LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing the United States Congress to
support the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 in order to
provide essential investments in education for the 21st Century

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to memorialize the
United States Congress to support the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act of 2009, based on an economic plan put forth by President Obama,
that would provide critical investments in education programs over the
next two years; and
WHEREAS, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 dedicates
essential funding to existing federal education programs to assist with
current federally mandated services and other important education initi-
atives as well as provides new federal support for the modernization,
renovation and repair of school facilities, and for state fiscal
stabilization grants to prevent reductions in education services; and
WHEREAS, Existing federal education programs, such as the No Child
Left Behind Act of 2001 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act, have historically not been funded at original commitment levels
resulting in the states and local governments having to absorb a greater
share of the costs associated with meeting the requirements and expecta-
tions included within these programs; and
WHEREAS, The new investments continued within the American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act of 2009 would greatly enhance existing federal
education programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965, and the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, by increasing aid to
schools for the education of disadvantaged children to assist schools in
closing the achievement gap, providing additional funds for education
technology grants to promote the effective use of technology in class-
rooms and increasing aid for programs that provide equal access and
support services for the education of homeless children and youth; and
WHEREAS, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 proposes
to increase the federal share of mandatory special education and related
service costs pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act to its highest level ever which will offer much needed financial
relief to school districts as they provide a free appropriate public
education to children with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, New federal support for the modernization, renovation and
repair of school facilities will revitalize our economy through the
creation of jobs and will help prepare students to compete in the global
economy by providing them with 21st Century learning environments that
are safe, healthy, high-performing, and up-to-date technologically; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Congress of the United States be and hereby is
respectfully memorialized by this Legislative Body to support the Ameri-
can Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 in order to provide essential
investments in education for the 21st Century; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the President of the Senate of the United States, the Speaker
of the House of Representatives, and to each member of the Congress of
the United States from the State of New York.