1-28-2017 Rokita Report
Jan 28, 2017 Issues: Education
|
Dear Fellow Hoosier, Thank you for the opportunity to update you on the work of the 115th Congress. I trust this finds you and your family well, as we work together to bring Hoosier common sense to Washington. For daily updates, please take a moment to "Like" my Facebook page by clicking here In this week's Rokita Report
National School Choice Week This week, we are celebrating National School Choice Week. It is a chance for students, parents, community leaders, and advocates to shine a spotlight on effective education options for every child. The National School Choice Rally was held in the U.S. Capitol. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education, I was honored to speak about education and the importance of having choices. Education options allow parents to take a child from a failing school and place them in a better learning environment - regardless of income or zip code. I do not believe that children should be shackled to a failing school. Attendees of the rally included students and parents who are living examples of how school choice is working.
I believe in school choice because I recognize that when parents have a choice, kids have a chance. I was honored to participate in the National School Choice Rally in the U.S. Capitol. To go with School Choice week, I introduced the Creating Hope and Opportunities for Individuals and Communities through Education (CHOICE) Act. This bill expands education choice for students from military families, low-income families, and those receiving education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Representatives Trey Gowdy and Luke Messer have already cosponsored the bill. This School Choice week has been a particularly exciting time. President Donald Trump has made a commitment to expanding education choice, issued a proclamation recognizing the importance of the week, and nominated Betsy DeVos to be Secretary of Education. DeVos is a dedicated school choice activist and there is strong support for nomination among the education reform community. On Wednesday, I signed a letter of support sent to Senators considering her nomination. Defending the Most Vulnerable Life Sunday was the 44th Anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision. Since that decision there have been almost 60 million abortions in the United States. This week, there were positive developments in protecting unborn babies, who truly are the most vulnerable among us. On Monday, President Trump restored American government policy that requires global health organizations receiving federal funding to refrain from performing or promoting abortions. Our taxpayers will not be subsidizing abortions in foreign countries thanks to this action by President Trump. This prohibition was enacted first by Ronald Reagan in 1984, but has been reversed twice by executive orders under President Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. On Tuesday, the House passed the life-saving No Taxpayer Funding for Abortions Act. This bill, which I was an original cosponsor of, would render permanent the restrictions on federal abortion funding laid out in the Hyde Amendment. The Hyde Amendment was first introduced by Congressman Henry Hyde in 1976 and was the first major victory in the pro-life community. I have always supported preserving the Hyde Amendment in appropriations legislation and look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate and President Trump on protecting life. Friday was the 44th March for Life. This event is held annually to remember the Roe v. Wade decision and defend one of the fundamental rights laid out in our Declaration of Independence - the right to life. I am proud that over 40 buses filled with Hoosiers have traveled to Washington DC to participate. My office held an Open House event for marchers. Protecting Election Integrity President Trump has been raising important questions about the integrity of our voting system. Across the country, voter rolls are out of date and little is done to prevent fraudulent votes from being entered. As Indiana's Secretary of State, I worked to protect our elections by championing our states' first of its kind voter ID laws. These laws were successfully defended before the United States Supreme Court and we have since seen 15 more states adopt this common sense way of protecting our elections. This week, NewsMax reporter John Gizzi asked White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer about Indiana's laws as a solution to protecting voter integrity. Spicer made clear that the President is considering voter ID laws as part of the solution and that President Trump will also be investigating the scope of the problem. I look forward to partnering with the President to fight for the integrity of every ballot. Thank you for your continued interest in Congress and for supporting my efforts to bring Hoosier common sense to Washington. Take care.
Sincerely, |
|
||||||
