IV 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. CON. RES. 70 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 10, 2009 Mr. Frelinghuysen (for himself, Mr. Boehner, Mr. McKeon, Mr. Issa, Mr. Latham, Mr. Crenshaw, Mr. Mica, Mr. Franks of Arizona, Mr. Chaffetz, Mr. Garrett of New Jersey, Mr. Ehlers, Mr. Radanovich, Mr. Sam Johnson of Texas, Mr. Petri, Mr. Tiberi, Ms. Foxx, and Mr. Manzullo) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Expressing support for the District of Columbia school scholarship program.

Whereas the Congress established the Opportunity Scholarships Program (OSP) for kindergarten through grade 12 students in Washington, DC, in 2004; Whereas each year the program has provided scholarships of up to $7,500 annually to cover tuition, fees, and transportation expenses for each of about 1,700 disadvantaged children to attend private school; Whereas since 2004, over 7,000 students have applied and 3,000 OSP scholarships have been provided to students; Whereas during the 2008–2009 school year, over 1,715 DC OSP students are attending 49 nonpublic schools of their choice and the average annual income for these families is around $22,736; Whereas a recent University of Arkansas study shows that parents’ satisfaction with the OSP has deepened to include an appreciation for small class sizes, rich curricula, and positive change in their sons and daughters and that what parents most value above all is the freedom to choose where their children go to school; Whereas one student who receives an OSP scholarship was quoted as saying the following: Since attending Georgetown Day School, I have been able to expand my horizons, interact with people of various beliefs and cultures, and educate myself about the world in an open, accepting, and safe environment … For me, having received WSF scholarship means having an opportunity that I may not have otherwise have. Being a part of something bigger, something called Higher Education, I not only make a difference, but become the difference.; and Whereas the fiscal year 2009 omnibus appropriations bill (H.R. 1105) includes a provision designed to terminate the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program by requiring that it be reauthorized by Congress and approved by the DC government to receive Federal funding after the 2009–2010 academic year: Now, therefore, be it

That it is the sense of the Congress that it is in the national interest of the United States to continue the District’s Opportunity Scholarship Program after school year 2009–2010 without reduction in the benefits provided under the program.