Betsy Headshot-2015

ATR President Grover Norquist sent the following letter urging senators to approve the nomination of Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education:

On behalf of Americans for Tax Reform, I write you to urge your committee and the full United States Senate to approve the nomination of Betsy DeVos to become the Secretary of Education.

Betsy DeVos has been a leader in providing innovative solutions to bring higher quality education to children throughout the United States who are most lacking in educational options and opportunity.

As chairperson of the American Federation for Children, Mrs. DeVos assisted organizations and lawmakers in dozens of states to promote and adopt policies to enable students, particularly from high-need communities, to have equal access to schools that best meet their educational needs.

Thanks in part to Mrs. DeVos, more than half the states have tax policies that encourage charitable donations to scholarship funds to help students from low-income families, or encourage support for students with disabilities, or enable parents to choose schools that best meet the needs of their children.  More than 40 states now have charter school laws.

The specific approach of education tax credits to encourage increased charitable support for scholarship funds has been especially effective in providing children from low-income families a financial pathway to attend a quality school – something that upper income parents already can provide for their children.  At present, 17 states have a donation tax credit law for scholarships, which serve as models for Congress to consider adopting nationally so that many more children can be empowered to attend schools that will provide the education they need and deserve.

Thanks to the leadership and encouragement of Betsy DeVos, there are millions of students who have an education that puts them on a quality-of-life trajectory to become productive citizens. 

It is this kind of national leadership that has made a positive difference in the lives of so many students that warrants your approval for Betsy DeVos to become the next Secretary of Education.
 

Grover Norquist

President, Americans for Tax Reform