Letter
FY26 USCCB - ADW SOAR Act House approps letter
This letter from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, dated June 25, 2025, passionately advocates for increased funding for the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results (SOAR) Act, particularly the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP). Addressed to Chairman Dave Joyce and Ranking Member Steny Hoyer, it highlights the program's success in empowering nearly 12,000 low-income D.C. students since 2004 to attend schools best suited to their needs, including Catholic schools. The letter praises the OSP for supporting parental choice and urges Congress to fully fund the SOAR Act at its authorized $60 million level for FY26, ensuring more families can access this vital educational lifeline without restrictive conditions. It emphasizes the moral imperative of supporting parents as primary educators, aligning with Catholic teachings, and commends the program’s role in uplifting disadvantaged communities, particularly African-American and Hispanic families in D.C.’s most underserved wards.