Outside groups backed successful GOP advocacy for parents in schools
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) has been working with about 20 outside groups ahead of Republicans narrowly passing the Parents Bill of Rights Act on Friday.
Emmer, who is tasked with garnering support for the upcoming legislation for a full House vote, met not only with his colleagues but with numerous professional associations and conservative groups to build support for the bill, which was passed by 213 votes against 208 without any democrat voting in favor of him.
“It’s too bad that parents’ rights in the classroom even have to be defended, but House Republicans are making sure those rights are guaranteed with the Parents Bill of Rights Act,” Emmer said in a statement to Breitbart News.
He added, “Any Democrat who can vote against more transparency for parents in the classroom is a Democrat who will stand up for teachers’ unions who believe your children belong to them.”
The groups included the American Principles Project, the Family Research Council, Heritage Action for America, Parents Defending Education, various religious groups and others.
It was an honor today to meet parents and advocates who champion transparency in the classroom.
With the Parents Bill of Rights, House Republicans are fighting alongside them.
Thanks to @virginiafoxx & @RepJuliaLetlow for joining today and leading the charge. pic.twitter.com/g4N9UMqNn0
— Tom Emmer (@GOPMajorityWhip) March 9, 2023
The legislation is central to the Republican education agenda and is built around five key principles:
- Parents have the right to know what their children are being taught.
- Parents have the right to be heard.
- Parents have the right to see the school budget and expenses.
- Parents have the right to protect their child’s privacy.
- Parents have the right to ensure the safety of their children.
While the whipping job has gone on for weeks, the momentum of the Parents’ Bills of Rights dates back to 2021.
Over the course of this year, a confluence of issues, including school administrators implementing draconian coronavirus policies, infusing critical race theory into curricula and forcing transgender ideology on young students, has spurred meetings passionate school boards nationwide and ultimately contributed to the current government. Glenn Youngkin (R) winning an underdog gubernatorial campaign in Virginia.
The new bill would, for example, require parents to be notified if a child seeks to use a pronoun or bathroom that does not match their gender.
Although the House bill won the support of nearly all Republicans from all GOP factions, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) sentenced the bill as a “MAGA House Republican Schools Control Bill” and vowed that the Senate would not consider it.
The five Republicans who voted against were Representatives Matt Rosendale (MT), Matt Gaetz (FL), Andy Biggs (AZ), Mike Lawler (NY) and Ken Buck (CO).
Emmer during an appearance on SiriusXM Breitbart News Saturday said of the legislation, “House Republicans are actually governing, and we are governing and the Democrats are turning their backs on parents and students.”
Listen:
“The Parental Bill of Rights is really about empowering parents to be parents,” Emmer added. “We have these schools that literally take the attitude that parents don’t belong in the classroom, (that they) have no way, no business to direct their children’s education, that which is quite the opposite.”
Write to Ashley Oliver at aoliver@breitbart.com. Follow her on Twitter at @asholiver.
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