The Introduction of the Keep Our PACT Act

THE INTRODUCTION OF THE KEEP OUR PACT ACT

* Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, it is with a sense of urgency that I reintroduce the Keep Our Promises to America's Children and Teachers Act at the beginning of the 110th Congress.

* I offer the Keep Our PACT Act today to help meet the aspirations of our Nation's schoolchildren--and to help provide all of their teachers and schools with the resources they need to help them achieve those aspirations. Additionally, I offer this bill as a reminder to those of us in government of the importance of keeping our promises and of truly making education a priority.

* Put it simply, the Keep Our PACT Act would put Congress on a fiscally responsible path to fully funding the No Child Left Behind Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Act--on a mandatory basis, once and for all.

* Madam Speaker, the 2006 Education Appropriations bill funded No Child Left Behind at $23.51 billion, over $1 billion less than the previous year and $13.36 billion below the 2006 authorized level. As a result, over 3.1 million students are not getting the extra Title I help they were promised under NCLB.

* Furthermore, the 2006 Education Appropriations bill continued underfunding IDEA at $10.7 billion--less than half of the 40% average per pupil expenditure the government originally promised states more than 30 years ago.

* By keeping our commitments to NCLB and IDEA, we can support our schools and provide all of our students with resources they need to succeed.

* Madam Speaker, once again I am proud to make the Keep Our PACT Act the very first piece of legislation I introduce in this Congress. Additionally, I want to thank my colleagues for joining me as original cosponsors of this bill today. We pledge to stand for the fundamental values this bill represents and invite Members from both sides of the aisle to embrace those values and get this bill passed.

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