House Passes Ryan Budget: Education Funding in Peril

Last week, the US House of Representatives passed a budget resolution which will likely mean a $2.2 billion dollar cut to IDEA in fiscal year 2013. The vote approving the budget resolution was 228-191, with all democrats opposing the measure. This will allow the House to begin the appropriations process and determine exact amounts of funding for all education programs.

CEC is concerned about the potential cuts and worked, alongside its coalition partners throughout last week urging the House to oppose this resolution.  Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid has said he will not pass a budget resolution in the Senate this year,  and instead will follow the numbers that Congress and the Administration already agreed to in the Budget Control Act of 2011. This number is much higher than that just approved by the House – as such, this is sure to be a summer where the parties again struggle to find agreement.

CEC will continue to advocate for increased investments in education, IDEA, and gifted education – if this is important to you also – go to our Legislative Action Center right now and send a letter supporting Senator Harkin’s IDEA Full Funding Act. In addition to our concern about how Congress will fund education for fiscal year 2013, CEC is focused on educating members of Congress about the dangers of imposing sequestration. Sequestration refers to the 9.1% across the board cut that is set to go into effect in January of 2013 unless Congress changes the law. This 9.1% cut will impact every education program include IDEA, Special Education Research and more. To read more about what sequestration is and how it will impact you click here. To tell Congress to eliminate the need for Sequestration and pass a balanced deficit plan and budget – send this letter. Join with CEC and urge your Representative and Senators to protect education today!

Comments

[Imani Howard]

How sad that children with disabilites will lose their services they so desperately need because Congress has decided to make less funding available. I wonder if things would change if someone in Congress had a child or family member with a disability. People have to learn to put themselves in others shoes before making decisions. If we want our children with disabilites to be the best productive people they can be, we must provide the resources to help them accomplish that.

[diane]

Just like the gop to cut funds for special needs kids and thre family waht a bunch of a** holes