Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my colleagues on the bipartisan agreement on special education and in support of the conference report on H.R. 1350.  This agreement is an example of what we can achieve when we place the interests of our nation’s children, parents and teachers before politics.  In particular, I want to note the leadership of Chairman Boehner and Ranking Member Miller on this issue.  On this bill, and several other pieces of legislation this year, they have been devoted advocates for children with disabilities.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act – known as IDEA – is a civil rights law.  It establishes that every child has a right to a free and appropriate public education.  As a nation, we have long held sacred the belief that education is a path to success, a way for any individual to rise above challenging circumstances and achieve his or her dreams.  I can personally attest to the fact that this rings true in a special way for children with disabilities.  Education is essential to leveling the playing field for children who face obstacles in life at an early age.  By recognizing that they have contributions to make and dreams to fulfill, IDEA offers these children the hope and promise that they can become fully productive members of society.

For these reasons, it has been my top priority to preserve the philosophy behind IDEA and ensure that teachers and administrators are given the appropriate resources to carry out this law.  I did not support the bill that came before the House of Representatives in the spring of 2003, because it failed to preserve safeguards for students with disabilities in instances where behavior problems may be a manifestation of their disability.  I also felt strongly that clear standards for special education teachers must be established and enforced; as they have been for other teachers under No Child Left Behind.  I felt that we could do better for our children with disabilities.

I am delighted that negotiations between the House and the Senate have resulted in a final product that does better.  The conference report that we are voting on today represents compromises by both Republicans and Democrats; as such, it represents a clear willingness to work together toward a future where all children receive a high quality education in our nation’s public schools.  This legislation maintains the protections for children with disabilities in the discipline process, reaffirms their right to due process, and recognizes that highly trained professionals make all the difference in providing an appropriate education for any student.

In the upcoming Congress, we will celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of IDEA.  How appropriate that a law which began as a bipartisan agreement to commit federal resources to the educational needs of students with disabilities is being reauthorized today in such an atmosphere of cooperation between both parties. 

We have made much progress in these last thirty years – the majority of children with disabilities are now being educated in their neighborhood schools in regular classrooms with their non-disabled peers, and college enrollments among individuals receiving IDEA services have sharply increased.  We must continue to work to level the playing field for all students.  It is my sincere hope that this collaborative spirit and commitment to children with disabilities is reflected in the appropriations process and future legislation that offers the promise of the American dream to our more vulnerable citizens.  Let us use this reauthorization process to pave the way to ensuring the full funding of IDEA, giving schools and teachers the resources they need to meet the goals for each and every child in their classrooms. 

I urge all my colleagues to support the conference report to H.R. 1350.  Thank you.