With a vote of 213 to 208, the House passed the Parents Bill of Rights Act. Florida Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R), who voted in favor of the bill, called it an effort to maintain fundamental rights that parents posses.
In a statement after voting yes, Salazar explained that the bill "restores and solidifies the fundamental rights of parents to be involved in their children''s education and holds schools and educators accountable." She added that "while parents are responsible for the rearing of their children, schools play a fundamental role in their upbringing and educational success for life."
According to a press release from Salazar's office, the bill ensures 5 rights for parents:
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R) praised the bill, saying that the bill passing is "a win for every mother or father, but most importantly, for every student in America." "In this bill we say, parents have a right to be heard. They should be able to go to school board meetings and not be called terrorists," McCarthy added.
However, the legislation does have its dissenters. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D) slammed Republicans after the vote, saying that "extreme MAGA Republicans in the House have done nothing on the economy, nothing on inflation, nothing on job creation. But today, extreme MAGA Republicans passed a bill that puts politics over parents and will ban books, censor librarians and bully children.
Republicans argue that the legislation will ensure an open and transparent relationship between administration, teachers, and parents, but Democrats disagree, arguing that instead it would politicize the classroom.
