ICYMI: Press Coverage of Sen. Cruz’s Amendment Expanding Student Opportunity

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Saturday the United States Senate passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which included U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz’s (R-Texas) amendment to expand 529 College Savings Plans to include K-12 elementary and secondary school tuition for public, private, religious schools, and homeschooling expenses. The amendment prioritizes the education of the next generation of Americans by allowing families to save and prepare for their children’s future educational expenses.

Several news outlets covered the passage of the amendment. Selected news coverage below:

KFDA: Senate Tax Reform Plan Includes Cruz Amendment
“An amendment added to the bill by Texas Senator Ted Cruz will allow funds from 529 College Savings Accounts to be used towards tuition for K-12 school. It was adopted after Vice President Pence broke a 50-50 tie.”  

KXAN: Senate Tax Reform Plan Includes Cruz Amendment
“The final vote came after hours of voting on amendments, including one from Texas Senator Ted Cruz that would allow parents to use the 529 College Savings Fund to pay for private school tuition.”

New York Times: Republicans Pass Sweeping Tax Rewrite 51-49
“Vice President Mike Pence provided a tiebreaking vote to pass an amendment offered by Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, which would allow people to use up to $10,000 a year from tax-advantaged 529 savings accounts to fund tuition at private and religious K-12 schools or certain educational expenses for home-schooled students.”

Red State: TAX BILL: Ted Cruz Strikes A Blow For Families With Children
“One thing I definitely like, though, comes via Senator Ted Cruz: The favoritism the tax code has shown public schools is simply unconscionable. If you are in a place like Washington, DC, you are afraid to use the product, you are forced to subsidize that school system by your taxes, and if you value your child’s future you have to rely upon private, parochial or homeschooling. And none of those are cheap. Expanding the 529 program to cover “education” rather than certain favored forms of education is a great move. The only thing that would have made it better would have been to require that states allow homeschool families to open Coverdell ESAs, too. Right now this varies from state-to-state and my state doesn’t allow it. This provision works hand-in-glove with the concept of school choice being a real choice for all parents, not just those with the resources to exercise it.”

The Resurgent: Ted Cruz Gets a Pro-Family Initiative Passed Leaving Liberals Angry
“Ted Cruz and the Senate GOP should be commended for recognizing the financial burden homeschooling can put on families who have no good alternatives due to failing local public schools in many parts of the country. That they recognize a parent's responsibilities begin before the child is even born is a sign of commitment to families. This is good, common sense policy.”

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