U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Mark Kelly announced on Apr. 16 the introduction of the Keep Public Funds in Public Schools Act, which aims to repeal provisions that established a federal private school voucher program under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
The legislation is intended to ensure that public funds remain within public schools rather than being diverted to private institutions through tax credits for donations supporting private K-12 tuition. Supporters say this is crucial for maintaining resources in public education and protecting students’ access to quality schooling.
The current voucher program allows individuals to claim a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for donations up to $1,700 made to organizations funding private school tuition, a measure created by the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress. The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policies has warned that this could cost taxpayers tens of billions of dollars annually—potentially much more than official estimates suggest.
“As the Trump administration continues its all-out, coordinated attack on public education, its newly-created national school voucher program will harm our public schools by diverting critical resources that could otherwise be used to support students,” said Senator Hirono. “I am proud to co-lead the Keep Public Funds in Public Schools Act, which would help to ensure that all students have access to a quality, public education—regardless of their circumstances.”
The proposed act would eliminate Section 25F from the Internal Revenue Code, removing both the tax credit for contributions made toward scholarship granting organizations and related income exclusions starting in 2027. Over 50 state organizations and more than 80 national groups—including major advocacy groups such as the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), NAACP, Network for Public Education, UnidosUS—have endorsed the bill.
Senator Hirono serves on several Senate committees including Judiciary; Armed Services; Energy and Natural Resources; Veterans’ Affairs; and Small Business and Entrepreneurship. She focuses on healthcare access, veterans’ benefits, renewable energy initiatives, and support for working families according to her official website. She became both the first Asian American woman and first Buddhist elected to the U.S. Senate according to her official website, after previously serving in the U.S. House of Representatives according to her official website. Born in Japan before immigrating with her mother as a child according to her official website, she earned degrees from University of Hawaii at Mānoa and Georgetown University Law Center according to her official website.
For over a year Senator Hirono has publicly opposed recent changes affecting public education policy by holding press conferences marking what she calls an ongoing attack against federal education agencies as well as hosting forums with educators highlighting consequences from recent legislative rollbacks.
