  Today's legislation authorizes increases of $2 billion a year to meet 
the federal government's commitment of 40 percent per student 
expenditure by the year 2010. This measure is a step in the right 
direction in ensuring that all children receive a quality education.
  Mr. HILLEARY. Mr. Speaker, when the federal government originally 
created the mandate on local districts stating that they must comply 
with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, also known as 
IDEA, the federal government promised that in exchange for imposing 
these new constraints, it would provide 40 percent of the cost. In 
reality, we have supplied only about 12 percent of the cost. I think 
this is shameful. If you make a deal, you should keep your side of the 
bargain. Think of all the local school money that could be used on 
teachers, buildings and teaching supplies that instead must be used on 
special education because the federal government will not give their 
promised share.
  That is why I am such a strong supporter of H.R. 4055, the IDEA Full 
Funding Act of 2000. As an original cosponsor of this legislation, I 
support the effort to channel our education dollars into IDEA. Such an 
action will not only help the disabled children this act serves, but 
also allow for more flexibility to local schools in the use of their 
funds.
  This act works by setting up a definitive time line in an effort to 
meet the government's goal of funding 40 percent of the per pupil 
expenditure associated with IDEA. By setting up a set of goals, we 
finally are taking definitive steps in meeting the obligation we owe to 
our states, local communities and, most importantly, the disabled which 
they serve.
  This effort to fully fund IDEA is just another in a long running 
desire by this Congress to aid our special needs children. Already, the 
12 percent funding that I mentioned earlier represents a doubling of 
previous funding levels before 1994. In addition, as a member of the 
Budget Committee, I am proud that we were able to make fully funding 
the IDEA a priority above all other new education programs in the 
federal budget that passed this year. In addition, last year we 
overwhelmingly passed of H. Con. Res. 84, a resolution urging the 
President to fully fund IDEA, of which I was a cosponsor and strong 
supporter.
  Unfortunately, we still have a long way to go. Some in government 
just do not believe that this is a high priority. For example, the 
President traditionally refuses to increase IDEA funds in his budget. 
In addition, we must also address the problem associated with over 
identifying individuals who qualify as special needs. As a result, 
these individuals dilute the funds intended for those disabled children 
who desperately need these funds. I hope that we can overcome obstacles 
like this when it comes time to fund this program in the appropriations 
process this year and years to come.
  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Individuals 
with Disabilities Act, IDEA.
  As Orange County's representative to the Education and Workforce 
Committee, I know that many of the students, schools and families in my 
district rely on IDEA funding. All children are entitled to a quality 
public education with the resources that will enable them to fully 
pursue their academic dreams.
  The Individuals with Disabilities Act is an important part of our 
national education program. IDEA has brought many students with 
disabilities the educational resources they need, empowering them to 
become contributing members of society.
  Inadequate IDEA funding has been a widespread problem for many years. 
Although we have recently increased federal funding, IDEA is still only 
funded at 12 percent of the average per-pupil expenditure. While this 
is much higher than the 7 percent of five years ago it is, as many 
advocates and educators have stated, still inadequate. Full federal 
funding would enable local school districts to focus resources on other 
needs.
  Today the House has an opportunity to keep our promise to America's 
public schools by increasing IDEA funding. H.R. 4055, the ``IDEA Full 
Funding Act of 2000'' will authorize funding to reach the federal 
government's goal of providing 40 percent of the per-pupil expenditure 
over the next 10 years. I am a cosponsor of this bill and am proud to 
support this legislation.
  Our students, their families and our schools have asked Congress to 
keep its commitment. Today I ask my colleagues to join me in ensuring 
that these special children will have access to a quality education.

[[Page H2457]]

  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, this Member rises today to express his 
strong support for H.R. 4055, the IDEA Full Funding Act of 2000, of 
which he is a cosponsor.
  Within his home state of Nebraska, the number of children enrolled in 
special education programs has risen 3,700 students from 1995-1999, a 
nine percent increase. To continue supporting these increasing numbers, 
we must fulfill the commitment by Congress made in 1975, prior to my 
service in the U.S. House to fund IDEA at 40 percent. This is a classic 
and very damaging unfunded mandate.
  Currently the Federal Government is funding an average of 12.6 
percent of the per-pupil expenditure for children with disabilities. 
The other 27.4 percent of our unfilled promise is a burden that state 
and local governments are having to include in their budgets. This 
Member has said for many years now that the one significant way that 
Congress can help decrease property taxes for my Nebraska constituents 
is to keep the promise to provide 40 percent of the costs of special 
education.
  Nebraska is currently facing teacher shortages and has among the 
lowest teacher salaries in the country and yet continues to produce 
top-ranked students. By meeting this commitment and fully funding IDEA, 
Nebraska could use its state and local dollars to meet the needs of 
attracting and maintaining quality teachers or direct dollars to 
programs the local school districts deem to be priorities, such as 
school modernization, curriculum improvement or more advanced 
technology.
  Mr. Speaker, this Member encourages his colleagues to meet our 
commitments and phase-up that 40 percent by the year 2010. Support the 
IDEA Full Funding Act of 2000.
  Mr. ROGAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania and 
my colleagues from the Education and Workforce Committee for their 
leadership on this issue.
  The IDEA program was developed as a partnership, uniting local and 
federal education funds for students with disabilities. Under this 
program, the federal government committed to funding up to 40 percent 
of the average cost of educating disabled students.
  Sadly, over the lifetime of this bill, the government has never 
contributed more than about 12 percent of the average. The time has 
come for Congress to pay its fair share in this long unfunded mandate.
  Despite the federal government's two-decade old commitment to 
educating disabled students, Congress has never once funded its full 
share, leaving local and state educators to scramble for funds to pay 
for special education programs.
  The result has been an unnecessary and unfair competition, pitting 
the funding needs of disabled students against the needs of students in 
traditional programs. In turn this has spurred excessive litigation 
resulting in exorbitant costs for local educators. By failing to meet 
its original commitment, the federal government has put local educators 
in a financial catch-22. The bill we support will aid in ending this 
crisis, and enact much needed reforms in the IDEA program.
  H.R. 4055, the Individuals with Disabilities Full Funding Act will 
guarantee that the federal government keeps its commitment to support 
local education programs for students with disabilities, and authorize 
the federal government to fund the full 40 percent of the cost of local 
programs for students with disabilities.
  The IDEA Full Funding Act will authorize approximately $7 billion in 
FY 2001 and expand this allocation by $2 billion per year over the next 
decade. It is a necessary measure and will help the federal government 
maintain its commitment to provide a quality education to disabled 
students.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the long-overdue 
proposal, and thank the gentleman for his leadership on this vital 
issue.
  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that today the House of 
Representatives is rising above partisan politics to address a matter 
of utmost importance. Be it urban, rural, small or large, every school 
district in our country is suffering because the federal government had 
not made good on its 1975 commitment to fund 40 percent of education 
costs for special needs students.
  I commend Chairman Goodling for bringing this bill to the floor, and 
for his commitment to fully fund IDEA by 2010. Fulfilling our 
commitment to our special needs students is absolutely the right thing 
to do.
  I would like, however, to challenge this House today. I'll take this 
bill and raise you one. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor H.R. 4090, a 
bill introduced by Representative Vitter of Louisiana. This bill would 
fulfill our commitment to our schools and our children in two years. I 
know this is an ambitious goal, but I think 25 years of unfulfilled 
promises is long enough. So does Representative Vitter. I am one of a 
group of cosponsors from both sides of the aisle who think our 
government should step up to the plate and make good on its promise.
  I urge my colleagues to pass this bill today. And tomorrow we should 
come to this floor and pass H.R. 4090, the IDEA Keeping our Commitment 
Act. It's the right thing to do and it's about time.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, my goal in Congress has been the 
promotion of livable communities. A community that is safe, healthy and 
economically secure must view educating our children as a priority. The 
well-being of our families depends upon the health of our schools.
  In the 94th Congress, we mandated--appropriately--that there would be 
special education access for children with severe learning 
disabilities. Along with that mandate came a promise that the federal 
government would pay 40 percent of the cost. This too was appropriate, 
for these children are the most difficult and expensive to educate. 
Unfortunately, the federal government has not met this important 
commitment. Funding has fallen as low as 9 percent, and currently, we 
fund only 12.6 percent of the average per pupil expenditure to assist 
children with disabilities. As a result, the financial burden has 
fallen on local districts.
  I am proud to support H.R. 4055, the IDEA Full Funding Act, which 
addresses the critical issue of assistance for the children whose needs 
are the greatest. This bill authorizes increases of $2 billion a year 
to meet the federal commitment of 40 percent by the year 2010. I have 
cosponsored similar legislation because programs such as IDEA offer the 
chance to improve the lives of more disabled people than ever before.
  Livable communities are for all of us, not just a select few. The 
federal government should lead by example in offering the best possible 
education to our nation's disabled children.
  Mr. RAMSTAD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4055, the 
IDEA Full Funding Act. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this important 
legislation.
  It is high time the federal government kept its statutory commitment 
to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA).
  In 1975, the Federal Government mandated that all states provide Free 
Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) to all children with disabilities 
by 1978. This law established a federal commitment to provide funding 
aid at 40 percent of the average pupil expenditures to assist with the 
excess costs of educating students with disabilities.
  Unfortunately, annual appropriations for IDEA have not even come 
close to the 40 percent level! Before Republicans took control of the 
Congress in 1995, the federal government was only paying 7 percent of 
the average per pupil expenditure. We are now paying 12.6 percent of 
the cost, but this still is not enough.
  The Congressional Research Service (CRS) estimates that almost $16 
billion would be needed to fully fund Part B of IDEA. The FY2000 
appropriations for Part B was $6 billion, leaving State and local 
governments with an unfunded mandate of nearly $10 billion.
  Local school districts currently spend on average 20 percent of their 
budgets on special education services. Much of this goes to pay the 
unpaid Federal share of the mandate.
  Passing H.R. 4055 would be a giant step closer to our goal of 
fulfilling the promise. If the federal government would keep its 
commitment, this money could be used to hire and train more high 
quality teachers, reduce class size, build and renovate classrooms, and 
invest in technology.
  We must improve the education our children receive. A good way to do 
this is to show a strong federal commitment to education by fully 
funding IDEA and passing H.R. 4055, the IDEA Full Funding Act.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Ose). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Goodling) that the 
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4055.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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