“There is certainly more ground to cover before the federal government fulfills its promise to fund the special education mandate, but the House took another step in the right direction Thursday with passage of the FY 2001 Labor, Health, and Education Appropriations  Bill, ” said Sununu, following the House vote.  “The higher funding levels in the bill will help offset more of the burden faced by local school districts.  This funding goes directly to school districts to help them deal with immediate education priorities.  Before we create new program, we should do everything possible to provide resources to deal with this unfunded mandate.”

The FY 2001 Labor, HHS, and Education Appropriations bill passed the House on Wednesday by a vote of 217 - 214.  The measure contains $6,550,161,000 for programs for children with disabilities authorized under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.  The funding level is $181,320,000 above the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2000 budget request and $513,965,000 above the fiscal year 2000 appropriation.  Additionally, the measure provides $5,489,685,000 to
individual states for grants for special education, which is $500,000,000 above the fiscal year 2000 level. 

The appropriations measure now moves to the Senate for consideration.