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Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Chuck Hagel (R-NE), along with eleven other senators, recently introduced S.1159, the IDEA Full Funding Act. It is similar to a bill introduced by Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) in the House of Representatives, H.R. 821, the Everyone Deserves Unconditional Access to Education (EDUCATE) Act, which would gradually increase IDEA funding to 40% by 2016.
Although the federal government committed to contribute up to 40% of the cost of implementing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), it currently only contributes about 17%. The states pay the remaining 83% of the costs. S. 1159 would increase federal funding for IDEA with mandatory funds over the next eight years (2015) and would ensure that the federal government "fully fund" its commitment to pay 40% of IDEA.
Joining Senators Harkin and Hagel in introducing the IDEA Full Funding Act were Senators Snowe (R-ME), Roberts (R-KS), Coleman (R-MN), Warner (R-VA), Collins (R-ME), Kennedy (D-MA), Dodd (D-CT), Mikulski (D-MD), Schumer (D-NY), Lieberman (I-CT), and Murray (D-WA).
ASHA members can go to our Take Action Web site to encourage their members of Congress to increase the federal IDEA contribution to 20% in 2008 and co-sponsor the full funding bills. For further information, please contact Neil Snyder, ASHA’s Director of Federal Advocacy, via e-mail at nsnyder@asha.org or by phone at 800-498-2071, ext. 4257.
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