The Introduction of the Keep Our Pact Act

Floor Speech

THE INTRODUCTION OF THE KEEP OUR PACT ACT -- (House of Representatives - February 13, 2009)

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 111th Congress.

I offer the Keep Our PACT Act today to help meet the aspirations of our nation's school children--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 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, since 2002, Title I of NCLB--the funding that goes to our highest-need students--has been funded at $54.7 billion below its authorized level. Currently, approximately 4.3 million students are not getting the extra Title I help they were promised.

Furthermore, since IDEA's reauthorization in 2004, IDEA Part B has been funded at $20.3 billion below its authorized level and funding has never reached even half of the 40 percent average per pupil expenditure the government originally promised states more than 30 years ago.

We need to keep our commitments to education, 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 this Congress. Additionally, I want to thank my colleagues joining me as original cosponsors on 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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