{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.scott.senate.gov/media-center/press-releases/sens-scott-lee-champion-school-choice-educational-freedom/", "Sens. Scott, Lee Champion School Choice, Educational Freedom", "2023-12-19", "2023", "2023-12", "Republican", "Senate", "SC", "Tim Scott", "S001184", "www.scott.senate.gov", "timscott", "https://www.scott.senate.gov/media-center/press-releases/jsf/jet-engine:press-list", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) joined Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) in introducing the Accelerating Children\u2019s Education (ACE) Act to bolster educational choices for American families. This legislation builds upon a provision of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and enhances federal tax incentives for the enactment of state-level school choice legislation while addressing growing concerns among parents about the ideological influences in public education and the economic barriers to alternative schooling options.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve always championed educational freedom because of one simple truth \u2013 when parents have a choice, kids have a chance,\u201d said Senator Scott. \u201cI\u2019m proud to continue fighting to ensure every child \u2013 no matter their zip code \u2013 has access to a school that best fits their needs and provides them the opportunity to live out their version of the American dream.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is the fundamental right of parents to choose the educational path that is most suitable for their children,\u201d said Senator Lee. \u201cThe ACE Act ensures that our tax system reflects this principle and provides real support to those seeking alternatives to public schooling.\u201d\n\n\u201cAcross the country, and especially in Southwest Missouri, school choice is already benefitting many of our nation\u2019s young children.\u201d said Rep. Burlison. \u201cThrough 529 education saving accounts, families are freed from the arbitrary link between where they live and which school their child can attend. School choice makes institutions of education more accountable and responsive to families. This leads to higher graduation rates and increases parental satisfaction and involvement while saving taxpayer dollars.\u201d\n\nRepresentative Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.\n\nKey provisions of the ACE Act include:\n\nDoubling the allowable level of tax-exempt 529 account distributions for qualified educational expenses to $20,000 per taxable year;\n\nGift tax exclusions up to $20,000 per year for contributions to 529 accounts; and\n\nAdjusted federal tax exemption on municipal bonds based on state school choice laws, incentivizing states to adopt such measures.\n\nUnder the ACE Act, states with no qualifying school choice laws will see the tax-exempt status of municipal bonds for local projects, such as new school construction, revoked. States that adopt school choice laws will benefit from a 50% tax exemption on bond interest income, while states fully embracing school choice will enjoy a complete tax exemption.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.scott.senate.gov/media-center/press-releases/sens-scott-lee-champion-school-choice-educational-freedom/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.40617904253304, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}