Government Relations Update

March 25, 2003

Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
H.R. 1350

 Bill Introduction

A Republican bill (H.R. 1350) was introduced in the House of Representatives on March 19 to reauthorize the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).  The House Committee on Education and the Workforce plans to mark-up the bill (a “mark-up” is a committee process that involves amending the original bill before it is sent to the floor for a full vote) sometime this week.  However, NASW is joining numerous other organizations in encouraging the Committee to wait until after the Easter Recess to mark-up the bill.  This will give parents, related services personnel, and teachers the time they need to look over the changes that the bill makes and voice their opinions to the members of the Committee. 

To view the bill in it’s entirety please see: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=108_cong_bills&docid=f:h1350ih.txt.pdf  (this link will take you to the PDF version of the bill on the Government Printing Office’s website)

A summary of the bill will be posted on the NASW website shortly.  To view NASW's previous update on IDEA legislation, which includes funding information for FY03, please refer to: https://www.socialworkers.org/advocacy/updates/030703.asp