The Question
What have you done—and
what will you do in Congress—to safeguard and expand the rights,
services and community participation of people with disabilities
in Minnesota?
Kline's Response
In Congress, I serve
on two great committees: Education and the Workforce in which I’m
Vice Chairman of the Employer-Employee Relations Subcommittee,
and the House Armed Services Committee. My unique position on these
two committees has enabled me to safeguard and promote the rights
and services offered to those with disabilities.
The Education and the Workforce committee has jurisdiction over
the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and The Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA). From my position on this committee,
I have been a strong advocate for increased levels of funding for
IDEA. I have repeatedly supported higher levels of funding and most
recently, I sent a letter to my colleague, Chairman Regula, asking
him to honor our commitment and provide $16.9 billion for Part B
grants-to-states. This funding would put the federal government back
on track toward fully funding the federal IDEA share by 2011.
Like so many issues I work on in Congress, there is tremendous overlap.
Safeguarding and expanding the rights of the disabled is not a solo
issue.
It was recently brought to my attention by members of the disabled
veterans community that the traumatic brain injury line item in the
House Armed Services appropriations bill was millions of dollars
underfunded to serve the needs of our injured young men and women
returning from the war. I worked with my colleagues and leaders on
both sides of the aisle to increase the funding to an amount that
will ensure proper care for our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines.
I have supported increased
levels of federal funding for numerous programs to benefit disabled
Americans and will continue to work with advocates for the disabled
community to identify and support the many worthwhile programs. ![]()
