Parental Rights Over the Education and Care of Their Kids Act

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 2616, which does not protect kids. This bill is yet another attempt to micro- manage educators, harm LGBTQI+ students, and weaponize the federal government to discriminate against a small handful of already vulnerable students. There are real problems in our schools, yet at every turn, my Republican colleagues are choosing to scapegoat the trans community to divert attention from the fact that they are partners with the administration in undermining our public school system and actively dismantling the Department of Education. Schools should be places where all children feel safe to live and learn as their authentic selves.

Instead, this bill prevents the use of federal funds to ``teach or advance concepts'' related to gender ideology and forces schools to ``out'' students--even if it would cause harm or trauma. This bill is damaging and discriminatory to transgender students, who have constantly seen themselves attacked and erased by my colleagues' harmful rhetoric. Research shows that discriminatory policies like H.R. 2616, are associated with higher suicide risk among LGBTQI+ youth. Adults in Congress shouldn't be actively harming the mental health of our Nation's youth. I urge my colleagues to please stop picking on trans kids and oppose this harmful legislation.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source