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Contact: Dave Yonkman
202-225-4401
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Hoekstra Votes against Eliminating the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program
Bill Passed Today Prevents Future Authorization of the Program without Approval by Congress, District of Columbia City Council
Washington,
Feb 25 -
U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R-Holland, today voted against an attempt to eliminate Washington D.C.’s parental choice educational program.
“It is disappointing that Congress is working to eliminate a program that is really helping to make a difference for children in Washington, D.C.,” Hoekstra said. “The D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program has successfully enabled low-income parents to choose where they send their children to receive the best education.”
The measure to prevent any future reauthorization of the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program without congressional and D.C. City Council approval was included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (H.R. 1105). The program provided scholarships of up to $7,500 per year for 1,800 low-income students in Washington, D.C. to attend the school of their choice.
“Parents want the best for their children, and providing them with the opportunity to place them in the best educational setting is a right that they should reserve,” Hoekstra said. “Congress should expand upon the model created in D.C. as opposed to working to eliminate it.”
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