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Call to Action: Ask Your Senators to Reject HR.1

Marianne Burke, PhD
Jun 4
2 min read

Updated: Jun 5

Blue background with a crossed-out bill and voucher icons. Text urges senators to oppose voucher schemes. Emphasizes negative impact on public schools.

Challenge the Voucher Scheme Stuffed into the Reconciliation Bill

The 2025 reconciliation bill narrowly passed (by one vote) in the U.S. House of Representatives on May 22, 2025. Now the bill has passed over to be considered by the U.S. Senate when members of that chamber return Monday, June 2.

Text reads "Why You Should Say No to Vouchers" with crossed-out voucher. Lists negative impacts. Background is light blue with orange text. — Click to Read Earlier Call to Action

That bill contains many unpopular provisions including one that would provide private school scholarships to some students while depriving public schools of critical funding. Because this provision is part of the Reconciliation bill, it can pass with only 51 votes in the Senate instead of the 61 votes needed if the same provisions were to go through the normal legislative process with bills S.292 and H.R. 833.

The Senate Parliamentarian can challenge provisions in the reconciliation bill that are inappropriate for inclusion in a reconciliation bill, and the provision for private school scholarships should certainly be considered inappropriate for this bill.

According to Section 313 of the Congressional Budget Act, also known as the Byrd Rule, there are limits on the kinds of legislative provisions that can be included in a reconciliation bill. That rule prohibits provisions that are “extraneous” to the budget, such as if the provision does not change outlays or revenues. Sometimes legislators try to include unpopular, but non-budgetary, provisions in a reconciliation bill just to make the provision easier to pass, and this current provision appears to be an example of that move by GOP House members.

If the Parliamentarian’s challenge to this voucher provision is successful, the scholarship provision will be removed from the Reconciliation bill, which would result in the House and Senate considering S. 292 and H.R. 833 using the normal legislative process. If this happens, a required 61 votes for cloture will be needed before either bill can come to a vote in the Senate.

To date, neither Senators Kaine nor Warner have challenged this inappropriate provision under the Byrd Rule with the Parliamentarian. On June 4, 2025, 4 Public Education made a formal request to both senators that they initiate a challenge on this provision (SEC. 110109, pg 784 of H.R.1) to the Senate Parliamentarian. Under the Byrd Rule it should be judged inappropriate for a reconciliation bill. Advocates can help by asking their senators to challenge that provision. Also advocates can ask their Senators to vote against HR1, by answering this quick and easy call to action.