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RELATED LEGISLATION:
Cosponsor of H.R. 1036
Would authorize a class size reduction initiative. This legislation would assist
schools across the country in hiring 100,000 new teachers in order to reduce
class size in grades 1-3 to a national average of 18. This legislation would
help to ensure that every child acquires a solid foundation in the basics.
Cosponsor of H.R. 1076 - America's Better Classroom Act of 2001
School construction legislation would provide federal tax credits to pay the
interest cost on $24.8 billion of school modernization bonds. Sixty percent of
the school modernization bonds would be allocated to states based on their school-age
population. The remaining 40 percent would be allocated directly, based on Title
I funding, to the 125 school districts with the largest number of low-income
children. All decisions regarding what school systems choose to build or repair
would be left to states and local school districts. Wisconsin would receive a
$491 million allocation under H.R. 1076. I believe it is more important than
ever for Congress to act to modernize our nation's public schools.
Cosponsor of H.R. 1162 - 21st Century Higher Education Act.
I believe that the many components of this legislation combine to create a positive
and comprehensive step towards assuring higher education opportunities for all
qualified individuals who seek them. This comprehensive bill would:
- Double funding for the TRIO and GEAR UP programs over
three years to $1.5 billion and $690 million, respectively. These
programs successfully encourage academic success and college
attendance by disadvantaged youth.
- Restore the purchasing power of Pell Grants by doubling
them from $3,500 to $7,000 in the next three years. The purchasing
power of federal Pell Grants has eroded from 84 percent of
the cost of a public university in 1976 to 39 percent today.
- Double resources over three years to strengthen the
capacity of minority-serving colleges in order to serve minority
and low-income students, recruit teachers, and train more students
in math, science, engineering, technology, and business careers.
- Increase the Supplemental Equal Opportunity Grants
(SEOG) by over $300 million over three years. This program
provides grant assistance to low-income students whose need
is not fully met by Pell Grants.
- Increase federal Work-study funding by over $300
million over three years to further assist college students
who want to work while attending college.
Cosponsor of H.R. 737 - Mandatory IDEA Full Funding
Act of 2001
Special education legislation amends the Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act to require specified
minimum levels of Federal grant payments to States
for assistance for education of all children with
disabilities. H.R. 737 would assure that the federal
government reaches its 40% commitment to IDEA funding
by fiscal year 2006. The legislation gradually increases
IDEA funding beginning in fiscal year 2002.
Cosponsor of H.R. 786
Repeals certain provisions of the Higher Education
Act of 1998, regarding financial aid ineligibility
of persons convicted of drug offenses.
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