Dismantling of Department of Education

Floor Speech

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Mr. DeSAULNIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to strongly oppose the transfer of special education programs from the Department of Education to the Department of Health and Human Services.

HHS Secretary Kennedy has troubling and ignorant views on disabilities and is woefully unqualified to oversee programs supporting more than 8 million students and their families.

This move, publicly opposed by multiple Bush administration education officials and Senate Health Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy, according to a recent story by The New York Times, will segregate special education from the larger education system in direct defiance of congressional intent.

Special education programs must remain at the Department of Education, where they are administered by expert staff that have a long understanding and longstanding relationships with States and local school districts.

If this move continues, all officials responsible should face the consequences, including impeachment of the Secretary of Education.

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