Greg Steube on Education

Education should be left to the states

No tuition-free public college

A: Strongly disagree

$10M for vouchers for private schools for poor kids

• A program allowing corporations to receive tax credits for funding vouchers for private schools will receive an extra $10.25 million under a bill passed by the House.
• The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship program is capped at $175 million for the current fiscal year, and is scheduled to increase to $219 million. HB 859 would increase the cap to $229 million, and do away with random inspections for participating schools.
• The vouchers amount to about $4,000 per student, and only low-income students are eligible. Proponents of the bill note that the vouchers cost less than the per-student funding for public schools, which is $6,224 for the current year.
• Several Democrats decried the bill, though, as siphoning off money that would otherwise go to public schools.

Status:Bill passed House, 92-24; passed Senate, 32-8; approved by Governor, March 23,˜2012. (Greg Steube voted YEA).

Allow students to deliver inspirational messages

Analysis by ACLU Florida: This is the school prayer, which was termed "inspirational message" bill when Senate legal staff expressed doubts it could pass constitutional muster. The measure authorizes school districts to adopt a policy to allow students of all ages to deliver inspirational messages at compulsory and non-compulsory school events and prohibits school personnel from being involved in overseeing the message contents, sectarian or otherwise.

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 31-8-1 on Feb/1/12; Passed House 88-27-4 on Mar/1/12; State Rep. Greg Steube voted YES; Signed by Governor Rick Scott on Mar/23/12

Voted NO on private lawsuits for school race discrimination.

Legislative Summary:This bill authorizes private civil causes of action for discrimination on the ground of race, color, or national origin, including anti-Semitism) in programs receiving federal financial assistance.

Trump's Statement of Administration Policy (against): The Administration strongly opposes passage of H.R. 2574. This bill fails to advance equality in education, while expanding bureaucracy, encouraging burdensome litigation, and imposing costs on recipients of Federal financial assistance. H.R. 2574 seeks to validate and expand the divisive regulatory agenda of the previous administration--advancing an ideological mission and enriching favored special interests like trial lawyers at the expense of students, educators, and taxpayers. The bill would require each recipient of Federal financial assistance to appoint a compliance coordinator, which would impose additional administrative burdens. H.R. 2574 would redirect vital resources that are needed to serve students in the pursuit of an ideological agenda.

Rep. Elaine Luria in support: H.R. 2574 would allow private individuals to file lawsuits under the Civil Rights Act's Title VI authority, allowing students and parents to remedy discrimination in education. "Every student has the right to access public education, free from discriminatory practices, said Congresswoman Luria. "By focusing on equity and inclusion, we move towards a public education system that is more just and will benefit every student, regardless of sex, ethnicity, ability, or their zip code."

Legislative outcome:Passed House 232-188-10, roll no. 192 on Sept 16, 2020; died in Senate without a vote.