[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 84 (Tuesday, June 10, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S7633]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. CLINTON (for herself, Ms. Collins, Mrs. Murray, and Mr. 
        Bingaman):
  S. 1226. A bill to coordinate efforts in collecting and analyzing 
data on the incidence and prevalence of developmental disabilities, and 
for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions.
  Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss a rising 
epidemic that is preventing a growing number of children in our Nation 
from learning and contributing fully as members of our society.
  Twelve million children under the age of eighteen now suffer from a 
developmental, learning or behavioral disability. Since 1977, 
enrollment in special education programs for children with learning 
disabilities has doubled. In New York, there are 206,000 learning 
disabled children--this is fifty percent of the special education 
population in New York.
  While we know that developmental disabilities are affecting more 
children and costing us more money, we still know relatively little 
about the causes of developmental disabilities. A National Academy of 
Sciences study suggests that genetic factors explain only ten to twenty 
percent of developmental disabilities. Considerable research suggests 
that toxic chemicals such as mercury, pesticides, and dioxin contribute 
to these problems, but proving the exact role of environmental factors 
in these problems will take time and significant research dollars.
  We can simply not stand back and watch our children suffer from this 
increasing epidemic. That is why I have worked hard to develop the 2003 
Act to Prevent Developmental Disabilities in Education, which I am 
proud to introduce today with my colleague, Senator Collins. It would 
help us lower the costs of developmental disabilities by identifying 
the preventable, non-genetic causes that are affecting so many children 
in our nation.
  Our legislation would require the Department of Education to 
coordinate with the CDC to improve data collection on environmental 
hazards that cause disabilities. At this time, the Department of 
Education collects information on the prevalence of disabilities among 
children in schools and the CDC collects information on environmental 
toxins, but the two data systems are not coordinated. If they were, 
policymakers and researchers could better identify where environmental 
hazards may be causing developmental disabilities and target resources 
to these areas for abatement. A National Academy of Sciences study 
suggests that 28 percent of developmental disabilities are due to 
environmental causes, and a recent study in the New England Journal of 
Medicine demonstrated that exposure to low levels of lead can result in 
a drop of 7.4 IQ points, which can turn a healthy child into one with a 
developmental disability.
  I am working to incorporate this legislation into the reauthorization 
of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act because I believe so 
strongly that our children and families, indeed our entire society, 
benefits when we prevent developmental diseases rather than treating 
them after they occur.
  And thank you to my friend Senator Collins for her hard work and 
commitment to this important issue.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1226

       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 ``2003 Act to Prevent 
     Developmental Disabilities in Education''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Seventeen percent of children in the United States 
     under 18 years of age have a developmental disability.
       (2) Since 1977, enrollment in special education programs 
     for children with learning disabilities has doubled.
       (3) Federal and State education departments spend about 
     $43,000,000,000 each year on special education programs for 
     individuals with developmental disabilities who are between 3 
     and 21 years of age.
       (4) Research suggests that genetic factors explain only 10 
     to 20 percent of developmental diseases, and a National 
     Academy of Sciences study suggests that at least 28 percent 
     of developmental disabilities are due to environmental 
     causes.
       (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to ensure a 
     collaborative tracking effort between the Department of 
     Education and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
     for developmental disabilities and potential environmental 
     links.

     SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TRACKING ACTIVITIES.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Education (in this 
     section referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall coordinate 
     efforts with the Director of the National Center for Birth 
     Defects and Developmental Disabilities of the Centers for 
     Disease Control and Prevention (in this section referred to 
     as the ``Director'') in collecting and analyzing data on the 
     incidence and prevalence of developmental disabilities to 
     determine localities with a high incidence of developmental 
     disabilities and study possible causes of the increased 
     incidence of these diseases, disorders, and conditions.
       (b) Existing Surveillance Systems, Registries, and 
     Surveys.--To the maximum extent practicable in implementing 
     the activities under this section, the Secretary and the 
     Director shall develop methods for reconciling data collected 
     in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities 
     Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.) on the prevalence of 
     developmental disabilities with existing surveillance and 
     data collection systems, registries, and surveys that are 
     administered by the Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention, including--
       (1) State birth defects surveillance systems as supported 
     under section 317C of the Public Health Service Act (42 
     U.S.C. 247b-4); and
       (2) environmental public health tracking program grants 
     authorized under section 301 of the Public Health Service Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 241).
       (c) Privacy.--In pursuing activities under this section, 
     the Secretary and the Director shall ensure the protection of 
     individual health privacy consistent with regulations 
     promulgated in accordance with section 264(c) of the Health 
     Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (42 
     U.S.C. 1320d-2 note), the Family Educational Right to Privacy 
     Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g), and State and local privacy 
     regulations, as applicable.
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