[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 1]
[House]
[Pages 1170-1171]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      NATIONAL SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK

  (Mr. BIGGS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. BIGGS. Madam Speaker, I rise to celebrate National School Choice 
Week. Allowing parents to choose the best educational outcomes for 
their children gives every child a better chance to succeed and 
prepares students for their futures.
  School choice has greatly benefited Arizona--from charter schools to 
vocational schools, to private school scholarships, to education 
savings accounts. I am grateful that my State is a national leader in 
diverse school choice programs.
  Arizona's scholarship tax credit program gives taxpayers a dollar-
for-dollar tax credit to enable low-income and

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disabled children to attend private schools. In Arizona, more children 
per capita attend exemplary charter schools, and, indeed, they are some 
of the best charter schools in the country. We have significantly 
expanded the education savings account model so students can receive 
the best education possible that meets their unique needs, including 
those of tribal families who live in reservation communities.
  Arizona recognizes that all children are unique, that they learn 
differently, and that each child should have the opportunity to attend 
the school that will help him learn to love learning and succeed. I 
hope other States will look at Arizona's example as they expand school 
choice. I am pleased President Trump has made school choice a priority 
by nominating Betsy DeVos to lead the Department of Education.

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