Republican Senators Author Bill Aimed at Protecting Parental Rights: Pro-Freedom Groups Join Forces

Under the Biden administration, it’s clear that the government doesn’t respect the rights of parents. Whether it’s the Biden administration’s Title IX rewrite, which takes rights away from parents by allowing children to change their gender without parental knowledge, or it’s Attorney General Merrick Garland and his attacks on concerned parents who show up at school board meetings. Their attitudes are apparent. 

Story upon story pile up of parents who have had their rights infringed on by the government for holding traditional beliefs on gender and sexuality. In California, a Christian mother lost custody of her teenage daughter due to her personal beliefs about her daughter’s gender transition and hormone treatment. Later, after being removed from her mother’s care, the teenager committed suicide. 

Tragic stories like this example occur when the government doesn’t respect the rights of parents as they should. First Liberty and the Alliance Defending Freedom, among many other groups, have fought to protect parents on multiple occasions. 

According to Fox News, another such instance of governmental overreach occurred in Michigan when the parents of a middle schooler found out that the public school had been allowing their daughter to identify as male on school grounds without notifying them. Dan and Jennifer Mead sued the school district with the help of Alliance Defending Freedom.

The rights of parents are not held with reverence in the current administration. While administrations come and go, the rights of US citizens established under the Constitution are designed to remain secure.  

Two Republican senators who oppose Biden’s radical agenda have proposed legislation to enshrine into law the rights of parents to raise their children as they please. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) and Senator James Lankford (R-OK) co-authored the Parental Rights and Responsibilities Act, which clarifies that parental rights are established in the US Constitution.

Drawing on many Supreme Court cases from years past, this act reiterates that government agencies cannot infringe on parents' decisions regarding medical care, education, and how they choose to raise their children.  

The Families Rights and Responsibilities Act would prevent and deter government agencies from creating and enforcing policies or laws that limit parental rights. The Alliance Defending Freedom - the same organization that is helping the Meads in their legal battle - supports the bill on the federal level.

ADF is not alone in the fight either; they are part of a network of organizations all backing the bill, which includes multiple respected names such as Texas Values, Moms for Liberty, Eagle Forum, Moms for America, and Focus on the Family. 

Director of Government Relations for Texas Values, Mary Elizabeth Castle, says, “Due to the actions of the Biden Administration and by schools who try to change their child’s gender, indoctrinate, or hide information from parents, it is time to make it clear in law that parents have the fundamental and constitutional right to raise their children according to their values.”

The bill has been filed in the Senate and House of Representatives and is waiting to be heard in committee. Co-author of the bill, Sen. Tim Scott, says, “Far too often, parents are pushed out of their child’s education—and kids are paying the price. As the party of parents, Republicans are committed to ensuring that parents are always in the driver’s seat when it comes to their child’s upbringing.” 

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