Parental Rights Over the Education and Care of Their Kids Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the Republicans' don't say trans and forced outing bill. This misguided legislation is a cruel attack on transgender children who exist, whether the other side wants to recognize that or not, who are already among the most vulnerable in our society.

This bigoted bill not only infringes on American students' First Amendment rights by censoring curricula and banning books, but it also tries to erase American history and to erase the existence of transgender people by banning discussions of LGBTQ people and their families.

Furthermore, while many parents are aware of and supportive of their children's gender expression, in some cases, outing a student could lead to abuse or putting the child in harm's way. We should not force teachers to knowingly put vulnerable students in danger or to violate the trust they have built.

Every student deserves a safe and affirming school environment to learn, to develop social skills, and to grow. But Republicans are focused on spreading hate instead of protecting and supporting students.

Vote ``no'' on H.R. 2616.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter in opposition to this bill from the National Women's Law Center Action Fund. National Women's Law Center Action Fund, Washington, DC, April 28, 2026 Re Vote NO on H.R. 2616, Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act.

Dear Representative: On behalf of the National Women's Law Center Action Fund, we urge you to vote NO on H.R. 2616, the so-called Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act, which would result in an unprecedented federal intrusion into curriculum decision making and classroom discussions.

The NWLC Action Fund firmly opposes this anti-trans bill that will censor classroom discussions, police free expression, add administrative burdens to schools, and encourage unequal treatment of marginalized youth in schools.

H.R. 2616 would withhold federal funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) for education agencies that ``teach or advance concepts related to gender ideology.'' This provision would both dictate curricular choices while also serving as a ``Don't Say Trans'' bill that could chill classroom discussions.

Federal law has long recognized that the federal government should not intervene in state and local curriculum development, with the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 clarifying that the federal government shall not ``mandate, direct, or control ... instructional content or materials [and] curriculum.'' At least eight states have local laws that require LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum. H.R. 2616 would dictate federal limitations on curriculum, overriding state discretion and opening the door to far greater federal involvement in deciding what is taught in the classroom.

Additionally, the prohibition on ``advanc[ing] concepts'' could be construed--as other similar state ``Don't Say Trans'' bills have been--to silence discussion or support for transgender people. This could impact the availability of Gay-Straight Alliance and Gender-Sexuality Alliance (GSA) clubs to support LGBTQIA+ students, result in prohibitions on Safe Space stickers or Pride flags, and also result in hostile employment environments for transgender teachers who simply talk about their own identity or experience.

H.R. 2616 is overbroad and would both infringe on free expression and create additional administrative burdens for schools by requiring parental consent before schools could recognize a change in a child's preferred name, pronouns, gender marker, or sex-based accommodations. Although the bill is clearly targeting transgender and gender-expansive students, the overbroad requirement will have an impact on all students who want to be known by a nickname. In 2023, for example, Florida required schools to collect consent forms before 3 student named Robert could be known as Bobby. Ultimately, this additional administrative burden will chill classroom dynamics, requiring forms before decency and putting bureaucracy in between teachers and their students.

H.R. 2616 would encourage unequal treatment of marginalized youth in schools. Inclusive policies that affirm LGBTQIA+ students' identities play a critical role in mitigating social isolation, harassment, and adverse mental health outcomes, especially for transgender and gender-expansive students. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have reported staggering mental health disparities faced by LGBTQIA+ youth, with the majority (53 percent) of transgender students having seriously considered attempting suicide in 2023. Although schools often already encourage family involvement where possible, H.R. 2616 will remove essential tools that allow educators and school staff to thoughtfully and carefully support transgender youth as they're navigating the coming out process.

We strongly urge a NO vote on H.R. 2616. Please reach out if you have any additional questions about this bill or our position. Best, Brian Dittmeier,

Director of LGBTQIA+ Equality, National Women's Law Center Action Fund.

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