vital information: Fwd: News From Agudas Yisroel 9 Shevat 5781/January 22, 2021

Friday, January 22, 2021

Fwd: News From Agudas Yisroel 9 Shevat 5781/January 22, 2021

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Agudath Israel of America <news@agudah.org>
Date: Fri, Jan 22, 2021 at 12:43 PM
Subject: News From Agudas Yisroel 9 Shevat 5781/January 22, 2021
To: <agentemes4@gmail.com>

Strengthening Torah Life. Advocating for the Community. Serving Each Individual.

January 22, 2021 - 9 Shevat 5781

News from the Agudah:

The country's largest private school choice program may be getting bigger and better. Florida already has the largest scholarship program in the US, and a new proposal in the Florida Senate would make it even better says Rabbi Moshe Matz, Agudath Israel of Florida's executive director. see below for more information.

Agudath Israel sent a letter to the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee urging the confirmation of Alejandro Mayorkas as DHS Secretary. See below for the full letter.

The Agudah congratulates Moshe (Mitchell) Silk, a founding member and Chairman of the Board of Agudath Israel of America Legal Support Services, upon his receiving the Alexander Hamilton award from the US Treasury Department for his distinguished performance there. See below for more details.

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Agudath Israel Commends Comprehensive Florida School Choice Proposal

Rabbi Moshe Matz, Executive Director of Agudath Israel of Florida with Senator Manny Diaz Jr. (R-Hialeah), at an event in 2019.

The country's largest private school choice program may be getting bigger and better.

Florida already has the largest scholarship program in the country, but a proposal introduced yesterday in the Florida Senate aims to consolidate the state's five school choice programs and expand eligibility to more students. Agudath Israel of Florida welcomed these potential changes.

Agudath Israel has been an integral part of the school choice coalition almost since its inception and has watched as the number of programs and number of families served has grown exponentially. "This proposal," said Rabbi Moshe Matz, Agudath Israel of Florida's executive director, "is one more example of how Florida continues to be a national leader in giving children the most educational opportunities possible."

Senate Bill 48, sponsored by Senator Manny Diaz Jr. (R-Hialeah), will provide direct state funding for the two programs currently funded by tax credits and combine them with the recently enacted Family Empowerment Scholarship program. The bill also calls for an increase to the scholarship amount and removes the current requirement that students must attend a public school before receiving a voucher. Finally, the proposal consolidates the state's two programs for students with special needs, making it easier for parents to apply and receive funding.

"During these extraordinary times, Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature have worked hard to ensure that students have every available option to continue to learn and thrive," said Rabbi Moshe Matz. "Agudath Israel thanks the bill sponsor Senator Manny Diaz Jr., a true champion for our children, and we are grateful to Senate President Wilton Simpson for his bold leadership."

Letter to the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee Urging the Confirmation of Alejandro Mayorkas as DHS Secretary

The following letter sent from Agudath Israel of America to Senators Gary Peters and Rob Portman of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, which has concluded its hearing and is now considering Mr. Mayorkas's nomination. You can download a PDF of the letter by clicking here or on the image.

Agudath Israel of America Congratulates Moshe (Mitchell) Silk Upon Receiving the Alexander Hamilton Award

Moshe (Mitchell) Silk receiving the award from Secretary Steve Mnuchin

Agudath Israel of America congratulates Moshe (Mitchell) Silk upon his receiving the prestigious Alexander Hamilton award from the United States Treasury Department for his distinguished performance as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for International Markets and Development.

Mr. Silk was a founding member and Chairman of the Board of Agudath Israel of America Legal Support Services, which consists of attorneys throughout the country who provide legal assistance, often on a pro bono basis, to individuals and organizations in our community in a wide variety of areas, including helping employees facing discrimination due to their religious observance in the workplace, patients who are not receiving the health care that they and their families want for them, schools and other organizations seeking help obtaining government assistance to which they are entitled, and helping to draft and submit amicus curiae ("friend of the court") briefs in cases throughout the country of communal interest. The organization also provides educational programs for attorneys for CLE credits. In that role, he helped recruit attorneys to join Agudah's legal network, raise funds, and publicize the work of the organization. Mr. Silk also organized many educational programs for lawyers on vital topics.

The Agudah congratulates Mr. Silk for his service with the Department of the Treasury and looks forward to his renewed involvement with Agudath Israel's legal network.