Congress Prepares for Conference
on IDEA
Both the U.S. House and Senate have passed their individual
bills (H.R.1350/S.1248) to reauthorize the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). As the 108 th Congress draws
to a close, the two chambers will proceed with going to conference
on the bills in an effort to develop a compromise bill that
can be passed before Congress adjourns for the year. Although
the House passed its bill last year and the Senate voted on
its bill in May, there has been a delay in going to conference
because the Democrats have been denied a voice in a number
of other conferences this year. Senate Minority Leader Daschle
has given his approval of the plan devised by Senators Gregg
(R-NH) and Kennedy (D-MA) to ensure that the Senate Democrats
are included in the proceedings during the IDEA conference.
There are quite a few differences between the two bills. One
of the main differences is that S.1248 includes behavioral
assessments, in addition to manifestation determinations, as
part of the discipline process. The House did not include this
provision in H.R.1350. To learn more about the differences
between the two bills, please refer to NASW's earlier legislative
updates on IDEA:
Senate- http://www.naswdc.org/advocacy/issues/letters/070103_disabilites.asp
House- http://www.naswdc.org/advocacy/updates/2003/050103_update.asp
The House plans to name conferees in the very near future.
The Senate conferees are all members of the Senate Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. They are as
follows: Sen. Gregg (R-NH), Chairman, Sen. Frist (R-TN), Sen.
Enzi (R-WY), Sen. Alexander (R-TN), Sen. Bond (R-MO), Sen.
DeWine (R-OH), Sen. Roberts (R-KS), Sen. Sessions (R-AL), Sen.
Ensign (R-NV), Sen. Graham (R-SC), Sen. Warner (R-VA), Sen.
Kennedy (D-MA), Ranking Minority Member, Sen. Dodd (D-CT),
Sen. Harkin (D-IA), Sen. Mikulski (D-MD), Sen. Bingaman (D-NM),
Sen. Murray (D-WA), Sen. Reed (D-RI), Sen. Edwards (D-NC),
Sen. Clinton (D-NY), Sen. Jeffords (I-VT).
For additional information, please contact Ann Bradford, senior
government relations associate, at abradford@naswdc.org or
202-336-8237. You may also refer to NASW's website http://www.naswdc.org/advocacy/issues/education.asp
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