| Home | Our History |  |
Gov't Affairs | Membership | Publications | Events | Affiliates | Awards | Feature | Members Only |
 |
Government Affairs |
[an error occurred while processing this directive] Governmental Affairs: Advocacy in action. Read current and previous Legislative Network Alerts. Frequently asked questions about the Legislative Network. |
Legislative Network Alerts Alert Number 12 June 16, 1999 For Your Information Social Security Return-to-Work Legislation clears the Senate; and IDEA amendments offered. To: Members of the Legislative Network From: Thomas G. Stewart, Director of Governmental Affairs Your cards, letters, telephone calls, and e-mail messages worked once again. Today, the United States Senate passed the bill, S. 331, the Work Incentives Improvement Act, by a vote of 99 ayes and 0 noes. Tuesday afternoon, after the presentation of the Congressional gold medal to civil rights leader Rosa Parks, President Bill Clinton walked across the Capitol building to a Senate news conference being held by Senator Jim Jeffords (R-VT) and Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA). During this unusual personal appearance, the President reiterated his strong support for Social Security return-to-work legislation and to urge the U.S. Senate to debate S. 331, the Work Incentives Improvement Act. The President challenged Congress to send this legislation to his desk by next month 'so disabled Americans no longer would have to choose between a job and medical benefits.' Senator Phil Gramm (R-TX) dropped his early objections to the legislation in return for a written commitment to seek spending reductions in other programs to cover the cost. Senator Jim Jeffords, one of the original sponsors of the legislation, pointed out that while 'the bill might cost the government initially, it would have long-term financial benefits because disabled people who return to work would pay income taxes that they do not now pay.' The bill now moves to the House side. A companion House bill, H.R. 1180, sponsored by Congressman Rick Lazio (R-NY), has already received approval by the full House Commerce Committee. However, the legislation must still be reviewed by the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Archer (R-TX) expressed his concern over the Medicare / Medicaid provisions in the legislation. A Ways and Means Committee staffer indicated late last week that the Committee was focusing on Social Security program restructuring and would take up Social Security return-to-work legislation after the Senate had acted. IDEA AMENDMENT OFFERED On May 20, 1999, Senator Bill Frist (R-TN), and Senator John Ashcroft (R-MO) added an amendment to the Violent and Repeat Juvenile Offender Accountability and Rehabilitation Act (S. 254) which would amend the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The Frist / Ashcroft amendment would allow school personnel to expel or suspend a child with a disability for an unlimited amount of time as it would any other child, if that child carries a\or possesses a gun or firearm to school or to a school function. Additionally, it states that the school would NOT be responsible for providing a free and appropriate public education during the period of expulsion. This move was supported by the National School Boards Association. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), one of the authors of the original IDEA legislation, was successful in offering an amendment to the Juvenile Justice bill that would require that schools provide appropriate interventions and services, including mental health intervention and services, to any child removed from school for any act of violence, including the carrying of a weapon to school. During debate of the amendment to IDEA, Senator Jim Jeffords (R-VT) asked his colleagues not to amend IDEA and pointed out that there was a provision already in the IDEA law which allows schools to remove dangerous students. He told fellow Senators that the issue was money. Some schools do not want to provide educations services in alternative settings for students who are removed from the regular classrooms. On the House side, it is possible that the measure could come up as part of the Juvenile Justice legislation or the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). END |
|||||
| Home | Our History |  |
Gov't Affairs | Membership | Publications | Events | Affiliates | Awards | Feature | Members Only |