United States · Bill · HR
H.R. 2746 (105th)
Helping Empower Low-income Parents (HELP) Scholarships Amendments of 1997
Introduced
28 October 1997
Last action
7 November 1997 · Referred
Status
Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Youth and Families.
Sponsors
Rep. Riggs, Frank [R-CA-1], Rep. Watts, J. C., Jr. [R-OK-4], Rep. Flake, Floyd H. [D-NY-6], Sen. Talent, Jim [R-MO], Rep. Gingrich, Newt [R-GA-6], Rep. Armey, Richard K. [R-TX-26], Rep. DeLay, Tom [R-TX-22], Rep. Boehner, John A. [R-OH-8], Rep. Dunn, Jennifer [R-WA-8], Rep. Pryce, Deborah [R-OH-15], Rep. Solomon, Gerald B. H. [R-NY-24], Rep. Hoekstra, Peter [R-MI-2], Rep. Weldon, Dave [R-FL-15], PETER KING, Rep. Peterson, John E. [R-PA-5], Rep. Largent, Steve [R-OK-1], Rep. McIntosh, David M. [R-IN-2], Rep. Norwood, Charles W. [R-GA-10]
Subjects
Education
Source updated
21 August 2025
Summary
Helping Empower Low-income Parents (HELP) Scholarships Amendments of 1997 - Amends title VI (Innovative Education Program Strategies) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to allow any State that has enacted or will enact a law establishing a voluntary public and private school parental choice scholarship program in compliance with specified ESEA requirements to reserve an additional 15 percent from its annual title IV allotment for use exclusively for such parental choice programs. Requires State educational agencies, except in the case of such programs, to distribute 90 percent (currently 85 percent) of title VI funds to local educational agencies based on criteria which gives priority to low-income families and areas. Includes such parental choice programs among State and local uses of title VI funds. Requires such parental choice programs to be located in an area that has the greatest numbers or percentages of children: (1) living in areas with a high concentration of low-income families; (2) from low-income families; or (3) living in sparsely populated areas. Requires such programs to ensure that program participation is limited to families whose family income does not exceed 185 percent of the poverty line. Directs the Comptroller General to make contracts for annual evaluation of each parental choice program. Requires the Secretary of Education to reserve certain funds for such evaluations. Provides that title VI funds to establish a parental choice program shall be considered assistance to the student and shall not be considered as assistance to any school that chooses to participate in such program. Prohibits the Secretary from exercising any direction, supervision, or control over curricula, program of instruction, administration, or personnel of any school that chooses to participate in a parental choice program.
This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.
Timeline
28 October 1997
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
28 October 1997
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
28 October 1997
Introduced
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Source: IntroReferral
29 October 1997
Reported
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 288 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2746 and H.R. 2616.
Source: Floor
4 November 1997
Vote
On passage Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 191 - 228 (Roll no. 569).
Source: Floor
4 November 1997
Passed
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
4 November 1997
Vote
Failed of passage/not agreed to in House: On passage Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 191 - 228 (Roll no. 569).
Source: Floor
4 November 1997
Vote
On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 203 - 215 (Roll no. 568). (consideration: CR H9962-9964)
Source: Floor
4 November 1997
Floor
Mr. Etheridge moved to recommit with instructions to Education and the Workforce.
Source: Floor
4 November 1997
Floor
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
Source: Floor
4 November 1997
Floor
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2746 and H.R. 2616.
Source: Floor
4 November 1997
Floor
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 288. (consideration: CR H9941-9965)
Source: Floor
7 November 1997
Referred
Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Youth and Families.
Source: Committee
Votes
No vote records are attached yet.
Versions
- Introduced in House · 28 October 1997 · Official file
Documents
3 official files
Introduced in House (text)
Introduced in House (text)
Introduced in House · EN · 28 October 1997
Introduced in House (PDF)
Introduced in House · EN · 28 October 1997
Introduced in House
summary · EN · 28 October 1997
Sponsors
- Rep. Riggs, Frank [R-CA-1] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Watts, J. C., Jr. [R-OK-4] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Flake, Floyd H. [D-NY-6] · D · Sponsor
- Sen. Talent, Jim [R-MO] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Gingrich, Newt [R-GA-6] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Armey, Richard K. [R-TX-26] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. DeLay, Tom [R-TX-22] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Boehner, John A. [R-OH-8] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Dunn, Jennifer [R-WA-8] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Pryce, Deborah [R-OH-15] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Solomon, Gerald B. H. [R-NY-24] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Hoekstra, Peter [R-MI-2] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Weldon, Dave [R-FL-15] · R · Cosponsor
- PETER KING · R · Cosponsor
- Rep. Peterson, John E. [R-PA-5] · R · Cosponsor
- Rep. Largent, Steve [R-OK-1] · R · Cosponsor
- Rep. McIntosh, David M. [R-IN-2] · R · Cosponsor
- Rep. Norwood, Charles W. [R-GA-10] · R · Cosponsor
- · hsed00 · Standing
Related records
Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/2746
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/105/hr/2746
- us · 105-hr-2746 · source updated 21 August 2025