Heinrich, Luján Introduce Legislation to Fully Fund Education for Individuals Living with Disabilities

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) joined their colleagues in introducing the IDEA Full Funding Act to ensure all children with disabilities can access a free, high-quality public education. In 1975, Congress passed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to ensure that every child with a disability has equal access to education opportunities. While this was a historic step forward, Congress has failed to provide the promised funding. The IDEA Full Funding Act will bridge this gap.

Under IDEA, the federal government committed to pay 40 percent of the average cost per student to provide special education services; however, that pledge has never been met. Current funding is at less than 12 percent, according to the Congressional Research Service. The IDEA Full Funding Act requires regular, mandatory increases in IDEA spending to finally meet Congress' obligation to ensure students have the tools they need to succeed.

"New Mexico kids deserve every opportunity to succeed, and that requires access to quality public education that meets their unique needs. While Donald Trump and Elon Musk are trying to dismantle America's education system, I am focused on fighting for our kids' future," said Heinrich. "It's past time that we make good on the promise Congress made in 1975: We need to deliver our fair share of funding for special education, delivering for our kids and our communities."

"It's critical that students with disabilities can access a free appropriate public education," said Luján. "When Congress passed IDEA, we promised to cover 40% of the extra cost of special education. For over 40 years, the federal government has failed to fund its fair share of the IDEA Act, leaving room for gaps in education. That's why I'm proud to join my colleagues in reintroducing this bipartisan legislation to fully fund IDEA for students with disabilities."

The legislation is led by U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen and U.S. Representative Jared Huffman. Alongside Heinrich and Lujan, the legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Penn.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). The legislation is co-led in the House by U.S. Representatives G.T. Thompson (R-Pa.-15), Joe Neguse (D-Colo.-02), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.-01), Angie Craig (D-Minn.-02), Pete Stauber (R-Minn.-08), Janelle Bynum (D-Ore.-05), Don Bacon (R-Neb.-02), Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.-14), and Mike Bost (R-Ill.-12) and cosponsored by over 60 additional members of the House.

The bill is supported by 60 organizations, including: The School Superintendents Association (AASA), AFT, AFL-CIO, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), American Occupational Therapy Association, American Psychological Association, Assistive Technology Industry Association, Association of Educational Service Agencies, Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents, Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators, Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE), Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO), Autism Society of America, Autism Speaks, Autistic Self Advocacy Network, CAST, Center for Learner Equity, Coalition for Adequate Funding for Special Education, Coalition for Community Schools, Consortium of State School Boards Associations (COSSBA), Council for Exceptional Children, Council for Learning Disabilities, Council of Administrators of Special Education, Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, EDGE Consulting Partners, EdTrust, Education Reform Now, First Focus Campaign for Children, Higher Education Consortium for Special Education, Institute for Educational Leadership, Learning Disabilities Association of America, National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators (NAESPA), National Association for Music Education, National Association for Pupil Transportation, National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities, National Association of Federally Impacted Schools (NAFIS), National Association of Private Special Education Centers, National Association of School Psychologists, National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), National Center for Learning Disabilities, National Consortium for Physical Education for Individuals with Disabilities (NCPEID), National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), National Down Syndrome Congress, National Down Syndrome Society, National Education Association, National PTA, National Rural Education Association (NREA), NBJC, Teach For America, The Advocacy Institute, The Arc of the United States, TNTP.

The full bill text can be found here.

###

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Tweet