The United States House Committee on Education and the Workforce passed six bills on September 11th, including H.R.736, the Protect Kids Act, and H.R.5646, the Stop Campus Hazing Act.
Chairwoman of the committee, Congresswoman Virginia Foxx from North Carolina, stated that these bills address some of the most important issues facing the United States, ranging from student safety and child protection to healthcare and parental rights.
The Protect Kids Act, also known as the Parental Rights Over the Education and Care of Their Kids Act, was introduced by Republican Congressman Timothy Lee Walberg from Michigan in February 2023. The bill mandates that all elementary and secondary schools receiving federal funds must obtain parental consent before changing minors’ gender markers, pronouns, preferred names on any school forms, or allowing children to change gender-based accommodations (including changing rooms or bathrooms).
According to Congress’s investigation, U.S. law has long recognized the importance of parental rights, with parents’ oversight of their children’s care and education protected by the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. Parents have the right to choose how to raise and educate their children, a fundamental right protected by the Constitution.
The investigation report indicated that public schools nationwide are infringing upon the basic rights of parents and families by intentionally concealing information about child gender transitioning. Regardless of intent, these schools are damaging parent-child relationships, encouraging children to keep secrets from their parents who are responsible for protecting and defending them. When parents are actively involved in their children’s education, children perform better. School districts, activity organizations, and teacher unions must not infringe on parents’ rights by concealing essential information about their children.
LGBT Nation, a transgender organization, opposed the proposal, claiming that the committee’s 22-12 vote in favor of the bill would “exclude transgender students.”
Chairman of the Congressional Equality Caucus, Congressman Mark Pocan from Wisconsin, condemned the bill, stating that it would “jeopardize the safety and well-being of students from families who do not accept them (in their transition).”
California’s 3rd Congressional District Representative, Kevin Kiley, a member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, pointed out that California Governor Newsom signed AB1955 on July 15th, titled the “Supporting Academic Futures and Educators (SAFE) Act for Today’s Youth,” which will take effect on January 1st next year, making it mandatory for schools to keep parents in the dark. The law also overturns some California school districts’ policies of “notifying parents.”
Kiley emphasized that the passed Protect Kids Act by the committee is straightforward because informing parents of changes regarding their children is common sense. He questioned why California would introduce a law like AB1955 and what its purpose is.
“California mandates that schools keep parents in the dark on crucial issues related to children’s growth, or even worse, it essentially requires schools to lie to parents,” Kiley said. “The new law (AB1955) requires creating a set of false documents, marking communications between the child, the school, and the parents in different ways. This is highly abnormal.”
He mentioned that California’s public school academic performance is the worst, and the closure duration during the pandemic was the longest. “I am pleased that H.R.736 has been proposed; it will restore some common sense and refocus schools on educating children in reading, writing, and preparing them for success in life.”