IDEA Reauthorization News:
Speaker of House Appoints IDEA Conferees

On October 8, 2004, the Speaker of the House of Representatives appointed conferees for the committee that will develop a compromise bill to reauthorize IDEA. The Senate appointed its conferees on September 21. (read Negotiations on IDEA Reauthorization to Begin)

The conference committee is necessary because the Senate and House bills contain significant differences. (download side-by-side comparison of H.R.1350, S.1248, and IDEA '97 prepared by the National Assocation of Protection & Advocacy Systems)

The Speaker appointed these conferees from the Committee on the Judiciary:

* Sensenbrenner(Judiciary Chair, R-WI)
* Lamar Smith (R-TX)
* Conyers(D-MI)

The Speaker appointed these conferees from the Committee on Energy and Commerce:

* Barton (R-TX, Chair)
* Bilirakis(R-Tx)
* Dingell(D-MI)

The Speaker appointed these conferees from the Committee on Education and the Workforce:

* Boehner(Chair House Ed/Workforce Comm., R-OH)
* Castle(R-DE, Chair Subcomm. on Education Reform)
* Ehlers(R-MI)
* Keller(R-FL)
* Wilson (R-SC)
* Miller, George (Ranking Member, D-CA)
* Woolsey(D-CA)
* Owens(D-NY).

What next? It's hard to say.

Congress will recess until after the election and is expected to return to Washington for a lame-duck session around November 15. Depending on the outcome of the election, members of the committee may reach a compromise on IDEAthat will allow reauthorization during the lame duck session. It is also possible that reauthorization will be postponed until next year.

IDEA Reauthorization News, Resources, Talking Points

To learn why S.1248 is a bad IDEA, read Parents Urge Senate to Vote "No",  Advocacy Groups Speak Out, Organize, and IDEA Talking Points.

For news, progress reports, and other important information about the IDEA Reauthorization, please go to the IDEA Reauthorization News Page.

To learn more about the issues, including reports, surveys and recommendations about how the law may be changed, please visit the IDEA Resources page.

The National Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems, Inc. (NAPAS) published a side-by-side comparison of H.R.1350, S.1248, and IDEA '97. You may download this publication from their homepage or click to download the side-by-side comparison in PDF  (This is a large file so be patient when you download)

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