Keep Our PACT Act Keep Our Promise to America’s Children and Teachers Act
Impact
If enacted, HB 869 is expected to significantly increase federal funding for various education programs, including those for low-income and disabled students. The proposed funding levels set forth in the bill would require appropriated amounts to be adjusted annually, based on national average per-pupil expenditures. This change would provide critical resources to school districts that struggle to meet the educational needs of their communities, thereby addressing existing inequities in educational access and quality.
Summary
House Bill 869, titled the 'Keep Our Promise to America’s Children and Teachers Act,' aims to mandate full funding for Part A of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The bill emphasizes the importance of providing equal educational opportunities for all students and acknowledges the federal government's commitment to adequately funding programs that serve children with disabilities. By establishing mandatory funding levels over several years, the bill seeks to ensure that educational resources align with the growing needs of students across the nation.
Contention
Throughout discussions surrounding HB 869, there are points of contention primarily related to funding allocations and the fiscal impact on federal budgets. Supporters argue that the bill is essential for maintaining the federal government's promise to support both Title I and special education funding, fostering a higher quality of education nationwide. Critics express concerns about the sustainability of such funding commitments, fearing that it may constrain future budget flexibility and lead to potential funding cuts in other areas of education or social services. These debates underscore the ongoing tension between ensuring educational equity and managing federal budgetary constraints.
Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients ActThis bill requires states participating in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and specified public housing programs to subject applicants to substance abuse testing or screening and to deny benefits for individuals who test positive for a controlled substance.Specifically, states administering these programs must determine whether an adult applicant for benefits has been arrested for a drug-related offense within the past five years. Applicants who have been arrested for such an offense must be tested for at least one controlled substance and must test negative to receive benefits. Applicants who have not been arrested for such an offense must be screened (via an interview, questionnaire, or other instrument) for risk of substance abuse. Applicants determined to be at high risk for substance abuse must be tested for at least one controlled substance and must test negative to receive benefits. Applicants who are determined not to be at high risk do not have to undergo testing. Applicants who test positive for a controlled substance at any point during this process are ineligible for benefits for one year, until they complete a treatment program, or until they test negative for the substance, whichever is later. Family members and households of individuals disqualified from receiving benefits under these provisions may generally continue to receive support.States that fail to enforce these provisions are subject to reduced federal funding for these programs the following fiscal year.