NYCF Urges Support For Federal School Choice Initiative
Written by on August 7, 2023
As a pro-family, Christian organization, New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms strongly supports parental rights and school choice. Specifically, we support policies that protect both homeschooling families and Christian schools from undue government intrusion, along with policies that empower parents to select educational approaches that will work best for their children. Accordingly, NYCF supports federal legislation known as H.R.531 and S.120, the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA).
The ECCA would make available a total of $10 billion in tax credits each year to incentivize charitable giving to nonprofits that provide scholarship aid to low- and middle-income students in grades kindergarten through 12. Under the ECCA, the scholarship aid provided by these nonprofits could be used for educational expenses incurred by homeschooled students or by students in public schools or nonpublic schools. Such expenses could include not just tuition, but also the cost of books, supplies, technology, and equipment. Significantly, the bill includes language preventing government from excluding Christian schools from the benefits of the ECCA and language barring government from asserting control over Christian schools.
The ECCA is sponsored by Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) in the U.S. Senate and by Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Upon introducing the ECCA earlier this year, Sen. Cassidy commented, “‘Parents deserve the right to make the best educational decision for their child, regardless of income. Our bill empowers families to pick the school that best fits their children’s needs.’”
As of August 3, 2023, the ECCA has been sponsored by 27 U.S. senators and by 112 members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill is also supported by a wide range of organizations, including Home School Legal Defense Association and Association of Christian Schools International.
NYCF thanks the seven New York congressmembers who have co-sponsored the ECCA to date. They are: Reps. Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY-4), Nick Langworthy (R-NY-23), Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY-11), Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21), Claudia Tenney (R-NY-24), and Brandon Williams (R-NY-22). Furthermore, we encourage other members of New York’s congressional delegation to add their names in support of this important legislation.
