Folllowing is a statement by James Cultrara, director for education for the New York State Catholic Conference, on the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA), which is federal legislation that would create an income tax credit for donations to scholarship-granting organizations that aid families with children in religious and independent schools:

“In the coming weeks, the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA) will be reintroduced in Congress. The ECCA addresses a critical need both in New York and across the nation, where choosing a school is not an option for many families. If passed, it would empower parents to select the educational options that best suit their children’s needs, rather than being constrained by financial limitations.

“Every child deserves access to the education they need to thrive. We urge everyone to contact their legislators through our action center and advocate for Congress to support the ECCA.”

The New York State Catholic Conference represents the Bishops of New York State in public policy matters. A one-page summary of the Educational Choice for Children Act can be found here.