Government Relations Action Alert

Support Full Funding for IDEA!

May 4, 2004

THE ISSUE AT HAND

The Senate is expected to consider S.1248-- the bill to reauthorize the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)-- during the second week in May. NASW is pleased that Sens. Kennedy (D-MA) and Gregg (R-NH) worked so diligently to develop this bipartisan bill; however it does not include full funding language. To address this, Sens. Harkin (D-IA) and Hagel (R-NE) plan to propose an amendment to S.1248 that will call for full funding of IDEA. It is critical that your senators know that their constituents support the passage of this amendment.

ACTION NEEDED

You can reach your senators by telephone by dialing the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. You may also send them both e-mails through NASW's Congress Web http://www.naswdc.org/advocacy/grassroots/congressweb.asp

Phone Script: “As a constituent and member of the National Association of Social Workers, I am calling to encourage Senator ____________ to support the Harkin-Hagel amendment to IDEA which will fully fund the program. Thank you.”

BACKGROUND

The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee passed S.1248, a bipartisan bill, in a unanimous vote of 21-0 on June 25, 2003. The House passed its version, H.R.1350, on April 30, 2003 by a vote of 251 to 171.

For additional information regarding NASW's position on S.1248, please refer to: https://www.socialworkers.org/advocacy/issues/letters/070103_disabilites.asp

You may also contact Ann Bradford, senior government relations associate, at abradford@naswdc.org or 202-336-8237.

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