Senator Moody and Education Secretary McMahon Highlight Educational Wins in the One Big Beautiful Bill, Expansion of School Choice for Students Nationwide

Strategic Insights -

Senator Ashley Brooke Moody, R-Florida, alongside U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, praised the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill, a comprehensive legislation that tackles various national issues, including a significant expansion of school choice for students nationwide. The bill, championed by Senator Moody, will provide historic tax cuts, major economic investments, increased national security, and greater educational opportunities for families.

Key Takeaways:

  • Senator Moody championed the expansion of school choice through legislative efforts, announcing support at an April news conference in Tampa, where dozens of parents, students, and teachers joined her to applaud the monumental effort to empower families in education.
  • The One Big Beautiful Bill includes a federal tax credit scholarship that would help as many as two million students access a school or education service of their parents' choice, funded with private donations and funded with a federal tax credit.
  • Senator Moody secured several measures in the final bill, including strengthening border security by expanding state and local law enforcement's ability to enforce illegal immigration laws.
  • Senator Moody also secured a provision to bolster Florida's public-private aerospace partnerships and strengthen spaceports, ensuring the United States remains competitive at the forefront of space innovation and exploration.
  • Senator Moody secured a provision requiring the Office of Refugee Resettlement to work with states to help find homes and proper placements for minors, as well as tracking these children for the duration of their stay in the U.S. while immigration proceedings are ongoing.
  • Representative Laurel Lee expressed support for the Educational Choice for Children Act, stating that every child deserves a learning environment that meets their unique needs.
  • The bill also includes Education Savings Accounts, which cover expenses such as curriculum materials and specialized services, making all K-12 students eligible for private school scholarships in Florida.

Statistics:

  • Up to 2 million students could access a school or education service of their parents' choice through a federal tax credit scholarship.
  • The One Big Beautiful Bill would prevent a $3,650 tax hike on the average Florida family.
  • It would also prevent 399,000 Florida jobs from being lost and reduce the child tax credit cut in half to 2,441,080 Florida households.
  • Additionally, it would prevent a massive tax hike for 1,908,210 Florida small business owners and reduce the standard deduction cut in half for 10,001,420 Florida families.
  • The bill includes Education Savings Accounts covering expenses such as curriculum materials and specialized services.

Sources:

  • Senator Moody's office
  • U.S. Department of Education
  • One Big Beautiful Bill
  • Senator Moody's press release, "Video Release: Senator Moody and Education Secretary McMahon Highlight Educational Wins in the One Big Beautiful Bill, Expansion of School Choice for Students Nationwide"
  • Senator Moody's remarks on supporting the One Big Beautiful Bill
  • Representative Laurel Lee's statement on the Educational Choice for Children Act