A COVID-19 emergency assistance bill was introduced in the United States Congress yesterday by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. You can read the bill here. Pages 230-231 contain language that directs the Secretary of Education to come back in 30 days with a list of waivers needed for Congress to provide under IDEA and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
This means that services for children with Individual Education Programs (IEPs) and 504 Plans could be reduced or changed, not only during the nation’s recovery from COVID-19, but also on a longer-term basis if this bill passes.
You know your child better than anyone, including understanding the type of education they need. If you have feedback about changes to IEPs and 504 Plans being included in a bill that is meant to help America recover from the impact of COVID-19, we encourage you to contact Majority Leader McConnell and the other policymakers who work with him.
Here is the email contact information for the best person to contact in each person’s office:
- Majority Leader McConnell: https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contactform
- Minority Leader Schumer: https://www.schumer.senate.gov/Contact/email-chuck
- Chairman Alexander: https://www.alexander.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email
- Ranking Member Murray: https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contactme
- Speaker Pelosi: https://www.speaker.gov/contact
- Majority Leader Hoyer: https://hoyer.house.gov/help/contact
- Minority Leader McCarthy: https://kevinmccarthy.house.gov/contact/email-me
- Chairman Scott: https://bobbyscott.house.gov/contact/email-me
- Ranking Member Foxx: https://foxx.house.gov/connect/default.aspx
These are some things it would likely be helpful for you to share with these legislators:
- Whether or not you support the idea of services your child receives through an IEP or 504 Plan possibly being reduced or changed as part of the emergency assistance package for COVID-19.
- Your thoughts on the importance of the civil rights laws that allow children to have IEPs and 504 Plans so that they can have the same chances to learn that other children do.
- How having an IEP or 504 Plan has affected your child’s school performance.
If you do not have access to email, you can call Senator McConnell’s office at (202) 224-2541.
