Chandler Votes to Increase Education Funding

WASHINGTON (February 1, 2007) – The House of Representatives passed yesterday a number of education increases for Fiscal Year 2007, including Head Start, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) state grant program, Title I grants, and the Title I School Improvement Fund.

“This bill is the beginning of the new Democratic controlled Congress keeping its promise to America’s children,” said Congressman Chandler. 

This bill stays within the budget limits set by Congress last year and makes critical investments for the following unmet needs:

• Head Start was given a boost of $104 million additional dollars over the Fiscal Year 2006 level.
• IDEA received a $200 million increase over the Fiscal Year 2006 level.  This appropriation will help local school districts across the country pay the cost of educating the more than 6.9 million children with disabilities.
• The bill increases Title I Grants by $125 million over the FY 2006 level.  Title I grants to school districts provide intensive reading and math instruction for low-income children.  It is expected that this increase would help serve an additional 38,000 eligible children.
• A new program, the Title I School Improvement Fund, is funded at $125 million.  This program provides assistance to the 6,700 schools that failed to meet the No Child Left Behind requirements in the 2005-2006 school year.  It will help those schools implement activities that would improve student performance, like teacher training, tutoring programs, and curriculum upgrades.

“For far too long our students have seen education funding cut in place of tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans,” said Chandler.  “There are new priorities in the 110^th Congress, and education is at the very top.” 

Because the 109^th Congress failed to pass 9 of 11 annual appropriations bills last fall, the 110^th Congress had to act in order to avoid a government shutdown.  This bill, known as a Continuing Resolution, funds the federal government through the remainder of FY 2007 which ends on September 30, 2007.  It will be considered by the Senate in the coming days and if passed, will be sent to the President for his signature. 

The continuing resolution finishes the fiscal year 2007 process so that Congress can focus on the future. 

“The President will be sending his FY 2008 budget to Congress next week.  It is important that the House was able to complete leftover work on FY 2007 appropriations, and I’m thrilled that this bill recognizes the importance of giving our young people the educational foundation they deserve.” 

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