Van Hollen, Cassidy Announce Senate Passage of Bipartisan Resolution Recognizing the 50th Anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) announced the unanimous passage of their resolution recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act by the United States Senate. The bipartisan resolution, introduced earlier this week by Senators Van Hollen and Cassidy, recognized the historic step IDEA took 50 years ago by mandating that every child in America, including those with disabilities, be given equal access to a free, appropriate public education.

The resolution was cosponsored in the Senate by Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). Representatives Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Glenn Thompson (R-Penn.), Hillary Scholten (D-Mich.), and John James (R-Mich.) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

“The Senate’s passage of this resolution honors all those who fought to make IDEA a reality. As we celebrate the anniversary of this landmark legislation and the opportunities it created for millions of students with disabilities across the country, I remain committed to the fight to fully fund IDEA – fulfilling the promise made 50 years ago to provide every student in America equal access to a high-quality education,” said Senator Van Hollen, who has also introduced the IDEA Full Funding Act.

“All children deserve an education that gives them the resources they need to reach their full potential,” said Dr. Cassidy. “By empowering parents to partner in their child’s education and equipping teachers with resources, IDEA ensures children with disabilities have the opportunity to succeed in the classroom.”

The full text of the resolution is available here.