Washington, D.C. – House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (CA-23) released the following statement on House passage of H.R. 10, the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results (SOAR) Reauthorization Act:
“Nothing has increased educational opportunity more than choice. When money follows the students instead of schools and unions, it’s the kids who win.
“The D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program has some amazing accomplishments. Ninety-five percent of the students who receive scholarships are African-American, and these students have a 91 percent graduation rate—well above the 56 percent graduation rate of traditional D.C. public schools. That’s quite a record of success.
“I know this scholarship program has been close to Speaker Boehner’s heart. It’s the first bill he introduced when he became Speaker and it will be one of the last he will pass on the House floor. Ultimately, this bill represents what has been at the heart of Speaker Boehner’s leadership. He worked hard every day to bring people together and give the American people the opportunity to succeed.”