[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 30 (Friday, February 13, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E280]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


               THE INTRODUCTION OF THE KEEP OUR PACT ACT

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                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 13, 2009

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, it is with a sense of urgency that I 
reintroduce the Keep Our Promises to America's Children and Teachers 
Act at the beginning of the 111th Congress.
  I offer the Keep Our PACT Act today to help meet the aspirations of 
our nation's school children--and to help provide all of their teachers 
and schools with the resources they need to help them achieve those 
aspirations. Additionally, I offer this bill as a reminder to those of 
us in government of the importance of keeping our promises and of truly 
making education a priority.
  Put simply, the Keep Our PACT Act would put Congress on a fiscally 
responsible path to fully funding the No Child Left Behind Act and the 
Individuals with Disabilities Act--on a mandatory basis, once and for 
all.
  Madam Speaker, since 2002, Title I of NCLB--the funding that goes to 
our highest-need students--has been funded at $54.7 billion below its 
authorized level. Currently, approximately 4.3 million students are not 
getting the extra Title I help they were promised.
  Furthermore, since IDEA's reauthorization in 2004, IDEA Part B has 
been funded at $20.3 billion below its authorized level and funding has 
never reached even half of the 40 percent average per pupil expenditure 
the government originally promised states more than 30 years ago.
  We need to keep our commitments to education, support our schools and 
provide all of our students with resources they need to succeed.
  Madam Speaker, once again I am proud to make the Keep Our PACT Act 
the very first piece of legislation I introduce this Congress. 
Additionally, I want to thank my colleagues joining me as original 
cosponsors on this bill today. We pledge to stand for the fundamental 
values this bill represents and invite Members from both sides of the 
aisle to embrace those values and get this bill passed.

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