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105TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 3930
To ensure that the Federal Government adheres to its commitment to State
and local governments to share in the expense of educating children
with disabilities.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 21, 1998
Mr. GRAHAM (for himself, Mr. SOUDER, Mrs. MYRICK, Mr. HAYWORTH, Mr.
SESSIONS, Mr. BLUNT, Mr. DUNCAN, Mr. MCINTOSH, Mr. NORWOOD,
and Mr. SHADEGG) introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Education and the Workforce
A BILL
To ensure that the Federal Government adheres to its com-
mitment to State and local governments to share in
the expense of educating children with disabilities.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Better IDEA Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act provides that Federal, State, and local govern-
ments share in the expense of educating children
with disabilities and authorizes the Federal Govern-
ment to pay up to 40 percent of the national average
per pupil expenditure for children with disabilities.
(2) In each of the past 3 years, the Federal
Government has appropriated only approximately 10
percent of the maximum State grant allocation
amount to educate children with disabilities under
the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
(3) The high costs of educating children with
disabilities, coupled with the failure of the Federal
Government to meet fully its obligation under the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, drain
school resources and jeopardize the quality of in-
struction for all students.
(4) The Federal Government’s failure to appro-
priate the maximum State grant allocation to edu-
cate children with disabilities under the Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act represents a massive
unfunded Federal mandate on the States.
(5) Significant increases in Federal funds to
the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act will
allow local governments more flexibility in spending
limited education funds.
SEC. 3. REDUCTION OF CERTAIN FUNDS.
(a) AMENDMENTS.—
(1) GOALS 2000: EDUCATE AMERICA ACT.—The
Goals 2000: Educate America Act (20 U.S.C. 5801
et seq.) is repealed.
(2) ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
ACT OF 1965.—The Elementary and Secondary Edu-
cation Act of 1965 is amended—
(A) in section 2003(a) of such Act, by
striking ‘‘and such’’ and all that follows
through the period and inserting the following:
‘‘, such sums as may be necessary for fiscal
years 1996 through 1998, and $175,000,000
for fiscal year 1999.’’; and
(B) in section 10101(d) of such Act, by
striking ‘‘and such’’ and all that follows
through the period and inserting the following:
‘‘, such sums as may be necessary for fiscal
years 1996 through 1998, and $10,000,000 for
fiscal year 1999.’’.
(b) NO EXTENSION.—The provisions of section 422
of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C.
1226a) shall not apply to extend the authority of the pro-
visions amended by subsection (a)(2).
(c) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—The Secretary shall
make available any funds that are not expended or obli-
gated as a result of the amendments made by subsection
(a) for programs under part B of the Individuals with Dis-
abilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1411 et seq.).
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