IV 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 70 
Expressing support for the District of Columbia school scholarship program. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 10, 2009 
Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN (for himself, Mr. BOEHNER, Mr. MCKEON, Mr. ISSA, 
Mr. LATHAM, Mr. CRENSHAW, Mr. MICA, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, Mr. 
CHAFFETZ, Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey, Mr. EHLERS, Mr. RADANO-
VICH, Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. PETRI, Mr. TIBERI, Ms. FOXX, 
and Mr. MANZULLO) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which 
was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Expressing support for the District of Columbia school 
scholarship program. 
Whereas the Congress established the Opportunity Scholar-
ships Program (OSP) for kindergarten through grade 12 
students in Washington, DC, in 2004; 
Whereas each year the program has provided scholarships of 
up to $7,500 annually to cover tuition, fees, and trans-
portation expenses for each of about 1,700 disadvantaged 
children to attend private school; 
Whereas since 2004, over 7,000 students have applied and 
3,000 OSP scholarships have been provided to students; 
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Whereas during the 2008–2009 school year, over 1,715 DC 
OSP students are attending 49 nonpublic schools of their 
choice and the average annual income for these families 
is around $22,736; 
Whereas a recent University of Arkansas study shows that 
parents’ satisfaction with the OSP has deepened to in-
clude an appreciation for small class sizes, rich curricula, 
and positive change in their sons and daughters and that 
what parents most value above all is the freedom to 
choose where their children go to school; 
Whereas one student who receives an OSP scholarship was 
quoted as saying the following: ‘‘Since attending George-
town Day School, I have been able to expand my hori-
zons, interact with people of various beliefs and cultures, 
and educate myself about the world in an open, accept-
ing, and safe environment . . . For me, having received 
WSF scholarship means having an opportunity that I 
may not have otherwise have. Being a part of something 
bigger, something called ‘Higher Education’, I not only 
make a difference, but become the difference.’’; and 
Whereas the fiscal year 2009 omnibus appropriations bill 
(H.R. 1105) includes a provision designed to terminate 
the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program by requiring 
that it be reauthorized by Congress and approved by the 
DC government to receive Federal funding after the 
2009–2010 academic year: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that it 
is in the national interest of the United States to continue 
the District’s Opportunity Scholarship Program after 
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school year 2009–2010 without reduction in the benefits 
provided under the program. 
Æ 
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