WASHINGTON—The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives has followed Florida’s lead in introducing a parental bill of rights measure.
The Parents Bill of Rights ACT (H.R. 5), which calls for “local educational agencies and schools” to comply with the bill's requirements or face federal defunding, passed by a vote total of 213-208.
Florida’s entire congressional delegation, except for Reps. Matt Gaetz and Jared Moskowitz voted in favor of the bill.
Rep. Moskowitz did not vote, but Rep. Gaetz was the sole Republican in Florida to vote against it.
During an exclusive interview with The Floridian shortly after the vote, Rep. Gaetz explained why he voted against the measure.
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“Constitutionally, education is a state and local issue. I don’t know why the United States Congress would try to make itself America’s school board,” said Rep. Gaetz.
Rep. Gaetz agrees that there are “deep structural problems” within the education system, but that those problems “are not best dealt with through the halls of Congress.”
“The Revival that we see in parent involvement and parental rights is occurring with or without the congress, and we can probably only stand to screw it up by being more involved,” added Gaetz.
Gaetz then explained that while Republicans are pushing through this parental rights bill, Democrats when they take over someday, could offer up a similar measure that would probably defend issues like gender-affirming care for students.
