WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 -- Sen. Mazie K. Hirono issued the following press release:

U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) held a spotlight forum titled: Breaking the Promise: How Relocating the IDEA will be Detrimental to Students and Families," highlighting the dangerous consequences of the Trump Administration's efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education (ED) for our nation's students with disabilities and their families. During the forum, a panel of witnesses comprised of former ED leaders, civil rights advocates, and parent advocates spoke about how outsourcing ED's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) and Office for Civil Rights (OCR), which oversee critical federal programs for students with disabilitie...