Smith Bill to Expand School Choice Passed by Ways and Means Committee

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means Jason Smith (R-MO) released the following statements following the committee’s markup and passage of Rep. Adrian Smith’s bill with Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT) to expand education freedom and opportunity for students.

"A good education is foundational for a child’s success in life, but unfortunately many parents have little say over their children’s education due to where they live or how much they earn," said Rep. Adrian Smith. "This bill would change the educational landscape for families across the country by generating significant new investments in scholarships for K-12 tuition and educational resources. We have seen through the success of school choice initiatives across the country how empowering parents gives them – not the government – the freedom to decide where to send their children to school and to tailor their children’s education to their specific needs. I thank my Ways and Means colleagues for their support of this bill, and I look forward to its consideration by the full House."

"One of the best ways we can improve K-12 education is by putting the needs and diverse interests of families and students first," said Committee Chair Jason Smith. "We have a responsibility to expand educational opportunities and parent choice for students trapped in schools that fail to help them succeed. Rep. Smith’s bill, the Educational Choice for Children Act of 2024 will support low-income students through charitable contributions to scholarship funds. We’ve heard direct testimony from witnesses at our committee hearings about the benefit these scholarship funds provide to students. So far, over 365,000 students with an average household income of under $75,000 nationwide have benefitted from such programs at the state level, and this legislation will help bring that success to many more students in the future. I want to thank Rep. Smith for his leadership on this important legislation that supports families across the country seeking better educational opportunities for their children."

BACKGROUND:

Smith and Owens introduced, H.R. 9462, the Educational Choice for Children Act. The bill would provide a charitable donation incentive for individuals and businesses to fund scholarship awards for students which would cover expenses related to K-12 public and private education. An estimated two million students in any elementary or secondary education setting, including homeschool, would be eligible to receive a scholarship. Permissible use of scholarships awards includes tuition, fees, book supplies, and equipment for the enrollment or attendance at an elementary or secondary school.