In last radio address, Boehner promotes school vouchers

House Speaker John Boehner is addressing an issue with personal resonance on his last weekend in Congress — school vouchers for students in the District of Columbia.

Boehner went to Catholic schools and has long championed a program to give federal funds to District students to use at private and parochial schools. In one of his final acts as speaker, Boehner introduced legislation that extends the program and increases funding. The House passed the bill Wednesday.

He said the program is the only one in the country where the federal government allows low-income families to choose the schools that are best for their kids.

Boehner made the remarks in the weekly Republican radio address. He steps down Friday as speaker after hardline Republicans threatened to oust him from the post.

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