Barr Cosponsors Bill to Incentivize Funding of School Choice Scholarships
Statement
U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) announced he is cosponsoring the Educational Choice for Children Act. This legislation will expand educational freedom and opportunity for millions of students throughout the nation by providing a charitable donation incentive for individuals and businesses to fund scholarship awards for students. The awards would assist students and families by covering various expenses related to K-12 public, independent and religious education, including tuition and other supplemental supports. The scholarships would amount to $10 billion on an annual basis. Congresswoman Jackie Walorski (R-IN) and Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) are leading the bill in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate respectively.
"As a father of two young daughters, I recognize the importance of empowering parents with the ability to determine the right path for their children's education," said Congressman Barr. "This legislation will boost resources to expand school choice without raising taxes on a single Kentuckian. I want to thank both Congresswoman Walorski and Senator Cassidy for their leadership on this legislation."
The Educational Choice for Children Act includes a provision for non-refundable, credit against federal taxes on a dollar-for-dollar basis for charitable donations to non-profit scholarship granting organizations. The legislation also includes provisions that govern Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGO's). The provisions ensure that the SGO is a non-profit entity pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code, and that its exclusive purpose is to award scholarships for eligible expenses to multiple students and offer more than a single school from which to choose. Enactment of this legislation would provide tax incentives for individuals and the private sector would empower parents to give the highest quality and most suitable K-12 education available for their children, including non-district school settings or to supplement their district education with various educational supports. An estimated two million students can benefit.
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