[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 54 (Thursday, May 4, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E638]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IDEA FULL FUNDING ACT OF 2000

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                               speech of

                            HON. JACK QUINN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 3, 2000

  Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4055, the 
IDEA Full Funding Act. Since the Individuals With Disabilities 
Education Act became law in 1975, the federal government has not lived 
up to its promise of providing 40 percent of the extra cost for state 
and local governments to educate these children.
  I am proud to have participated in the effort over the past four 
years to increase IDEA funding by $2.6 billion, or 115 percent. These 
important increases have only brought the federal contribution to 12.6 
percent of the average per pupil expenditure to educate children with 
disabilities. We must do better. This legislation will authorize 
increases in special education spending by $2 billion a year until we 
reach the federal commitment of 40 percent by the year 2010.
  As a former schoolteacher in Orchard Park, New York, I am acutely 
aware of the burdens placed upon local school systems to educate 
special needs students. We owe it to these children to live up to our 
financial commitment. If the federal government lives up to its 
commitment to fund IDEA, the state and local school districts are then 
free to spend their money on classroom modernization, technology 
initiatives, hiring more teachers and buying new textbooks for 
students. This legislation ensures that special education students are 
given the proper resources, while at the same time, releases funding to 
help all students.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4055, the IDEA Full 
Funding Act.

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