[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 69 (Friday, May 9, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E906]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IMPROVING EDUCATION RESULTS FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 30, 2003

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1350) to 
     reauthorize the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 
     and for other purposes:

  Mrs. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 1350, to 
reauthorize the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). 
Although I have outstanding concerns about this bill that I will 
continue to work with my colleagues to resolve, this bill responds to 
the needs of special education teachers and the children they serve. It 
also authorizes much-needed funding levels for our States and local 
school districts.
  H.R. 1350 will help schools identify special needs students at an 
earlier age and avoid misidentification of children. When a child is 
identified as having a disability at an early age, their parents and 
teachers are better able to address their needs and integrate them as 
much as possible into the regular educational curriculum. I have worked 
hard to secure funding for newborn hearing screening programs, which 
save schools millions of dollars in special education costs by ensuring 
early detection and intervention of infants with hearing loss. Further 
efforts to increase early identification, as H.R. 1350 will accomplish, 
will surely save our schools millions more in special education costs.
  H.R. 1350 puts us on the right track to provide funding that has been 
promised to our States and local school districts for 28 years. Many of 
us would have preferred that this bill provide mandatory IDEA funding 
increases, but by authorizing a plan to reach full funding of 40 
percent of the excess cost of educating students with disabilities 
within seven years, H.R. 1350 is a step in the right direction. This 
bill will provide funding that our schools desperately need now.
  This reauthorization will also help us learn how to reduce excessive 
paperwork for teachers. H.R. 1350 requires the General Accounting 
Office to conduct a study on Federal requirements under the Individuals 
With Disabilities Education Act that result in excessive paperwork 
burdens for teachers. This study will help policymakers better 
understand how we can improve conditions for teachers.
  I will continue to work with all community leaders to improve the 
discipline and procedural safeguards provisions in this bill. During my 
time in the Minnesota House of Representatives, our State crafted a 
careful balance between the rights of children with disabilities and 
non-disabled students. This allows schools to maintain a safe learning 
environment for all children and at the same time, resolve discipline 
issues. I hope to offer Minnesota as a model to create Federal policies 
that best meet the needs of students and schools.
  The bill before us today, while not perfect, will make notable 
improvements to the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act. In the 
coming weeks, I will work very hard with the disability community and 
my colleagues in the Senate to pass a final version of this 
reauthorization that allows for the best educational opportunity for 
all children.

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