(OVERLAND PARK, KAN.) – In the midst of the school funding crisis in Kansas, Congressman Dennis Moore (Third District -- Kansas) announced today the reintroduction of bipartisan legislation to draw attention to the funding shortfalls of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).

“When Congress passed NCLB, they made a promise to our schools that they would provide resources and support to help them meet a new standard of excellence,” Moore said. “The federal government’s refusal to fully fund NCLB threatens to break this promise. It’s time to fulfill this commitment.”

Last week, the House passed H.R. 3010, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2006, which contained a $13.2 billion shortfall in NCLB funding for our nation’s schools. The total funding shortfall since NCLB was enacted has reached $40 billion. Kansas’ portion of the NCLB shortfall in H.R. 3010 is $81.2 million.

“Schools desperately need resources to implement NCLB reforms,” Moore said. “Now is the worst possible time for Congress to renege on funding promises made to America’s schools, their teachers and our children.”

Moore’s bill, H.R. 2694, provides that if Congress fails to keep its promise to fully fund NCLB, some new federal requirements imposed under the law upon our school districts can be delayed. The bill is called the Keeping our Promises to America’s Children Act of 2005 (KPAC).

“I’m dedicated to doing everything we can to ensure our children receive a quality education,” Moore said. “Our children are worth it. Our future economic well being depends on it.”

H.R. 2694 is cosponsored by 27 members in Congress, including Rep. Jim Ramstad (Republican – MN), an original cosponsor of the bill. The legislation also is supported by the National Education Association, Kansas Families United for Public Education and numerous Kansas educators and superintendents.