Mark Kelly Slams GOP’s $5B Voucher Plan as ‘A Terrible Mistake’ at Washington Rally

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly rallied with education advocates, parents, teachers, and students on Thursday to oppose proposed cuts to education funding put forth by congressional Republicans.

The Arizona Democrat criticized the GOP’s “big, beautiful bill,” which aims to slash federal spending to accommodate President Donald Trump’s expansive agenda and tax cuts. Kelly specifically targeted the proposed private school voucher program included in the House’s reconciliation package, highlighting its plan to allocate $5 billion annually in tax credits for donations to private and religious school scholarship organizations.

“This is a backhanded effort to redirect tax dollars into private schools,” he stated. He emphasized that Arizona’s public education system has deteriorated over the past decade, making such proposals detrimental. “This is not a good idea; it’s a horrible idea.”

Republicans are utilizing the reconciliation process, enabling the package to progress through Congress with simple majority votes, thus circumventing the Senate’s traditional requirement for 60 votes. The House narrowly passed its version in May, and Senate discussions are now proposing modifications, particularly concerning higher education.

Advocacy groups also condemned the bill’s cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), in addition to the private school voucher initiative. “We must facilitate access to quality education to ensure children have a chance at a better future,” Kelly remarked. “This begins with opposing backward steps from Congress and the White House.”

The National Parents Union organized the rally in collaboration with groups like Educators for Excellence and Education Leaders of Color. Keri Rodrigues, president of the National Parents Union, emphasized, “Parents, students, and educators have been delivering a clear message to Congress: this so-called ‘big, beautiful bill’ poses a direct threat to our children’s future.” She placed a strong blame on the cuts, declaring, “There is nothing big or beautiful about slashing billions from public education.”

Meanwhile, Trump’s fiscal 2026 budget proposal outlines a $12 billion reduction in funding for the Education Department, aiming to reshape the federal role in education and diminish the agency’s influence.

Earlier this week, Republicans on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions revealed their draft for the reconciliation package. The Senate’s proposal shares similarities with the House version regarding major revisions to student loan repayment options, the creation of a Workforce Pell Grant program, and the elimination of both the Grad PLUS program and the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan.

However, the Senate version omits several substantial provisions affecting higher education affordability and access found in the House’s bill. Notably, it does not propose raising the minimum credit hours required for the maximum Pell Grant from 12 to 15 nor does it repeal subsidized loans or alter the “90/10 rule,” which mandates that at least 10% of revenue for-profit institutions obtain comes from non-federal sources.