DeLauro Statement on DeVos’ Attempts to Mask Tax Cuts for the Wealthy as an Advancement of Civil Rights

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), released the following statement on the administration's plan to include "Education Freedom Scholarships," a $5 billion tax credit proposal that would benefit the wealthy while failing to support sufficient funding for public education programs, in the next COVID-19 relief package:

"On this day in 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act into law. This legislation outlawed segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national orientation. Either Secretary DeVos missed the lesson in school or the administration is intentionally attempting to recreate history, but their proposed $5 billion tax scheme to fund private school vouchers, masked as an advancement of civil rights, is a slap in the face to the people who have been actually fighting for civil rights including equal access to high-quality education.

"Make no mistake, Secretary DeVos and the administration are lying just as they have in the past when they say this program will not ‘divert a single dollar away from public schools or teachers.' Instead of requesting sufficient emergency relief for our public schools, the Secretary and the White House are once again asking the American taxpayer to fund their unregulated, unaccountable voucher scheme.

"This DeVos proposal, like so many she has brought before my subcommittee, is rooted in a deep desire to deprive students in public schools of the resources they need to learn. I will do everything in my power to stop the inclusion of this proposal in any future legislation."