Senators Cite Support For SOAR Act

By Aaron Richardson – Talk Radio News Service

The Scholarships For Opportunity and Results Act (SOAR) has been giving low income students in the District of Columbia the opportunity to receive a better education by providing scholarships to them to attend various private schools in the city. Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and George Voinovich (R-Ohio), along with former D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams and former D.C. Councilman Kevin Chavous shared their support of the program at a press conference Thursday.

“The only message I have for the administration which I support dearly is, it is time to put up or shut up! Either we are going to work for kids and make sure the deeds match the rhetoric or we’re not,” said Chavous.

Surrounded by children, Sen. Collins discussed why it is important for the children in the District to have a chance to attend private schools.

“I am looking at these students here and I am reading the words that some of their stickers have and I see the word hope and I see the word opportunity. But the words that I like best are worn by this little girl right in front of me and she is wearing the words ‘what about me?’ And I think that’s the question you should ask anyone who is opposing our efforts to extend this important program,” said Collins.

At the end of the press conference, a parent of a child, who will have to return to public school if the bill is not passed, gave a tearful testimony about her daughter’s education experience.

“My child was in public school and it was a good school but now that she is in private school there is a big difference. So these people are trying to help us so much…..And I am so glad and I hope that you pass it and that every parent has the opportunity that I had,” said the parent.