On September 9-11, the West Virginia Christian Education Association (WVCEA) was well represented at the annual American Association of Christian Schools (AACS) legislative conference in Washington, D.C. by leadership and representatives of multiple schools. Attendees from across the country were briefed by the excellent AACS Washington political staff, policy experts from the Heritage Foundation, and members of Congress. Those in attendance also spent time visiting their state’s congressional delegation and lobbying important legislation pending before Congress. The West Virginia representatives visited the offices of Senators Capito and Manchin, in addition to Representative Carol Miller. Senator Capito was kind enough to take a few minutes out of her busy schedule to meet with us personally.

This year, the focus involved three important pieces of legislation. First: the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF). The CCDF is money from the federal government to assist working parents with childcare expenses. In the past, this assistance has been paid out to the parents themselves or to childcare facilities approved by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Currently, 44 states and territories deliver the funds to parents which allows the parents to choose the proper fit for their children. In fact, well over 90% of the funding is given to parents in the form of certificates that allow for school choice. However, recent policy proposals established by HHS mandates that all funds would be dispersed to government approved childcare facilities only in the form of direct grants. This would eliminate school choice by the parents and violates the previously established law. Fortunately, the House Appropriations Committee has amended the spending bill that would fund this program to keep the regulations as before. We are asking members of the House to pass this amendment and asking the Senate to keep the House amendment in any Senate spending agreement.

Second: the Charitable Act (H.R. 3435/S. 566). Due to changes in tax regulations, fewer people itemize their tax returns. In fact, only about 10% of Americans now itemize their taxes. Therefore, there is less incentive to donate to charities. The Charitable Act allows non-itemizing Americans to claim a universal charitable deduction up to 1/3 of the standard deduction.  Passage of this legislation would be valuable to all charities.

Third is the Safeguarding Charity Act (H.R. 7027/S. 3604). In recent decisions, courts have been split on the status of tax-exempt organizations. Some courts have ruled that receiving a tax exemption is the equivalent of receiving federal financial assistance (FFA), and subject to government regulations and guidelines not previously agreed to.  This bill would put the protections of tax-exempt organizations into code.

Following the AACS legislative conference, word came down from the AACS national legislative office that the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA) had passed out of the House Ways and Means Committee and was being considered by House leadership. The ECCA would establish a tax credit program that would supplement state-level school programs and create additional opportunities by encouraging businesses and individuals to donate to scholarship granting organizations (SGOs). Because SGOs distribute the funds, religious-based schools could receive the money without the threat of government regulations or penalty. If passed, the bill would establish a federal tax credit to promote educational freedom in all 50 states for the first time.

In today’s political climate, it is easy to become disheartened; however, there are still good people in elected office and public service dedicated to doing the right things and following Godly principals. It seems every visit that I make to the state house or to the nation’s capital I meet additional people who are with us, many that are Christian school and Christian college graduates who are standing firm. Please pray for these people who are under stress daily from the opposition.