WASHINGTON – During National School Choice Week, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) issued a statement in support of President Donald Trump’s latest executive orders prohibiting federal funds from going to any K-12 school that teaches critical race theory (CRT) or radical gender ideology and expanding school choice for students:
“I fully support President Trump’s decision to prohibit federal funds from going to any K-12 school that teaches woke, anti-American ideologies. For four years, I have sounded the alarm about the Biden administration’s attempts to make our schools ground zero for Marxist, hateful indoctrination. Despite the fact that we spend the most money per student in the world, our education system has failed our kids. We need to be focused on helping kids learn to read, write, and do math—not on brainwashing them.
I am also grateful for President Trump’s action to increase access to school choice. As a former coach and educator, I know how important it is to make sure every child gets the best possible education, regardless of their zip code. Every child’s educational journey looks different—and we have had tremendous success with magnet, charter, and technical schools in Alabama. This decision from President Trump comes during National School Choice Week and reaffirms the President’s commitment to empowering parents, not the government, to determine a child’s educational future. I’m grateful for President Trump’s leadership and unwavering commitment to helping every child succeed.”
Sen. Tuberville also joined his colleagues Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) today to introduce the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA), bicameral legislation to expand education freedom and opportunity for students. Specifically, it provides a charitable donation incentive for individuals and businesses to fund scholarship awards for students to cover expenses related to K-12 public and private education. U.S. Representative Adrian Smith (R-NE) introduced the companion legislation in the U.S House of Representatives.
BACKGROUND:
As a former coach, mentor, and educator for more than 40 years, Senator Tuberville is committed to ensuring each child is given the tools to lead a successful life. During his time in the Senate, he has been proud to represent Alabama on the Senator Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee where he has been a tireless advocate for ending woke ideology in schools and boosting school choice programs.
ENDING WOKENESS IN SCHOOLS
- Sen. Tuberville joined his colleagues in asking the U.S. Department of Education under President Biden to withdraw its plans to skew U.S. History and Civics towards an anti-American agenda.
- Sen. Tuberville reintroduced the Saving American History Act, legislation to prohibit the use of federal funds to teach the 1619 Project by K-12 schools or school districts. Under the bill, schools that teach the 1619 Project would also be ineligible for federal professional-development grants.
- Sen. Tuberville has repeatedly raised concerns about the Chinese Communist Party’s influence on American education. The CCP has made it clear their plan of action is to infiltrate the American education system and indoctrinate students.
- Sen. Tuberville cosponsored the Safeguarding American Education from Foreign Control Act. This bill would tighten the enforcement of rules surrounding foreign donations to higher education institutions and their contracts with foreign entities.
- He specifically urged Troy University in Alabama to close its CCP-backed Confucius Institute, and hopes other universities will follow their lead.
INCREASING ACCESS TO SCHOOL CHOICE
- Sen. Tuberville joined his colleagues in urging the U.S. Department of Education to reconsider proposed rules to redefine the Charter School Program (CSP) and strip parents of their ability to choose the best school for their child.
- Sen. Tuberville advocated for school choice on the floor of the U.S. Senate and helped introduce a resolution for National School Choice Week.
- Last year, Sen. Tuberville hosted a roundtable discussion during National School Choice Week with parents, students, teachers, and administrators about making sure that parents, not the federal government, are in charge of their kids’ education.
- Sen. Tuberville visited the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering (ASCTE) in Huntsville. ASCTE is America’s only high school primarily focused on the integration of cyber and engineering into all academic areas. This unique public school is equipping kids with the skills needed to enter the workforce and achieve the American dream.
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP, and Aging Committees.
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