XXXX Voted For $4.5 Billion in Education Block Grants for States to Implement IDEA. In 2003, XXXX voted in favor of $4.5 billion in education block grants to states to implement provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the 2001 education overhaul law or higher education programs. The cost of the grants would be offset by across-the-board cuts to all programs funded by the underlying bill. [Vote 4, 1/16/03] XXXX Voted Not To Provide Exceptions to Cap on Lawyers’ Fees for Special Education Lawsuits Brought on Behalf of Poor, Abused or Children of Disabled Veterans. In 2001, XXXX voted against lifting limits on fees that lawyers could charge the District of Columbia Government for legal actions regarding the special education services provided by the District to a minor: if the minor was from a family with an annual income of less than $17,600; if the minor was from a family in which one of the parents was a disabled veteran; or if the minor had been adjudicated as neglected or abused. (The bill, as amended, would cap at $150 per hour the hourly rate that any lawyer may charge the District of Columbia Government for legal actions regarding the special education services provided by the District to a minor, and will set a maximum fee limit of $3,000 for any one such legal action.) The Amendment was agreed to, 73-26. [HR 2944, Vote 330, 11/7/01] XXXX Voted to Cap Lawyers’ Fees For Special Education Lawsuits In D.C. In 2001, XXXX voted to cap at $150 per hour the maximum hourly rate that any lawyer could charge the District of Columbia Government for legal actions taken regarding the special education services provided by the District to a minor (the previous three annual appropriations bills set limits of $125 per hour). Further, the amendment would set a maximum fee of $3,000 for any one such legal action (the current limit is $2,500). The amendment was agreed to, 51-49. [HR 2944, Vote 329, 11/7/01] XXXX Voted For Uniform Discipline Standards. In 2001, XXXX again voted to amend the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to authorize State and local school districts to establish new, more uniform discipline policies applicable to all children. If a school sought to remove a child who was being served under the IDEA, it would be required to perform a "manifestation determination" within 10 days of the decision to remove in order to establish whether the offensive conduct was related to the child's disability. The motion to reconsider was agreed to, 51-47. [S 1, Vote 190, 6/14/01] XXXX Against Authorizing Local School Districts Establishing Uniform Discipline Policies. In 2001, XXXX voted against amending the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to authorize State and local school districts to establish new, more uniform discipline policies applicable to all children. The amendment would also permit a school to use Federal IDEA funds, equal to the average per-pupil educational expenditure in the particular State, to provide the parents of a child with disabilities the opportunity to have their child placed in an alternative educational environment that was better suited to meet the child's needs. The amendment was rejected, 50-50. [S 1, Vote 188, 6/14/01] XXXX Voted to Allow Schools to Expel Disabled Students For Bad Behavior. In 2001, XXXX voted to allow schools to expel disabled students for bad behavior. The amendment XXXX voted against would implement a “uniform policies” discipline provision, which would only allow schools to expel disabled students if their bad behavior was not related to their disability. The vote was on an amendment to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to the Better Education for Students and Teachers Act of 2001. [S 1, Vote 187, 6/14/01] XXXX Voted Against Increased Funding For Special Education By $212 Billion, Full Federal Funding Within 2 Years. In 2001, XXXX voted against increased funding for special education by $212 billion over 10 years. The vote was to fully fund within 2 years the Federal commitment to share the costs of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandated on the states. The IDEA law, passed in 1975, called for Washington to provide 40 percent of funding disabled children’s education, but in 2001, the federal government provided only about 15 percent. The amendment would have funded IDEA at $212 billion over 10 years. [S 1, Vote 110, 5/17/01; Associated Press, 5/17/01; Commercial Appeal, 5/18/01] XXXX Voted Against $70 Billion for Special Education. On a vote of 54-46, the Senate passed an amendment to the 2002 Budget Resolution to shift $70 billion from the tax cut to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 72