House GOP Parents’ Bill of Rights Moves One Step Closer to Floor Vote

Republicans on the House Rules Committee have taken a step towards a floor vote in the House for the Parents’ Bill of Rights Act.

The bill, H.R.5, aims to achieve the long-promised ‘parental bill of rights’ by Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). The bill aims to ensure that parents are aware of what is happening in their children’s schools.

The main feature of the proposed legislation is that schools will have to make public the contents of their curriculum and library materials. According to reports, many schools teach controversial left-wing beliefs without parents’ knowledge. Additionally, the bill will ensure that parents are notified of, and consent to, any medical procedures and violent activity on school grounds, and also have access to their children’s schools’ expenditures.

During her testimony in front of the committee, Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) argued that “parents have the right to be heard” and called the bill “a cornerstone of GOP priorities this Congress.”

The bill was voted for 9-3 by the committee strictly on party lines with Republicans supporting the legislation and all three Democrats opposing it.

Opposing Views

Speaking against the bill, Democrats accused the Republicans of forcing their political beliefs into classrooms.

The Ranking Member Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) commented that the bill was “to continue to make the classrooms ground zero for the MAGA culture wars.” While Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.) dismissed the bill as the “Politics Over Parents Act” that “prevents learners from learning and prevents teachers from teaching.”

One of the most significant points of opposition was regarding the possible banning of books. Though nothing in the bill would ban books, Scott argued that if libraries were forced to disclose their inventory, more books would be banned.

The proposed legislation also includes provisions to protect parents who speak out against what is being taught to their children and to protect children’s privacy online.

With the parents’ rights in education being among the top legislative priorities of House Republican leader, the bill is set to be debated on the House floor and, according to reports, will likely be passed.