STATEMENT OF CONGRESSMAN MAJOR OWENS
ON THE REPUBLICAN ABANDONMENT OF VITALLY NEEDED PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

April 27, 2005

"Lead on, Lead on." This was the final message of the late great leader of the Community of People with Disabilities. Justin Dart led and won the fight for the Americans with Disabilities Act but in subsequent years he was greatly troubled by the erosion of the bi-partisan support needed to fully implement the Act. Justin Dart was a life-long Republican but he chose to support President Clinton's bid for re-election because he appreciated the unwavering commitment of the Democrats to the fair and just treatment of people with disabilities.

Today, we are faced not only with Republican neglect refusing to provide adequate support; but funding hostility is generating devastating problems in the arena of elementary and secondary education. Breaking the President's pledge to leave No Child Behind, the administration seeks only 50% of authorized funds to help schools and states implement the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Despite bi-partisan support for a substantial increase in Special Education funding, this administration refuses to take the one simple action which would do the greatest good for children with disabilities; move more rapidly toward the longstanding Federal authorization of 40% of funding. This step would benefit all children by immediately relieving financing pressures on local districts which generate hostilities toward children with disabilities.