[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 29, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E113-E114]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             THE EDUCATION, ACHIEVEMENT AND OPPORTUNITY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 29, 2003

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, as you may know, this week 
marks the 29th Anniversary of National Catholic Schools Week, a week 
dedicated to honor the achievements and successes of the more than 2.6 
million children enrolled in the 8,114 Catholic Schools throughout our 
country. Today is National Catholic Schools Appreciation day.
  It is fitting then that today I introduce legislation designed to 
ensure the Federal Government appropriately assists parents with the 
financial burdens associated with their child's education. My 
legislation, the Education, Achievement, and Opportunity Act will 
provide refundable tuition tax credits for the educational expenses 
incurred by parents for elementary and secondary school. The 
legislation would provide parents sending their child to an elementary 
school with up to $2,500 in tax relief, while parents with children in 
a Catholic or parochial high school could claim up to $3,500 in 
assistance.
  The tax relief contained in my proposal can be utilized by parents to 
pay for a variety of educational expenses that are frequently incurred 
on behalf of their children. Most significantly the tax credit is 
designed to help with the cost of tuition. But, beyond this, the tax 
credits can be used to help meet the costs of other educational needs: 
(1) computers, educational software, and books required for courses of 
instruction; (2) academic tutoring; (3) special needs services for 
qualifying children with disabilities (within the meaning of the 
Americans With Disabilities Act); (4) fees for transportation services 
to and from a private school, if the transportation is provided by the 
school and the school charges a fee for the transportation; and (5) 
academic testing services.
  Parents know the interests and needs of their children better than 
anyone else. If we are truly going to ensure that ``no child is left 
behind,'' in our national education agenda, then we must make sure our 
children have every tool at their disposal to academically succeed.
  The wealthy in America already have the choice to send their child to 
the school that best suits them. But middle and working class families 
often do not. Between tuition costs and out-of-pocket expenses like 
tutoring, computers, and transportation, the costs can add up and pose 
an enormous obstacle to the child's lifetime leaming opportunities.
  In my own district in New Jersey, a parent who feels a Catholic 
elementary school is best suited for their child, will pay somewhere 
between $1,840 and $2,566 in tuition costs per child, per year. If you 
want to send your child to a parochial high school in the central New 
Jersey area, a parent is looking at an average tuition bill of $5,571 
per student, per year. In other areas of the country, the costs are 
very similar.

  Without federal support, many parents struggle--and in some cases 
forgo--a Catholic school education, or any education in a spiritual 
setting, because the costs are so high. Learning in a religious setting 
is not for every one, and America's public school system is critical to 
providing educational opportunities for all. We must continue to 
vigorously support our public schools at both the federal and local 
levels. At the same time, however, we should support those who seek the 
benefits of Catholic school and choose a religious setting as the best, 
educational environment for their children.
  In effect, parents of Catholic school children pay twice--they pay 
their fair share of taxes necessary to support the public school 
system, and they pay tuition at the school their children actually 
attend. I urge my colleagues to join me in addressing this inherent 
unfairness and work for the passage of my tuition tax credit program as 
the best way to help offset the double payment endured by those who 
send their children to Catholic and parochial schools.
  In America today, we have 59 million youngsters in elementary and 
secondary school across the U.S.; about 10 percent of these students 
are enrolled in private, parochial and rabbinical schools. Those 
families who are already sending their children to such schools, and 
others planning to send their children to them, would benefit 
enormously from my proposal, because they are often struggling to make 
ends meet.
  It is important to note that my education proposal is a tax credit, 
rather than a voucher, so the total amount of education resources 
available for all school age children will increase. Under a voucher 
system, if a school loses enrolled students to a competing school, that

[[Page E114]]

school may lose funding and have fewer resources available for their 
educational program. Under my plan, that outcome is avoided. It is a 
``win-win'' scenario, whereas some have argued that voucher programs 
can become a zero-sum situation with ``winners and losers.''
  A tuition tax credit for education is a benefit that should be 
available to all, no matter what their race, creed, or national origin. 
And make no mistake: the public school system will and must continue to 
remain the backbone of our nation's education system. But we must never 
forget that the public school system was created to serve students--not 
the other way around. If a student is performing poorly, parents should 
have the opportunity to augment the child's education with help from 
the federal government.
  If we are to truly make good on our promise that ``no child is left 
behind,'' we must ensure that Catholic schools are included in this 
national promise and goal. A child is a child, regardless of which 
school system they are enrolled. The children enrolled in Catholic, 
private, and rabbinical schools deserve nothing less than our full 
support and compassion.
  I urge my colleagues to support the Education, Achievement, and 
Opportunity Act.

                          ____________________