Curt Weldon, Nutrition and Children

Feb 14, 2008 at 7:03 AM
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Congressman Weldon supports our veterans both in battle and on the home front. Making sure that our children understand the needs of our veterans is key in providing community-wide support for their noble work in our country ad overseas. That is, Curt Weldon was one of the cosponsors of the House Concurrent Resolution 173 – a resolution that expresses support for the goals of Veterans Educate Today's Students Day. Such Day will be made up of programs that educate children about the service of veterans and the sacrifices made by them and their families. At a time, when our nation’s military is performing the noble and selfless work in dangerous part soft her world, it is essential to make sure our young generation understand the work and sacrifices made by our veterans.

Congressman supports provision of full funding to children with disabilities. That is why he offered his full support for the House Resolution 3145, a bill that amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to reauthorize certain programs of education of all children with disabilities. Under this bill, millions of federal dollars will be secured for specific programs aiming to assist children with disabilities.

The bill takes the level of funding authorized the Congress and makes any increases in this funding mandatory, thereby securing the funding against any changes in the program. Since funding for specific programs can fluctuate, HR 3145 in fact ensures that there will be more funds available in the future Congressional actions for programs with children with disabilities. In essence, the bill provides phased-in increases of authorized funding designed to reach a promised 40% federal share by 2011. HR 3145 also creates oversight that manages millions of dollars provided for these programs in order to facilitate and expedite their operation. Since 1995, federal funding for special education has increased by more than 200%. Federal funding for IDEA has increased by more than 50%. The IDEA reauthorization would achieve the full 40 percent of the overall cost of educating children with special needs in the next seven years, contingent on reforms to improve the results and reduce paperwork

Congressman Weldon considers access to education an integral part of every member of our congressional district. Education access for non-traditional students- those working full or [part time and attending evening and weekend classes – have had an especially difficult time maintaining their rigorous academic and professional schedule, as well as optioning loans. Many such students go to our community colleges, such a Delaware County Community College and Montgomery County Community College. In order to advance the interest of many students in our district who attend community colleges, and in order to promote community schools’ interests, Congressman Weldon joined the Congressional Community College Caucus. All Members of Congress who are part of the Caucus will work with Department of Education, Department of Labor and the National Science Foundation to better serve the need as of an ever-increasing need for good community education. Our district schools will be direct beneficiaries of this developing relationship. To expand the role of community college sin our district, Curt Weldon cosponsored HR 577, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a credit to businesses whose employees teach at community colleges. The resolution amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow employers a business tax credit of $1,000 for each of their employees who teaches a course at an accredited community college for which the employee receives no compensation. This resolution builds a strong link between our community colleges and places of employment, and would strengthen the practical and academic training that is the hallmark of every thriving community

On March 30, 2006, Congressman Curt Weldon voted for the final passage of the College Access and Opportunity Act, HR 609, which aims at aimed at expanding college and university access to low - and middle-income students by strengthening Pell Grants, student aid, student access, and minority serving institutions; reducing red tape for students and graduates, removing barriers for non-traditional students; and establishing an Academic Bill of Rights, among some of its provisions. Curt Weldon met with local and national student organization, academic representative sand communicated in detail with schools in our district.

“This bill will enhance academic opportunities for students in the 7^th district, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the United States,” said Weldon. “I pledge to continue working with my fellow Members of Congress for better educational access for our students.” Stephen G. Frederick, Assistant to the President of the Delaware County Community College, in Media, Pennsylvania, praised the final passage: “The final version of the bill was better then the starting one. We are glad that the major points of contention and concern were resolved in an open and bipartisan matter.”

The bill also provides benefits for our teachers by expanding student loan relief or high demand teachers, such as those that teach math, science and special education. This bill also provides funds to state and local schools districts to help develop pay-per-performance systems. HR 609 increases the number of teachers in advances placement math, science and critical foreign language courses, particularly for low-income students – the initiative Congressman strongly supports as one of the co-chars of the Congressional SMAT Caucus. This bill also improves teacher recruitment and training at the state and local levels.

In order to promote nutrition and the financial integrity in federal child nutrition programs, Congressman Weldon offered his support for the Child Nutrition and Women, Infants and Children reauthorization act, which became public law on June 30, 2006. Congressman Weldon takes very seriously the need to address child nutrition and school lunch programs. This law helps states and schools fight childhood obesity; improves the integrity of the school lunch program. Additionally, this law improves access to nutrition for vulnerable children, such as children whose parents serve in the Armed Forces. This bill also includes some common-sense reforms that will improve efficiency in the sue of taxpayer dollars, while protecting the ability to serve the greatest number of women, infants and children under the federal programs that total more than $16 billion a year.

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