Protecting Education for Children with Disabilities

Floor Speech

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Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, I thank my sister in service, Congresswoman Hayes, who has been leading this fight to protect our children, especially making sure that we have access to public education and quality education for all of our children.

Alongside millions of children, including children with disabilities and their families, we are demanding that Congress fulfill its promise.

Nearly 50 years ago, Congress passed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, IDEA, with a commitment that every child, including students with disabilities, meet their full potential in every classroom and to ensure also that every family has the services they need for their children to succeed.

We didn't say educate children with disabilities if it is convenient. We didn't say protect their rights unless the budgets are too tight or we don't have enough money. We made a promise. We made a promise to fund 40 percent of the cost of IDEA. That promise was never kept. The Federal share is now less than 12 percent.

According to the Autism Alliance of Michigan, Michigan ranks among the lowest in the Nation for special education outcomes, due to massive underfunding by our Federal Government. Students with disabilities in Michigan are twice as likely to drop out of school as their peers. Only 60 percent graduate high school in 4 years, compared to 85 percent among their other peers.

Right now, we are seeing special education under direct and deliberate attack. We have seen repeated efforts to slash education funding, weaken civil rights enforcement and chip away at the protections IDEA guarantees to our students with disabilities.

Every dollar we fail to invest in IDEA is a cost shifted onto our schools, our local communities, our families, and our children, who are already feeling financial strain.

Our families are counting on us. Congress cannot continue to fall short on our students and families regarding funding when so much is at stake. We must fulfill our promise and fund IDEA.

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