[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 71 (Friday, May 6, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E651]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      SCHOLARSHIPS FOR OPPORTUNITY AND RESULTS REAUTHORIZATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. MARK DeSAULNIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 29, 2016

  Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the Scholarships 
for Opportunity and Results Reauthorization Act.
  Plenty of members have raised legitimate concerns with this bill, not 
the least of which is that students, teachers, parents, administrators, 
and the community in D.C. did not ask for this system to be forced on 
them.
  A specific concern: The lack of protections for students with 
disabilities, arguably those who need protections the most.
  The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act--colloquially known 
as IDEA--has ensured for decades that children with disabilities 
throughout the nation receive the services and accommodations they 
need. IDEA governs how states and public agencies provide early 
intervention, special education and related services to more than 6.5 
million eligible infants, toddlers, children and youth with 
disabilities.
  Voucher schools should not get a free pass because of accounting 
gimmicks allowed under the voucher program.
  When IDEA was passed, it did not have a clause that said ``protect 
all students with disabilities except those students who choose to go 
to voucher schools.'' I urge my colleagues to reject this bill and 
stand up for the civil rights that we all agreed every student 
deserves.