VIDEO RELEASE: Senator Moody and Education Secretary McMahon Highlight Educational Wins in the One Big Beautiful Bill, Expansion of School Choice for Students Nationwide

Aug 6, 2025
Clickhereto 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 Moodysaid, “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 McMahonsaid, “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 Leesaid, “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 DeSantissigned a bill into lawthat 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 remarkshere.
By supporting the One Big Beautiful Bill, Senator Moody voted to extend the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act preventing:
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.
SECURING WINS FOR FLORIDA’S SPACE COAST:Senator Moody secures provision to bolster Florida’s public-private aerospace partnerships and strengthen spaceports.
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.

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