Congresswoman McCarthy released the following statement on the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), now being considered on the House Floor.

"As a student with disabilities, a nurse, a mother and a member of Congress, I have always been a strong supporter of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) because it protects all children with special needs. However, the bill being debated today takes one large step backward, especially with regard to disciplining students in the classroom. For this reason, I must oppose the legislation being voted on today.

"Prior to IDEA becoming the law of the land in 1975, many children with disabilities, myself included, were denied any educational services at all. As a result of court decisions and Congressional action, schools were required to offer children with disabilities a free appropriate public education.

"Since then, Congress has acted to strengthen these laws time and time again regardless of which party controlled Congress. Unfortunately, today's renewal of IDEA does not strengthen the law. Instead, this legislation breaks our promise to fully fund special education by $1.2 billion and weakens the civil and due process rights of children with disabilities.

"In committee, I supported amendments that would have improved this bill. Unfortunately, these amendments did not pass. I am also deeply concerned about the disciplinary provisions in this bill. Current law allows a school to suspend or expel a student with disabilities if he or she brings a weapon or drugs to school, or is found by a hearing officer to be likely to injure themselves or others.

"Education services must be provided for up to 45 days in an alternative setting. In addition, current law requires schools to determine if the problem, which caused the student to be suspended or expelled, was due to his or her disability. This bill removes these important safety provisions completely by allowing students of all disabilities to be removed from classrooms for any behavior for an indefinite period of time.

"For example, a child with attention deficit disorder could be expelled for repeatedly being late or getting out of his or her seat. This type of shortsighted action does not take the child's health problem into account. That is wrong and as a nurse, I feel that we should always first do no harm.

"I hope we will be able to improve this bill in conference with the Senate and I look forward to working with my colleagues in this effort. We should be doing more - not less - for our students."

Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy announced that New York's Fourth Congressional District received $1,338,365 in grants from the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs and Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) in Fiscal Year 2002.

"This funding is essential in ensuring our public safety officers can do their jobs effectively and most importantly, safely," McCarthy said. "I will continue to work to increase federal funding for all those committed to making Nassau County a safe place to live and work."

The following grants were made in FY 2002:

* Village of Freeport received $5,839 for bulletproof vests.

* Village of Freeport received $55,362 from the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Program.

* Village of Garden City received $1,800 for bulletproof vests.

* Hempstead Community Development Agency received $225,000 from the Community Based Weed & Seed Program.

* Town of Hempstead received $2,092 for bulletproof vests.

* Village of Hempstead received $2,399 for bulletproof vests.

* Village of Hempstead received $45,000 for Community Oriented Policing.

* Village of Hempstead received $88,797 from the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Program.

* Village of Malverne received $11,220 for bulletproof vests.

* Nassau County received $37,991 for bulletproof vests.

* Nassau County District Attorney received $360,000 from the Community Gun Violence Prosecution Program.

* Nassau County District Attorney received $150,000 from the Prosecution "Rising Star" Program.

* Nassau County Police Department received $125,000 from the COPS Police Integrity Program.

* Nassau County Police Department received $197,044 from the Local Law Enforcement Block Grants Program.

* Village of Old Westbury received $8,410 for bulletproof vests.

* Village of Rockville Centre received $8,571 for bulletproof vests.

* Village of Rockville Centre received $13,840 from the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Program.

For more information on how local law enforcement agencies can apply for federal grants, please visit The Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs website at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov or call Rob Recklaus in Congresswoman McCarthy's Washington office at (202) 225-5516.