IDEA UP FOR REAUTHORIZATION

Congress is scheduled to begin work on the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) when members return from their August recess this month. A presidential commission charged with studying improving issues related to federal, state and local special education programs released its report in early July. The commission issued a number of recommendations to the president, including the use of federal funds to pay for vouchers for disabled students to attend private schools. The Senate and House have held hearings on the reauthorization, and bills are expected to be introduced in both houses in early September and possibly passed in each house before the end of the year.
 

BILL ADDRESSES NURSING SHORTAGE

In July, Congress passed the Nurse Reinvestment Act, a measure designed to address the national nursing shortage. The legislation establishes a Nurse Service Corps, which would give financial aid to individuals who pursue nursing and agree to spend two years in areas with a shortage of nurses. As an added incentive, the measure cancels loans for nurses who earn masters' or doctoral degrees and offers a career ladder program, which provides continuing education or geriatric training. The legislation "is just the first step to help ease the very serious and growing nurse shortage," AFT president Sandra Feldman noted. "Having successfully completed this first step, Congress should now turn its attention to the next step--enacting legislation that would ban mandatory overtime for nurses and establish appropriate nurse-patient ratios." AFT Healthcare, the national union's healthcare division, represents 60,000 nurses and other professionals in hospital and healthcare facilities across the country.