FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 16, 2005 |
CONTACT: Alexa Marrero or Kevin Smith Telephone: (202) 225-4527 |
House Approves Education, Hurricane Relief Bills
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives has approved three education measures with broad bipartisan support: the Child Medication Safety Act (H.R. 1790), the Federal Youth Coordination Act (H.R. 856), and a resolution commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (H.Con.Res. 288). The House also approved unanimously, by voice vote, the Hurricane Regulatory Relief Act (H.R. 3975), a bill to provide flexibility and assistance to those impacted by the Gulf Coast hurricanes.
“These measures reflect Congress’ strong support for education, and I’m pleased the House came together in a bipartisan fashion to approve these bills. By approving these bills, we took a strong stand for the rights of parents when it comes to their children’s health; we laid the groundwork for a system that will better meet the needs of disadvantaged youth; and we recognized the educational opportunities that have been made possible for millions of children with disabilities through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act,” said Education & the Workforce Committee Chairman John Boehner (R-OH).
“The House also continued its ongoing effort to provide common sense solutions for hurricane relief that will help affected students, schools, workers, families, and communities bypass the bureaucracy and move forward with the recovery effort,” continued Boehner.
REGULATORY RELIEF FOR THE HURRICANE RECOVERY
The Hurricane Regulatory Relief Act (H.R. 3975), sponsored by Rep. Bobby Jindal (R-LA), offers common sense flexibility and assistance to help those impacted by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The bill offers flexibility for K-12 and higher education students, teachers, and schools; expands access to child care and early childhood education; promotes community-based services through flexibility for the Community Services Block Grant; offers financial flexibility for displaced workers; and enhances safety and reduces bureaucracy in relief efforts. A summary of the bill is available online here.
"This bill helps Gulf Coast families as they rebuild from the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita by easing restrictions that might otherwise have prevented students from continuing their education and parents from finding jobs," said Jindal. "This bill focuses on removing government barriers to the recovery effort, extending deadlines and removing paperwork, so that government itself is not an obstacle to helping people restart their lives."
PROTECTING PARENTAL RIGHTS & DECISION MAKING FOR MEDICATION
The Child Medication Safety Act (H.R. 1790), sponsored by Rep. John Kline (R-MN), protects parents against being forced to medicate their children. The bill, approved overwhelmingly in the 108th Congress and reflected in last year’s special education reform legislation, prohibits school officials from forcing parents to place their children on medication as a condition of attending school.
“Parents should never be forced to medicate their child against their will and better judgment to ensure their child will receive educational services,” said Kline. “We have a responsibility to protect the rights of parents to decide for themselves what is best for their children.”
IMPROVING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
The Federal Youth Coordination Act (H.R. 856), sponsored by Rep. Tom Osborne (R-NE), establishes the Federal Youth Development Council to improve the quality and effectiveness of programs that serve disadvantaged youth by increasing collaboration and coordination among programs and improving efficiency among the agencies that administer these programs.
“I have long advocated for a stronger emphasis at the federal level on youth development programming because I believe it is critically important in order to help our young people grow up to be healthy and strong,” said Osborne. “America’s young people deserve high quality, effective, and meaningful youth development programs. Our nation’s taxpayers deserve their tax dollars to be spent on high-quality, effective and meaningful youth development programs. The Federal Youth Coordination Act addresses the disconnect between these two objectives.”
HONORING EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
Commemorating special education through H.Con.Res. 288, sponsored by Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE), which honors the 30th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the law that preceded it, and recognizes the strides that have been made in providing educational opportunities for children with disabilities.
“For too many years, children with disabilities were denied access to public education. However, with the passage of the Education of All Handicapped Children Act in 1975, the doors of educational opportunity were opened. Today, more than ever, students with disabilities have an opportunity to accomplish their goals. According to the Department of Education, about 6.6 million students currently participate in these programs across the nation,” said Castle.
“I am pleased that we are able to come together to recognize the good that has been done, and to recognize the parents, students and educators impacted over the past 30 years,” Castle continued. “My hope for the future is that we continue to find ways to raise the achievement of students with disabilities, and to ensure they have the services necessary to do so.” # # # # # |