AACS 2026 NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE
AACS Meeting – Crystal City Crowne Plaza Hotel
9/15/2026 ~ TUESDAY MORNING BRIEFING
Dr. Jamison Coppola presented timely information about the Education Freedom Tax Credit (EFTC). AACS was in the vanguard on this wording and monitoring this piece of legislation through Congress. Simply put, we have one of the best websites to explain and encourage participation in the EFTC Accord Kids (accordkids.org). This tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar credit that comes off your tax bill, and you can redirect it to a Scholarship Granting Organization, or SGO. It is not a voucher. Our tax dollars are not federal money; we own the money we earn. It is a tax credit for private gifts. This could mean about $25 billion redirected toward non-government education.
For taxpayers, most families will qualify for the tax credit through Accord Kids. Not every state qualifies; the State’s Governor must opt in. Through the SGOs, the government will not be controlling Christian schools. Who benefits? Donors will benefit, families will benefit, schools will benefit, and ultimately, students will benefit. Go to the Accord Kids (accordkids.org). Our task now is to highlight the amazing stories in Christian education.
Tell us the stories of some of your graduates.
The EFTC starts on January 1, 2027.
TUESDAY AFTERNOON – SENATE VISITORS CENTER BRIEFING ROOM
Congressman Dr. Mark Harris from North Carolina is a pastor in Mooresville, North Carolina, and started Trinity Christian Academy. While in the North Carolina legislature he defended the North Carolina Definition of Marriage Amendment. He thanked us for making an impact on young people saying there is a need like never before for young people to receive a Christ-centered, Biblical worldview
education.
Reaffirming that parents know what is best for the education of their children, not the bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. Revealing that since 1979, $3 trillion has gone to the U.S. Department of Education. The NEA has 3 million employees and is the largest labor union in America. He asked why with all this, today’s students graduate without the basic skills they need to succeed. The Working Families Tax Credit is working to get education back to the states. Sometimes, the best thing Washington can do is get out of the way, allowing our religious liberty to teach according to our faith.
CONGRESSWOMAN MARY MILLER – ILLINOIS’ 15TH DISTRICT
Congresswoman Mary Miller is part of the Pro-Family Caucus championing traditional family values. She explained her work on the Stop the Sexualization of Children Act. June should be Family Month, not
Pride Month. For 25 years, our government designated June for what she described as perverse propaganda. She also discussed the SCREEN Act, which would require pornography websites to have an
age-access filter. She requested prayer as she quoted Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, “that the problem with the West is that we have forgotten that evil lurks in the hearts of men.”
TUESDAY NIGHT BANQUET
Congressman Barry Loudermilk, from Georgia received the American Freedom Award from AACS for his years of faithfully promoting traditional values in Washington, D.C. He addressed us from Psalm 23: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.”
Challenging us to leave a life of comfort to pursue a life of purpose. Keep your eyes on your purpose, not on your circumstances, for our purpose is greater than our circumstances. Concluding his remarks he referenced the D-Day picture of soldiers facing Omaha Beach in France and asking us to consider the question that was not going through their minds: “What’s in it for me?”
CONGRESSMAN DR. BOB ONDER – MISSOURI’S 3RD DISTRICT
Congressman Dr. Bob Onder authored the Chloe Cole Act, (H.R. 7651) a protection for young people
regretting the lies told to them about gender affirmation and subsequent life-damaging surgeries.
Dr. Onde referenced John Money and the report Wolves in White Coats.
WEDNESDAY MORNING – CANNON HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING
In Congresswoman Kristen McDonald-Rivet’s office, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib’s office, and in Representative Dingell’s office I left the Chloe Cole position paper. I talked to one Representative who was concerned about their party turning against Israel.
We had a very good meeting with a staff member in Congressman Jack Bergman’s office. We discussed strategies for getting Democrats to contact Governor Whitmer’s office to opt into the EFTC. I also had a good meeting with a staff member in Congressman Barrett’s office to provide us with contacts we could approach to make headway with the governor regarding Michigan opting into the program.
When I do my legislative work, I pray for my appointments. I also pray for Divine Appointments that are meeting people I wasn’t planning to meet. I had a couple of good ones this trip. Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana. He is a take-no-prisoners questioner on his Senate assignments and always good for a soundbite for the cable talk shows. Another meeting was with David Barton of Wall Builders. It is always good to catch up with him.
Another Solzhenitsyn “The West has forgotten God, and so has education.” Education was about educating children for the Kingdom and for usefulness in society as citizens of a free republic.
LOOKING AHEAD
- EFTC Contributions begin January 1, 2027.
- While tax payers may receive the federal tax credit regardless of their state’s
participation, each state may opt in for students within that state to receive
scholarship.