I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8961 
To abolish the Department of Education and to provide funding directly 
to States for elementary and secondary education, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 22, 2022 
Mr. GOHMERT (for himself and Mr. STEUBE) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor 
A BILL 
To abolish the Department of Education and to provide 
funding directly to States for elementary and secondary 
education, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. ABOLISHMENT OF DEPARTMENT OF EDU-
CATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Effective on the date that is 30 
days after the date of enactment of this Act— 
(1) the Department of Education is abolished; 
and 
(2) each applicable program is terminated. 
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(b) APPLICABLE PROGRAM DEFINED.—The term 
‘‘applicable program’’ means each program for which the 
Secretary of Education or the Department of Education 
has administrative responsibility as provided by law or by 
delegation of authority pursuant to law as of the day be-
fore the date specified in subsection (a), except such term 
does not include— 
(1) the Federal Pell Grant program under sec-
tion 401 of the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. 
1070a); and 
(2) the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan 
Program under part D of such Act (20 U.S.C. 
1087a et seq.). 
(c) TRANSFER
OF FUNCTIONS.—Effective on the 
date specified in subsection (a), the authority to carry out 
the programs described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of sub-
section (b) is hereby transferred to the Secretary of the 
Treasury. 
SEC. 2. BLOCK GRANTS TO STATES. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) States should distribute non-Federal funds 
for elementary and secondary education in a manner 
that promotes competition and choices in education 
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in order to secure the best education available for 
each child; and 
(2) it is the fundamental right of parents to de-
termine the best education for their children. 
(b) ELEMENTARY
AND
SECONDARY
EDUCATION 
GRANT PROGRAM.—The Secretary of the Treasury shall 
carry out a program under which the Secretary makes al-
locations to States, in accordance with subsection (c), to 
support elementary and secondary education. 
(c) ALLOCATIONS TO STATES.—The allocations made 
by the Secretary to each State under subsection (b) shall 
be in proportion to the aggregate amount of Federal indi-
vidual income taxes paid by the residents of such State 
(relative to such aggregate amount paid by residents of 
all the States) as determined by the Secretary after con-
sultation with the Secretary of the Treasury. 
(d) USE OF FUNDS.—A State that receives an alloca-
tion under subsection (c) shall use such funds to support 
elementary and secondary education in the State. 
Æ 
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