(Just The News)—U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz on Tuesday introduced a federal Universal School Choice Act.
The proposal would allocate up to $10 billion annually in dollar-for-dollar federal tax credits for individuals and businesses nationwide that contribute to nonprofit scholarship-granting organizations for elementary and secondary education.
“School choice is the civil rights issue of the 21st century,” Cruz, R-Texas, said. “Every child in America deserves access to a quality education that meets their individual needs, regardless of race, ethnicity, income, or zip code. I remain committed to leading this fight until universal school choice has become available to every American, and I call upon my colleagues to expeditiously take up and advance this legislation.”
The bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a tax credit for charitable donations to nonprofit organizations providing education scholarships to qualified elementary and secondary students for qualified expenses. The tax credit for individuals is 10% of adjusted gross income for a taxable year or $5,000, according to the bill language. For corporations, the tax credit is capped at 5% of taxable income for a taxable year, according to the bill language.
Qualified elementary or secondary education expenses include tuition and fees, curriculum and materials, books or instructional materials, online education materials, tutoring costs, test fees, fees for dual enrollment at higher education institutions, education therapies for disabled students, transportation costs, homeschooling expenses, among others.
The bill would go into effect in 2026, if it passes both chambers and is signed into law. It would allocate $10 billion for calendar year 2026 and each subsequent year. Money is allocated to states with 80% of the funds designated for families with incomes below the poverty line. Funds are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Companion legislation was introduced by U.S. House Republican Reps. Burgess Owens of Utah and Byron Donalds of Florida.
The bill is the latest among several Cruz filed that prioritize education, savings and taxes.
In January, Cruz introduced the Student Empowerment Act to expand a tax-deferred education savings plan previously expanded under the first Trump administration, The Center Square reported. It amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permit kindergarten through grade 12 educational expenses to be paid from a 529 account. A 529 account is a tax-advantaged savings account originally created as a way to help parents save money to cover college expenses. It allows for tax-exempt withdrawals at the federal level and in some states for qualified education expenses.
“It was at the time and remains the most far-reaching federal school choice legislation ever passed,” according to Cruz’s office.
In April, he filed a bill to create Education Savings Accounts for the children of active-duty service members, The Center Square reported. It would amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow parents of eligible military-dependent children to establish Military Education Savings Accounts.
Earlier this month, Cruz introduced the Universal Savings Account Act to allow American families to save without the restrictions and penalties associated with traditional tax-advantaged accounts. He also introduced a bill authorizing the use of taxpayer funds to be used to invest in savings accounts for U.S. children. This proposal was incorporated into the “big beautiful budget bill” that just passed the House Budget Committee.
In 2019, 2021 and 2023, Cruz also filed the Education Freedom Scholarships and Opportunity Act to create a federal tax credit for taxpayers who donate to scholarship organizations supporting post-secondary workforce education, including trade schools and apprenticeship programs and K-12 education.
The national effort coincides with a successful statewide effort led by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who earlier this month signed a bill into law creating Texas’ first Education Savings Account program, The Center Square reported.
After the Texas Senate previously passed a similar bill that went nowhere in the Texas House, Abbott helped elect new Republicans to the Texas House last year who followed through on their campaign pledge to vote for the bill. Texas’ new ESA program allocates $1 billion to fund $10,000 ESAs for roughly 100,000 students.
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.