By Rep. Adrian Smith
This summer, I have been grateful for the opportunity to welcome Third District students visiting Washington to the U.S. Capitol Building. Its iconic architecture stands as an enduring reminder of American freedom and opportunity. In light of the blessings secured by our Constitution, fostering appreciation in young people for our unique system of government is essential. As students and families across our state and nation begin a new school year, considering how education policy can be shaped to prepare our students as future leaders of our country is vital.
Because of the importance of maximizing the quality of education for every student in America, in the first 100 days of the 118th Congress, House Republicans passed H.R. 5, the Parents Bill of Rights Act. This bill affirmed the rights of parents everywhere by recognizing the primary role parents play in their children’s education and emphasizing their need to be informed of what students experience at school.
Parents – not government – should always have the final say in what kind of education their child receives, no matter where they live or their socioeconomic status. To accomplish this, I have introduced a bill, the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA) to further empower families to make their own educational decisions by increasing access to high-quality education regardless of ZIP code or family income.
Through offering tax incentives for donations providing new scholarship opportunities in both public and private settings, the ECCA would triple the number of students currently benefitting from programs empowering them to get the best education available.
I also have the privilege each year of nominating a select group of individuals to attend one of the U.S. Service Academies. The academies include: the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York; the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland; the U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York.
In order to be considered for nomination, students are required to complete an Academy packet providing academic records, letters of recommendation, and other relevant information to help make the decision. For more information about the Academy packet, please contact my Grand Island Office at (308) 384-3900.
The perspectives of students, even those not yet old enough to vote, are important to the ability of Congress to meet the needs of our communities. I recently named the members of my Youth Advisory Council (YAC) for the current school year. The Third District YAC is a forum for high school students to share opinions, thoughts, and concerns with me about local and federal issues throughout the school year. This group provides students the opportunity to discuss the concerns of young Nebraskans and give their input on issues facing our country. For information about applying for a future YAC, please visit my website.
Much work remains to combat learning loss, protect the rights of parents, and expand opportunities for all American students to get the best education available to them. I see investing in our young people as some of the most critical work I do in Congress. Preparing tomorrow’s generation of leaders is absolutely necessary to our future success.