Moore, Bonamici, Frost, Grijalva, and Pocan Introduce Keep Public Funds in Public Schools Act of 2026
Today, Representatives Gwen Moore (WI-04), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), and Mark Pocan (WI-02) are introducing legislation to repeal the national federal tax credit voucher scheme included in the Republicans’ so-called Big, Beautiful Bill.
Voucher schemes divert public funding into private schools that lack proper accountability and oversight. Private schools can pick and choose who they admit and lack protections for students with disabilities. In Wisconsin, Governor Evers vetoed legislation that would have opted Wisconsin into this program, further expanding vouchers in the state.
“In states across the country, charter school programs often operate with little transparency, sap funding from public schools, and primarily benefit wealthy students. In Wisconsin, taxpayers are paying $700 million this year alone for vouchers, and nearly all this money is funneled into religious schools.
Instead of investing in our public schools, which educate most of America’s students, Republicans used taxpayer funds to create a national voucher scheme. As a proud product of public schools, I am honored to spearhead legislation with my colleagues that reverses this scheme and stands up for public education,” said Representative Gwen Moore (WI-04).
“The federal government is responsible for ensuring equitable access to high-quality, well-funded public education. Instead, in the ‘Big Ugly Bill,’ Congressional Republicans created a federal school voucher scheme that will funnel public dollars away from public schools to help subsidize private schools for wealthy families,” said Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce. “That is why I am proud to support the Keep Public Funds in Public Schools Act of 2026 to undo the harm caused by Republicans’ ‘Big Ugly Bill’ and ensure that public dollars are spent on public education.”
“Public schools welcome and educate every child regardless of their background or income, and public funding should stay in public schools,” said Representative Suzanne Bonamici. “The Big Ugly Bill’s voucher scam is a backdoor way to dismantle public education and divert public resources into private institutions – including religious schools. Research consistently shows that the majority of families participating in voucher programs already send their children to private schools. We must keep federal funding in public schools where all students can benefit.”
“Florida should be a warning about what happens when public education dollars are diverted into private voucher programs,” said Representative Maxwell Frost (FL-10). “We’ve watched public school funding flow into private voucher programs that lack the transparency, oversight and protections families deserve. Congress should be strengthening public schools, not exporting Florida’s mistakes nationwide. That’s why I’m proud to help lead the Keep Public Funds in Public Schools Act.”
“Arizona’s misguided experiment with universal private school vouchers should serve as a warning to the rest of the country. We’ve watched public education dollars be diverted into a system plagued by abuse,” said Representative Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07). “The federal government should not replicate this failed program on a national scale. The Keep Public Dollars in Public Schools Act will help ensure federal taxpayer dollars strengthen the public schools that serve the overwhelming majority of America’s children, not subsidize privatization schemes rife with fraud.”
“As a proud public school graduate, I know firsthand the value and importance of our public education system,” said Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02). “Fixing this blatant abuse of the tax system will help kids across the country, not just those whose parents are members of Mar-a-Lago. I applaud my friend, Rep. Moore, for spearheading this legislation, and I’m glad to be part of this effort to keep public funds in public schools.”
“As governor and a former educator, I’ve spent decades of my life watching the impacts that draining public funds from public schools to fund private voucher school programs has had on kids, schools, and public education in Wisconsin,” said Gov. Evers. “Republicans in Washington have given private voucher expansion carte blanche to run roughshod over public education in this country—and a blank check to do so at taxpayer expense—clearly without any regard for whether it actually does what is best for kids. It’s wrong-headed and does nothing to address the real problems our public schools are facing. I am glad to support Congresswoman Moore and Congressman Pocan’s work to repeal this dangerous and harmful law and instead ensure our kids and schools are given real, meaningful resources they need to thrive.”
“Every student deserves a fully-funded public school in their neighborhood that prepares them with the lessons, support, and life skills they need to reach their full potential. Parents and educators agree that we should be investing in public schools, where 90% of students and 95% of students with disabilities learn, not taking money away from them to send to private schools. Let’s reduce class sizes so students get more one-on-one attention, and increase educator pay to help address the teacher and staff shortages. That is why the National Education Association applauds Congresswoman Gwen Moore for introducing legislation to repeal the first national school voucher program, which would drain funding from public schools and funnel it to unaccountable and discriminatory private schools,” said National Education Association President Becky Pringle.
“The use of public dollars for private voucher schemes remains anathema. While it’s a good thing that the political backlash has resulted in some potential uses for public school parents, vouchers are never a substitute for direct, sustained investment in public education.
Let’s be clear what this administration is doing: putting its thumb on the scale for privatization and spending billions more to prop up this scheme than it ever has on public schools. It telegraphs, in words and in deeds, that it has no interest in improving the schools that 90 percent of kids attend. That’s why we wholeheartedly support the Keep Public Funds in Public Schools Act, which would repeal the tax credit and help the neighborhood schools that 90 percent of kids attend,” said American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten.
“Repealing the private school voucher tax credit is critical to protecting public education. At a time when state and federal budget cuts threaten public schools, vouchers would divert scarce resources away from the students who need them most—particularly Black, Latino, and low-income students and students with disabilities—and into systems that do not serve every child.
With widespread OCR case backlogs and growing attacks on civil rights protections for Black students, expanding school privatization would further weaken accountability and leave many families with fewer safeguards. We should be strengthening public schools, not undermining them. EdTrust urges states not to opt into this program and calls on Congress to advance this important legislation to protect public education and educational opportunity for all students,” said Augustus Mays, EdTrust’s Vice President of Partnerships and Engagement.
“We commend Representatives Gwen Moore, Bonamici, Frost, Grijalva, and Pocan and the other cosponsors for their leadership in introducing the Keep Public Funds in Public Schools Act. Their efforts would repeal the federal tax credit program that will funnel billions of dollars to private schools that are not held to the same legal obligations to protect students with disabilities, jeopardizing their academic and social emotional growth. NCLD firmly opposed this program when it became law last summer. We urge members of Congress to support this legislation and ensure federal funds come with the legal protections all students are entitled to,” said Dr. Jacqueline Rodriguez, CEO of the National Center for Learning Disabilities.
Watch the livestream of the press conference here.
The Keep Public Funds in Public Schools Act is endorsed by numerous state and national organizations.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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