Click here to view Senator Moody’s remarks
TAMPA, Fla.—Today, following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill that will deliver historic tax cuts, major economic investments, increased national security, and expanded school choice, Senator Ashley Moody joined Secretary of Education Linda McMahon touting the educational wins included in the legislation. Senator Moody championed the expansion of school choice through legislative efforts–announcing support at an April news conference in Tampa. Dozens of parents, students and teachers joined Senator Moody and Secretary McMahon at Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate High School to applaud the monumental effort to empower families in education through scholarships that can be used for tuition, tutoring, books, supplies, uniforms and other educational related expenses.
Senator Ashley Moody said, “A few months ago, I stood before Florida parents and pledged to do everything in my power to put them in the driver’s seat of their child’s education. Today, I am delivering on that promise as we expand school choice nationwide. Florida is a leader in school choice, and I am proud to stand with President Trump, Secretary McMahon and Florida families to empower parents to make the best educational decisions for their children. Student needs, not zip codes, should drive educational opportunities, and this provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill allows more families to make that determination for their students.”
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said, “President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill is the largest federal expansion of school choice in history and will provide Florida families even more opportunities to choose the best education for their children. Thank you to Senator Moody for inviting me to celebrate its historic passage.”
Representative Laurel Lee said, “As a longtime advocate for school choice and a proud supporter of the One Big Beautiful Bill, I’m honored to celebrate this transformational step forward for America’s children. Every child deserves a learning environment that meets their unique needs — and the Educational Choice for Children Act makes that possible. This is a promise to put families first, empower parents, and ensure every student has a chance to thrive. I’m grateful to Secretary McMahon, Senator Moody, and Step Up for Students for their leadership and commitment to educational opportunity.”
In 2023, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law that broadened school choice in the state, removing financial eligibility requirements and enrollment caps and making all K-12 students eligible for private school scholarships. The bill also introduced Education Savings Accounts, which cover expenses such as curriculum materials and specialized services. Federal school choice legislation like this, complements existing programs by providing additional funding and expanding access to educational options for all families, particularly through providing funding for tax credits to ease financial burdens on parents.
The provision included in the One Big Beautiful Bill is a federal tax credit scholarship that would help as many as two million students access a school or education service of their parents’ choice. Scholarships are funded with private donations, not federal money, and donors receive a federal tax credit. Students could use scholarships for tuition, tutoring to address learning loss, special needs services, or education technology.
See Senator Moody’s full remarks here.
By supporting the One Big Beautiful Bill, Senator Moody voted to extend the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act preventing:
- $3,650.00 tax hike on the average Florida family;
- 399,000 Florida jobs lost;
- 2,441,080 Florida households’ child tax credit cut in half;
- 1,908,210 Florida small business owners from seeing a massive tax hike; and
- 10,001,420 Florida families’ standard deduction cut in half.
Additionally, Senator Moody fought for and secured several measures, that were included in the final bill, including:
STRENGTHENING BORDER SECURITY: Senator Moody secures provision to expand state and local law enforcement’s ability to enforce illegal immigration laws.
- This provision expands eligible reimbursable expenses to state and local law enforcement agencies participating in the 287(g) program. It would enable non-federal law enforcement agencies to commit already-sworn officers to immigration enforcement so they can act as a force multiplier for federal immigration enforcement in the short term while hiring, training, and on-boarding new federal officers – a more time-intense process – is underway. Read more about Senator Moody’s work on border security HERE.
SECURING WINS FOR FLORIDA’S SPACE COAST: Senator Moody secures provision to bolster Florida’s public-private aerospace partnerships and strengthen spaceports.
- Senator Moody’s legislation, the Secure U.S. Leadership in Space Act, will ensure the United States remains competitive and at the forefront of space innovation and exploration. This provision seeks to bolster public-private partnerships by making spaceport facility bonds tax-exempt, treating spaceports the same as airports and seaports. This measure is crucial for the continued growth of Florida’s Space Coast which is leading the charge in the space race. Read more HERE.
PREVENTING HUMAN TRAFFICKING OF MINORS AT THE BORDER: Senator Moody secured a provision that would require the Office of Refugee Resettlement to work with states to help find homes and proper placements for the minors. Additionally, they would be required to track these children for the duration of their stay in U.S. while immigration proceedings are ongoing.
- The Biden Administration infamously lost track of tens of thousands of unaccompanied immigrant children, many of whom were placed into dangerous situations as reported in the Third Presentment of the Twenty-First Statewide Grand Jury in Florida. Additionally, the Biden HHS refused to provide documents or produce witnesses before the Grand Jury and apparently actively encouraged the Florida entities with which it has contracted to not cooperate with the Grand Jury. Read more on Senator Moody’s work on this issue HERE.