List of House IDEA Conferees

List of House IDEA Conferees

House Appoints Conferees for IDEA Reauthorization

As we mentioned late last week, the House has appointed conferees to the House-Senate conference committee on IDEA reauthorization. Since the Senate appointed its conferees on September 21, the conference committee can now begin working on a compromise between the House and Senate IDEA bills that both chambers can pass and put before the President for his signature. (Note: although Congress is currently in recess, staff from both bodies will be working on a compromise IDEA bill between now and the time Congress returns for a lame duck session in November.) While the Senate appointed every member of the HELP Committee to the conference committee, the House appointed the following Representatives:

The Speaker appointed conferees - from the Committee on the Judiciary for consideration of sec. 205 of the House bill, and sec. 101 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Sensenbrenner, Smith (TX), and Conyers.

The Speaker appointed conferees - from the Committee on Energy and Commerce for consideration of sec. 101 and title V of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Barton (TX), Bilirakis, and Dingell.

The Speaker appointed conferees - from the Committee on Education and the Workforce for consideration of the House bill and the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Boehner, Castle, Ehlers, Keller, Wilson (SC), Miller, George, Woolsey, and Owens.

(Following is a press release from the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.)

October 8, 2004
House-Senate Conference to Begin on Special Education Reform Bill

Republican education leaders in the U.S. House today applauded Speaker Dennis Hastert for appointing conferees to work with the Senate in conference to produce a final special education reform bill that can be signed into law by President Bush before the end of the year.

The House-Senate conference on special education reform will reconcile differing versions of legislation passed by the House and Senate to strengthen and renew the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the nation's special education law.

"I believe the President will have the chance to sign legislation before the end of 2004 that will support special education teachers and improve academic results for children with disabilities," said Education & the Workforce Committee Chairman John Boehner (R-OH). "I look forward to working with Democrats and Republicans in the coming weeks to ensure this happens."

In April 2003, the House passed special education reform legislation (H.R. 1350), authored by Education Reform Subcommittee Chairman Mike Castle (R-DE), that would refocus the IDEA to improve education results for students with disabilities and reduce the paperwork burden on special education teachers. School administrators have hailed the bill, which received bipartisan support, as "the best special education policy revisions we've seen in decades."

"The Improving Education Results for Children with Disabilities Act aims to improve current law by focusing on improved education results, reducing the paperwork burden for special education teachers, and addressing the problem of over identification of minority students as disabled. In addition, this bill seeks to reduce litigation, and reform special education finance and funding," said Castle. "By appointing conferees, the House today is sending a strong signal that we intend to complete our work and send a final bill to the President for his signature this year. The reforms included in this bill are too important to wait."

Education & the Workforce Committee members appointed as conferees today are:

Education & the Workforce Committee Chairman John Boehner (R-OH)
Education Reform Subcommittee Chairman Mike Castle (R-DE)
Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) * Rep. Ric Keller (R-FL)
Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC)
Education & the Workforce Committee Ranking Minority Member George Miller (D-CA)
Education Reform Subcommittee Ranking Minority Member Lynn Woolsey (D-CA)
Rep. Major Owens (D-NY)

CEC has been at the forefront of the debate on IDEA reauthorization. From the drafting of the legislation to the votes on the House and Senate floors, CEC has provided lawmakers and staff with information on special education and CEC's position on all topics related to IDEA reauthorization. Since May, CEC has urged Senate and House leaders to go to conference on IDEA legislation, and we are now urging the conferees to meet soon so that the President can sign IDEA legislation into law. As always, CEC will keep you updated on any breaking news on IDEA reauthorization.

To read CEC's recommendations to Congress on IDEA reauthorization, please go to http://www.cec.sped.org/pp/August2004AnalysisforIDEAConferenceCECRecommendations.pdf .

For a CEC summary of selected IDEA issues, click on the following link: http://www.cec.sped.org/pp/CEC_Summary_of_Selected_IDEA_Reauthorization_Issues.pdf .