The House Jumps in on School Choice

February 20, 2025

Brian Phillips

For over a decade, Brian Phillips has helped policymakers and political candidates develop effective messages and communication strategies. Phillips is a veteran of presidential, congressional, and gubernatorial campaigns, and has extensive experience working in the United States Congress and public policy think tanks. Previously, he served in a senior communications role as the Director of Rapid Response for Senator Ted Cruz’s presidential campaign. Prior to joining Cruz, Phillips worked as Communications Director for U.S. Senator Mike Lee of Utah, who has played a role in nearly every major policy debate since joining the Senate in 2011, including Obamacare repeal, fighting Obama’s unconstitutional executive orders, protecting Americans’ Second Amendment rights, as well as promoting numerous innovative policy reforms. Before going on to hold several senior positions in House, Senate and gubernatorial campaigns, Phillips worked for the highly-respected conservative Heritage Foundation as a Media Adviser promoting conservative policy reforms.

School choice hasn’t won yet but it’s in the lead.

This morning, Speaker of the House Dustin Burrows announced the filing of House Bill 3 to create education savings accounts. It’s the companion bill to Senate Bill 2 which has already been voted out of the Senate.

“House Bill 3 is historic and it provides what people have been asking for: real meaningful opportunities,” Burrows told the audience at TPPF’s annual Texas Policy Summit. “House Bill 3 delivers what Texas have been asking for a true universal school choice program and, let me be clear, we have the votes to get it done.”

“The House’s proposal is a true savings account that gives families flexibility to use funds when and how they need them because Texas parents know best,” he added.

“School choice does not damage public schools or take money away from them. School choice is important to the education ecosystem creating more options for those who have none. I believe we can fully fund public education while recognizing that one size does not fit all. Families deserve options, schools deserve resources. One without the other leaves Texas short.”

Texas is closer than ever to giving parents the control over their child’s education that they’ve been asking for. However, the problem with leads is that comebacks happen all the time. Now is not the time to become complacent. Our most important moments are still ahead.

This commentary is published on Thursdays as part of TPPF’s subscriber-only newsletter The Post. If you would like to subscribe to The Post, click here.

Brian Phillips

Related content

Border on the brink as cartel drones force US to act after years of paralysis

A Bible-Shaped Hole in our Children’s Learning

When Political Rhetoric Goes Too Far