Family Education Freedom Act

Family Education Freedom Act

The Family Education Freedom Act is a bill initially introduced in the United States House of Representatives by Representative Ron Paul (R-TX) in 1998. It would allow tax credits for education expenses.

On February 15, 2007, Rep. Paul introduced the Act again in the House, this time with an initial three co-sponsors, Tom Feeney (R-FL), Bobby Rush (D-IL), and Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI). The bill was designated H.R. 1056 and was referred to the Ways and Means Committee.cite web |url= http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-1056|title= H.R. 1056: Family Education Freedom Act of 2007|accessdate= 2007-09-13|date= 2007-02-15|year= 2007|publisher= GovTrack] The bill has since gained three more co-sponsors, Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD), Patrick McHenry (R-NC), and Jeff Miller (R-FL).

ummary of bill

The bill says that it will "amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals a credit against income tax for tuition and related expenses for public and nonpublic elementary and secondary education." The tax credit was originally $3,000 in past versions of the bill, and in 2007 the proposed tax credit was increased to $5,000 per child in school.cite web |url= http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:M_z4TNH2q7IJ:sensenbrenner.house.gov/UploadedFiles/March%25202007.pdf+%22family+education+freedom+act%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=27&gl=us&client=firefox-a|title= Tax Relief for Tax Time|accessdate= 2007-09-14|year= 2007|publisher= Sensenbrenner Congressional office]

While the tax credit could be used to pay private school tuition, it could also be used for any school-related expenses for those whose children attend public school or donate to extracurricular activities or for those whose child attends home school.cite web |url= http://www.ocpathink.org/ViewPerspectiveEdition.asp?ID=64|title= Local Control Key to Education Reform|accessdate= 2007-09-14|year= 2000|publisher= Oklahoma Council on Public Affairs] Qualified expenses would include tuition or fees, a personal computer, books, supplies, or transportation.cite web |url= http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/pdf/CRS.voucher2.pdf|title= Federal Tax Benefits for Families’ K-12 Education Expenses in the Context of School Choice
accessdate= 2007-09-14|year= 2003|publisher= First Amendment Center|format=PDF]

History

Paul noted when introducing the bill originally that the state of Arizona had introduced similar tax credits, and the state found that it had increased resources available for education as a result.cite web |url= http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=10834|title= Federal Tax Credits Would Boost Educational Choice|accessdate= 2007-09-13|date= 2000-12-01|year= 2000|work="School Reform News"|publisher= Heartland Institute] He said, "The Arizona experience is further proof that putting control of education resources into the hands of the American people through education tax credits is the best way to improve education. Tax credits allow parents and other concerned citizens to devote more of their resources to education, and allow the American people to work with educators to ensure that all children have the opportunity to receive a quality education that suits each child's unique needs."

The bill has been introduced in what Congressman Paul has described as the "Education Freedom Package," along with the Education Improvement Tax Cut Act, which would allow a $3,000 credit for donations to schools or scholarship programs, and the Teacher Tax Cut Act, which would allow a $1,000 tax deduction to be taken by all teachers.cite web |url= http://www.educationpolicy.org/newsletter/EEMar99.htm|title= Rep. Paul Introduces Education Package|accessdate= 2007-09-14|date= 1999-03|year= 1999|publisher= Education Exchange newsletter]

The bill has been referred to as "pro-homeschool,"cite web |url= http://www.hickoryrecord.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=HDR/MGArticle/HDR_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1149189958011|title= Congressman goes to school|accessdate= 2007-09-14|date= 2006-08-12|year= 2006|publisher= "The Hickory Daily Record"] cite web |url= http://www.lincolntribune.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=5022|title= Education : McHenry's Hosts Outdoor Town Hall Picnic for Homeschool Families|accessdate= 2007-09-14|date= 2006-08-03|year= 2006|publisher= "The Lincoln Tribune"] and the Home School Legal Defense Association has "strongly lobbied" forcite web |url= http://www.homeedmag.com/HEM/HEM154.98/154.98_clmn_tkch.html|title= Responding to Current Legislative Challenges Promoted by National Organizations|accessdate= 2007-09-14|date= 1998-07|year= 1998|publisher= "Home Education Magazine"] and endorsed the bill in 2003, 2001 and as far back as 1997.cite web |url= http://www.hslda.org/Legislation/National/2003/HR612/default.asp|title= H.R. 612 - Family Education Freedom Act of 2003|accessdate= 2007-09-13|date= 2003-06-16|year= 2003|publisher= Home School Legal Defense Association] In 1999, the Minnesota Libertarian Party announced plans to pass a Minnesota version of the bill as part of an announced legislative agenda.cite web |url= http://www.lp.org/lpn/9903-MN-legislation.html|title= Minnesota Libertarians announce "evolutionary" legislative agenda|accessdate= 2007-09-14|date= 1999-03|year= 1999|publisher= Libertarian Party]

As part of his 2008 presidential campaign, Paul said that if elected President, he would pass the Family Education Freedom Act.cite web |url= http://www.ronpaul2008.com/issues/home-schooling/|title= Home Schooling|accessdate= 2007-09-14|year= 2007|publisher= Ron Paul presidential campaign]

Past versions

Paul introduced this bill in other versions in other sessions of Congress.

*105th Congress: H.R. 1816
*106th Congress: H.R. 935
*107th Congress: H.R. 368 (2001) Introduced January 31, 2001:This version was co-sponsored by Bartlett, Charlie Norwood (R-GA), and Bob Schaffer (R-CO).cite web |url= http://www.theorator.com/bills107/hr368.html|title= 107th CONGRESS|accessdate= 2007-09-14|publisher= Orator.com]
*108th Congress: H.R. 612 (2003) Introduced February 5, 2003, referred to Ways and Means
*109th Congress: H.R. 406 (2005) :This version was initially co-sponsored by Bartlett, Tom Tancredo (R-CO), Sensenbrenner, Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO), and Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) [http://www.theorator.com/bills109/hr406.html Family Education Freedom Act of 2005 ] ] and eventually gained 10 co-sponsors.cite web |url= http://www.hslda.org/docs/nche/000010/200504150.asp|title= Education Tax Credits|accessdate= 2007-09-14|publisher= Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)] The bill was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

References

External links

* [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-1056 Family Education Freedom Act of 2007 Full text]
* [http://www.house.gov/paul/tst/tst97/tst072097.htm Paul's column on the Act]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Montana Firearms Freedom Act — The Montana Firearms Freedom Act [1] is an attempt to limit federal jurisdiction over firearms in the state of Montana. Contents 1 Provisions 2 Legislative history 3 Rationale …   Wikipedia

  • Education Improvement Tax Cut Act — The Teacher Tax Cut Act is a bill initially introduced in the United States House of Representatives by Representative Ron Paul (R TX) in 1999 and introduced in every Congressional session since. It would provide a $1,000 tax credit for all… …   Wikipedia

  • Freedom of religion in Iran — is a debated subject. Iran is an Islamic republic the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran mandates that the official religion of Iran is Islam (see Islam in Iran) and the Twelver Ja fari school, and also mandates that other Islamic… …   Wikipedia

  • education — /ej oo kay sheuhn/, n. 1. the act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life. 2. the act or process of… …   Universalium

  • EDUCATION — Pre State 1880–1914. Education in the small yishuv, which numbered about 25,000 in 1880, largely resembled the traditional types prevailing in Jewish communities elsewhere. The Jews of East European origin maintained the traditional ḥeder, talmud …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Freedom from Hunger — Infobox company company name = Freedom from Hunger company company type = Non profit foundation = 1946 location = flagicon|USA Davis, CA key people = flagicon|USA Chris Dunford area served = Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Ecuador, Ghana, Guatemala …   Wikipedia

  • FAMILY, AMERICAN JEWISH — Introduction Any discussion of American Jewish family life as an institution must view it within the context of contemporary American social, economic, and political life. All contemporary American Jews are Jews by choice in that their… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • EDUCATION, JEWISH — This entry is arranged according to the following outline. Bibliography at the end of a section is indicated by (†). in the biblical period the nature of the sources historical survey the patriarchal period and the settlement the kingdom the… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Freedom of religion in Vietnam — The Constitution provides for freedom of worship; however, government restrictions still remained on the organized activities of religious groups.The status for the respect of religious freedom and practice continued to experience important… …   Wikipedia

  • Education — • In the broadest sense, education includes all those experiences by which intelligence is developed, knowledge acquired, and character formed. In a narrower sense, it is the work done by certain agencies and institutions, the home and the school …   Catholic encyclopedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”