Two bills proposed by Alabama Senate Pro Tempore Del Marsh, R-Anniston, were approved by the Senate Thursday and are on track to go before the Alabama House of Representatives next week.

The first was Marsh’s proposal to add a check-off box for a portion of Alabamians refund to go toward We Build the Wall, Inc., an organization working to privately fund President Donald Trump’s wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

“People I talk to across Alabama are sick and tired of politicians in Washington, D.C. talking and nothing being done about the crisis at on our borders,” Marsh said in a press release. “This bill is about sending a message to Washington that we support President Trump and his mission to secure the border.”

Marsh stated that Alabamians “overwhelmingly” support efforts to secure the border and his legislation simply allows citizens to opt into funding the project with a portion of their tax return.

Also approved on Tuesday was Marsh’s bill to repeal Common Core standards across the state and replace them with the standards in place before Common Core’s inception.

Additionally, the bill would prohibit educators from being involved with national organizations or standards that might undermine the state’s ability to independently oversee its educational policies and standards.

“In the past, I have made it clear that we have an elected school board who should dictate policy when it comes to education in Alabama,” marsh said. “However, it is clear that we have a dysfunctional school board who is incapable of making decisions that give our students and teachers the best chances at being successful.”

Marsh noted that Common Core standards have been used in the state for nearly a decade and, while there are a number of blue-ribbon schools across the state, the “vast majority” of schools are “severely behind.”

“I have worked and will continue to work with the education community in developing high standards so that we have the most competitive and rigorous course of study in the country,” Marsh said. “We cannot accept the status quo and this is a good first step.”

The Common Core repeal legislation has already received wide criticism from educators across the state, including Alabama State Department of Education Superintendent Eric Mackey who said it would cost “several million” dollars to revert back to previous standards and that the bill will have “negative repercussions” on a number of fronts for students and educators.