[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 151 (Thursday, November 18, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8065-S8066]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE RESOLUTION 684--RECOGNIZING THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 
  ENACTMENT OF THE EDUCATION FOR ALL HANDICAPPED CHILDREN ACT OF 1975

  Mr. HARKIN (for himself, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Brown of Massachusetts, Mr. 
Brown of Ohio, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. 
Feinstein, Mr. Franken, Mr. Gregg, Mr. Hatch, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. 
Isakson, Mr. Johanns, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Mikulski, Mrs. 
Murray, Mr. Reed, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Sanders, Mr. 
Tester, Mr. Udall of Colorado, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Warner, 
Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Barrasso, and Ms. Murkowski) submitted the 
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 684

       Whereas the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 
     1975 (Public Law 94-142) was signed into law 35 years ago on 
     November 29;
       Whereas the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 
     1975 established the Federal policy of ensuring that all 
     children, regardless of the nature or severity of their 
     disability, have available to them a free appropriate public 
     education in the least restrictive environment;
       Whereas the Education of the Handicapped Act (Public Law 
     91-230), as amended by the Education for All Handicapped 
     Children Act of 1975, was further amended by the Education of 
     the Handicapped Act Amendments of 1986 (Public Law 99-457) to 
     create a preschool grant program for children with 
     disabilities 3 to 5 years of age and an early intervention 
     program for infants and toddlers with disabilities from birth 
     through age 2;
       Whereas the Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments of 
     1990 (Public Law 101-476) renamed the Education of the 
     Handicapped Act as the Individuals with Disabilities 
     Education Act (IDEA) (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.);
       Whereas IDEA was amended by the Individuals with 
     Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997 (Public Law 
     105-17) to ensure that children with disabilities have equal 
     access to, and make progress in, the general education 
     curriculum and are included in all general State and 
     district-wide assessment programs;
       Whereas IDEA was amended by the Individuals with 
     Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (Public Law 
     108-446) to ensure that all children with disabilities have 
     available to them a free appropriate public education that 
     emphasizes special education and related services designed to 
     meet their individual needs and prepare them for further 
     education, employment, and independent living;
       Whereas IDEA currently serves an estimated 342,000 infants 
     and toddlers, 709,000 preschoolers, and 5,890,000 children 6 
     to 21 years of age;
       Whereas IDEA has opened neighborhood schools to students 
     with disabilities and increased the number of children living 
     in their communities instead of institutions;
       Whereas the academic achievement of students with 
     disabilities has significantly increased since the enactment 
     of IDEA;
       Whereas the number of children with disabilities who 
     complete high school with a standard diploma has grown 
     significantly since the enactment of IDEA;
       Whereas the number of children with disabilities who enroll 
     in institutions of higher

[[Page S8066]]

     education has more than tripled since the enactment of IDEA;
       Whereas IDEA requires partnership among parents of children 
     with disabilities and education professionals in the design 
     and implementation of the educational services provided to 
     children with disabilities;
       Whereas the achievement of students with disabilities is 
     integrally linked with the successful alignment of special 
     and general education systems;
       Whereas IDEA has increased the quality of research in 
     effective teaching practices for students with disabilities; 
     and
       Whereas IDEA continues to serve as the framework to marshal 
     the resources of this Nation to implement the promise of full 
     participation in society of children with disabilities: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the 35th anniversary of the enactment of the 
     Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 (Public 
     Law 94-142);
       (2) acknowledges the many and varied contributions of 
     children with disabilities and their parents, teachers, 
     related services personnel, and administrators; and
       (3) reaffirms its support for the Individuals with 
     Disabilities Education Act so that all children with 
     disabilities have access to a free appropriate public 
     education in the least restrictive environment and the 
     opportunity to benefit from the general education curriculum 
     and be prepared for further education, employment, and 
     independent living.

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