[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 53 (Thursday, March 23, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H1386-H1396]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PARENTS BILL OF RIGHTS ACT
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 241 and rule
XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House
on the state of the Union for the further consideration of the bill,
H.R. 5.
Will the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Murphy) kindly take the
chair.
{time} 1807
In the Committee of the Whole
Accordingly, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the
Whole House on the state of the Union for the further consideration of
the bill (H.R. 5) to ensure the rights of parents are honored and
protected in the Nation's public schools, with Mr. Murphy (Acting
Chair) in the chair.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The Acting CHAIR. When the Committee of the Whole rose earlier today,
a request for a recorded vote on Amendment No. 8 printed in House
report 118-12 offered by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr.
Fitzpatrick) had been postponed.
Announcement by the Acting Chair
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, proceedings
will now resume on those amendments on which further proceedings were
postponed, in the following order:
Amendment No. 5 by Ms. Bonamici of Oregon.
Amendment No. 6 by Mr. Crane of Arizona.
Amendment No. 7 by Mr. Davidson of Ohio.
Amendment No. 8 by Mr. Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania.
The Chair will reduce to 2 minutes the minimum time for any
electronic vote in this series.
Amendment No. 5 Offered by Ms. Bonamici
The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on amendment No. 5 printed in House Report 118-12 offered
by the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici) on which further
proceedings were postponed and on which the noes prevailed by voice
vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
Recorded Vote
The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been requested.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The Acting CHAIR. This will be a 2-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 203,
noes 223, not voting 14, as follows:
[Roll No. 150]
AYES--203
Adams
Aguilar
Allred
Auchincloss
Balint
Barragan
Beatty
Bera
Beyer
Bishop (GA)
Blunt Rochester
Bonamici
Bowman
Boyle (PA)
Brown
Brownley
Budzinski
Bush
Caraveo
Carbajal
Cardenas
Carson
Carter (LA)
Cartwright
Casar
Case
Casten
Castor (FL)
Cherfilus-McCormick
Chu
Cicilline
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Clyburn
Connolly
Correa
Courtney
Craig
Crockett
Crow
Davis (IL)
Davis (NC)
Dean (PA)
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Deluzio
DeSaulnier
Dingell
Doggett
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Evans
Fletcher
Foster
Foushee
Frankel, Lois
Frost
Gallego
Garamendi
Garcia (IL)
Garcia (TX)
Garcia, Robert
Golden (ME)
Goldman (NY)
Gomez
Gonzalez, Vicente
Gottheimer
Green, Al (TX)
Grijalva
Harder (CA)
Hayes
Higgins (NY)
Himes
Horsford
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hoyle (OR)
Huffman
Ivey
Jackson (NC)
Jackson Lee
Jacobs
Jayapal
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Kamlager-Dove
Kaptur
Keating
Khanna
Kildee
Kilmer
Kim (NJ)
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster
Landsman
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Lee (CA)
Lee (NV)
Lee (PA)
Levin
Lieu
Lofgren
Lynch
Magaziner
Manning
Matsui
McBath
McClellan
McCollum
McGarvey
McGovern
Meeks
Menendez
Meng
Mfume
Moore (WI)
Morelle
Moulton
Mrvan
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Nickel
Norcross
Norton
Ocasio-Cortez
Omar
Pallone
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Payne
Pelosi
Peltola
Perez
Peters
Pettersen
Phillips
Pingree
Plaskett
Pocan
Porter
Pressley
Quigley
Ramirez
Raskin
Ross
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Ryan
Sablan
Salinas
Sanchez
Sarbanes
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Scholten
Schrier
Scott (VA)
Scott, David
Sewell
Sherman
Sherrill
Slotkin
Smith (WA)
Sorensen
Soto
Spanberger
Stansbury
Stanton
Stevens
Strickland
Swalwell
Sykes
Takano
Thanedar
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Titus
Tlaib
Tokuda
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres (NY)
Trahan
Trone
Underwood
Vargas
Vasquez
Veasey
Velazquez
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson Coleman
Wexton
Wild
Williams (GA)
Wilson (FL)
NOES--223
Aderholt
Alford
Allen
Amodei
Armstrong
Arrington
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Banks
Barr
Bean (FL)
Bentz
Bergman
Bice
Biggs
Bilirakis
Bishop (NC)
Boebert
Bost
Brecheen
Buchanan
Buck
Burchett
Burgess
Burlison
Calvert
Cammack
Carey
Carl
Carter (GA)
Carter (TX)
Chavez-DeRemer
Ciscomani
Cline
Cloud
Clyde
Cole
Collins
Comer
Crane
Crawford
Crenshaw
Curtis
D'Esposito
Davids (KS)
Davidson
De La Cruz
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Donalds
Duarte
Duncan
Dunn (FL)
Edwards
Ellzey
Emmer
Estes
Ezell
Fallon
Feenstra
Ferguson
Finstad
Fischbach
Fitzgerald
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
Flood
Foxx
Franklin, C. Scott
Fry
Fulcher
Gaetz
Gallagher
Garbarino
Garcia, Mike
Gimenez
Gonzales, Tony
Gonzalez-Colon
Good (VA)
Gooden (TX)
Gosar
Granger
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green (TN)
Greene (GA)
Griffith
Grothman
Guest
Guthrie
Hageman
Harris
Harshbarger
Hern
Higgins (LA)
Hill
Hinson
Houchin
Hudson
Huizenga
Hunt
Issa
Jackson (TX)
James
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Jordan
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kean (NJ)
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
Kiggans (VA)
Kiley
Kim (CA)
Kustoff
LaHood
LaLota
LaMalfa
Lamborn
Langworthy
Latta
[[Page H1387]]
LaTurner
Lawler
Lee (FL)
Lesko
Letlow
Loudermilk
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Luna
Luttrell
Mace
Malliotakis
Mann
Massie
Mast
McCaul
McClain
McClintock
McCormick
McHenry
Meuser
Miller (IL)
Miller (OH)
Miller (WV)
Miller-Meeks
Mills
Molinaro
Moolenaar
Mooney
Moore (AL)
Moore (UT)
Moran
Moylan
Murphy
Nehls
Newhouse
Norman
Nunn (IA)
Obernolte
Ogles
Owens
Palmer
Pence
Perry
Pfluger
Posey
Reschenthaler
Rodgers (WA)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rose
Rosendale
Rouzer
Roy
Rutherford
Salazar
Santos
Scalise
Schweikert
Scott, Austin
Self
Sessions
Simpson
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smucker
Spartz
Stauber
Steel
Stefanik
Steil
Steube
Stewart
Strong
Tenney
Thompson (PA)
Tiffany
Timmons
Turner
Valadao
Van Drew
Van Duyne
Van Orden
Wagner
Walberg
Waltz
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westerman
Williams (NY)
Williams (TX)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Yakym
Zinke
NOT VOTING--14
Blumenauer
Bucshon
Castro (TX)
Cleaver
Cohen
Costa
Cuellar
Jackson (IL)
Kelly (IL)
Leger Fernandez
Moskowitz
Mullin
Nadler
Radewagen
Announcement by the Acting Chair
The Acting CHAIR (during the vote). There is 1 minute remaining.
{time} 1809
So the amendment was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Amendment No. 6 Offered by Mr. Crane
The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Arizona
(Mr. Crane) on which further proceedings were postponed and on which
the ayes prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
Recorded Vote
The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been demanded.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The Acting CHAIR. This will be a 2-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 61,
noes 365, not voting 14, as follows:
[Roll No. 151]
AYES--61
Banks
Biggs
Bishop (NC)
Boebert
Brecheen
Burchett
Burlison
Cammack
Cline
Cloud
Clyde
Collins
Crane
Davidson
DesJarlais
Donalds
Duncan
Fry
Good (VA)
Gosar
Greene (GA)
Griffith
Hageman
Harris
Harshbarger
Higgins (LA)
Hudson
Hunt
Jordan
Kelly (MS)
LaLota
Lamborn
Lesko
Luna
Luttrell
Mast
McClintock
McCormick
Miller (IL)
Mills
Mooney
Moore (AL)
Moran
Nehls
Norman
Palmer
Posey
Reschenthaler
Rosendale
Santos
Scalise
Scott, Austin
Smith (NE)
Spanberger
Steube
Tenney
Tiffany
Van Drew
Webster (FL)
Wilson (SC)
Zinke
NOES--365
Adams
Aderholt
Aguilar
Alford
Allen
Allred
Amodei
Armstrong
Arrington
Auchincloss
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Balint
Barr
Barragan
Bean (FL)
Beatty
Bentz
Bera
Bergman
Beyer
Bice
Bilirakis
Bishop (GA)
Blunt Rochester
Bonamici
Bost
Bowman
Boyle (PA)
Brown
Brownley
Buchanan
Buck
Budzinski
Burgess
Bush
Calvert
Caraveo
Carbajal
Cardenas
Carey
Carl
Carson
Carter (GA)
Carter (LA)
Carter (TX)
Cartwright
Casar
Case
Casten
Castor (FL)
Chavez-DeRemer
Cherfilus-McCormick
Chu
Cicilline
Ciscomani
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Clyburn
Cole
Comer
Connolly
Correa
Courtney
Craig
Crawford
Crenshaw
Crockett
Crow
Curtis
D'Esposito
Davids (KS)
Davis (IL)
Davis (NC)
De La Cruz
Dean (PA)
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Deluzio
DeSaulnier
Diaz-Balart
Dingell
Doggett
Duarte
Dunn (FL)
Edwards
Ellzey
Emmer
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Estes
Evans
Ezell
Fallon
Feenstra
Ferguson
Finstad
Fischbach
Fitzgerald
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
Fletcher
Flood
Foster
Foushee
Foxx
Frankel, Lois
Franklin, C. Scott
Frost
Fulcher
Gaetz
Gallagher
Gallego
Garamendi
Garbarino
Garcia (IL)
Garcia (TX)
Garcia, Mike
Garcia, Robert
Gimenez
Golden (ME)
Goldman (NY)
Gomez
Gonzales, Tony
Gonzalez, Vicente
Gonzalez-Colon
Gooden (TX)
Gottheimer
Granger
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green (TN)
Green, Al (TX)
Grijalva
Grothman
Guest
Guthrie
Harder (CA)
Hayes
Hern
Higgins (NY)
Hill
Himes
Hinson
Horsford
Houchin
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hoyle (OR)
Huffman
Huizenga
Issa
Ivey
Jackson (IL)
Jackson (NC)
Jackson (TX)
Jackson Lee
Jacobs
James
Jayapal
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kamlager-Dove
Kaptur
Kean (NJ)
Keating
Kelly (PA)
Khanna
Kiggans (VA)
Kildee
Kiley
Kilmer
Kim (CA)
Kim (NJ)
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster
Kustoff
LaHood
LaMalfa
Landsman
Langworthy
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Latta
LaTurner
Lawler
Lee (CA)
Lee (FL)
Lee (NV)
Lee (PA)
Letlow
Levin
Lieu
Lofgren
Loudermilk
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Lynch
Mace
Magaziner
Malliotakis
Mann
Manning
Massie
Matsui
McBath
McCaul
McClain
McClellan
McCollum
McGarvey
McGovern
McHenry
Meeks
Menendez
Meng
Meuser
Mfume
Miller (OH)
Miller (WV)
Miller-Meeks
Molinaro
Moolenaar
Moore (UT)
Moore (WI)
Morelle
Moulton
Moylan
Mrvan
Murphy
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Newhouse
Nickel
Norcross
Norton
Nunn (IA)
Obernolte
Ocasio-Cortez
Ogles
Omar
Owens
Pallone
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Payne
Pelosi
Peltola
Pence
Perez
Perry
Peters
Pettersen
Pfluger
Phillips
Pingree
Plaskett
Pocan
Porter
Pressley
Quigley
Ramirez
Raskin
Rodgers (WA)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rose
Ross
Rouzer
Roy
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Rutherford
Ryan
Sablan
Salazar
Salinas
Sanchez
Sarbanes
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Scholten
Schrier
Schweikert
Scott (VA)
Scott, David
Self
Sessions
Sewell
Sherman
Sherrill
Simpson
Slotkin
Smith (MO)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (WA)
Smucker
Sorensen
Soto
Stansbury
Stanton
Stauber
Steel
Stefanik
Steil
Stevens
Stewart
Strickland
Strong
Swalwell
Sykes
Takano
Thanedar
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Thompson (PA)
Timmons
Titus
Tlaib
Tokuda
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres (NY)
Trahan
Trone
Turner
Underwood
Valadao
Van Duyne
Van Orden
Vargas
Vasquez
Veasey
Velazquez
Wagner
Walberg
Waltz
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson Coleman
Weber (TX)
Wenstrup
Westerman
Wexton
Wild
Williams (GA)
Williams (NY)
Williams (TX)
Wilson (FL)
Wittman
Womack
Yakym
NOT VOTING--14
Blumenauer
Bucshon
Castro (TX)
Cleaver
Cohen
Costa
Cuellar
Kelly (IL)
Leger Fernandez
Moskowitz
Mullin
Nadler
Radewagen
Spartz
{time} 1813
Announcement by the Acting Chair
The Acting Chair (during the vote). There is 1 minute remaining.
Mr. FULCHER changed his vote from ``aye'' to ``no.''
So the amendment was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Amendment No. 7 Offered by Mr. Davidson
The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr.
Davidson) on which further proceedings were postponed and on which the
ayes prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
Recorded Vote
The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been demanded.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The Acting CHAIR. This will be a 2-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 89,
noes 338, not voting 13, as follows:
[Roll No. 152]
AYES--89
Arrington
Banks
Biggs
Bilirakis
Bishop (NC)
Boebert
Brecheen
Burchett
Burgess
Burlison
Cammack
Cline
Cloud
Clyde
Collins
Crane
Davidson
DesJarlais
Donalds
Duncan
Dunn (FL)
Emmer
Fitzgerald
Fry
Fulcher
Garcia, Mike
Good (VA)
Gosar
Green (TN)
Greene (GA)
Griffith
Guest
Hageman
Harris
Harshbarger
Hern
Higgins (LA)
Hudson
Hunt
Jackson (TX)
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Jordan
Joyce (PA)
Kelly (MS)
Kiley
Lamborn
Lesko
Loudermilk
Luna
Luttrell
Mace
Massie
Mast
McClintock
McCormick
[[Page H1388]]
Meuser
Miller (IL)
Miller (OH)
Mills
Moolenaar
Mooney
Moore (AL)
Moran
Nehls
Norman
Ogles
Palmer
Pence
Perry
Posey
Rosendale
Santos
Scalise
Schweikert
Self
Smucker
Spartz
Steube
Tenney
Tiffany
Timmons
Van Drew
Van Duyne
Waltz
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Williams (TX)
NOES--338
Adams
Aderholt
Aguilar
Alford
Allen
Allred
Amodei
Armstrong
Auchincloss
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Balint
Barr
Barragan
Bean (FL)
Beatty
Bentz
Bera
Bergman
Beyer
Bice
Bishop (GA)
Blunt Rochester
Bonamici
Bost
Bowman
Boyle (PA)
Brown
Brownley
Buchanan
Buck
Budzinski
Bush
Calvert
Caraveo
Carbajal
Cardenas
Carey
Carl
Carson
Carter (GA)
Carter (LA)
Carter (TX)
Cartwright
Casar
Case
Casten
Castor (FL)
Chavez-DeRemer
Cherfilus-McCormick
Chu
Cicilline
Ciscomani
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Clyburn
Cole
Comer
Connolly
Correa
Courtney
Craig
Crawford
Crenshaw
Crockett
Crow
Curtis
D'Esposito
Davids (KS)
Davis (IL)
Davis (NC)
De La Cruz
Dean (PA)
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Deluzio
DeSaulnier
Diaz-Balart
Dingell
Doggett
Duarte
Edwards
Ellzey
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Estes
Evans
Ezell
Fallon
Feenstra
Ferguson
Finstad
Fischbach
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
Fletcher
Flood
Foster
Foushee
Foxx
Frankel, Lois
Franklin, C. Scott
Frost
Gaetz
Gallagher
Gallego
Garamendi
Garbarino
Garcia (IL)
Garcia (TX)
Garcia, Robert
Gimenez
Golden (ME)
Goldman (NY)
Gomez
Gonzales, Tony
Gonzalez, Vicente
Gonzalez-Colon
Gooden (TX)
Gottheimer
Granger
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green, Al (TX)
Grijalva
Grothman
Guthrie
Harder (CA)
Hayes
Higgins (NY)
Hill
Himes
Hinson
Horsford
Houchin
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hoyle (OR)
Huffman
Huizenga
Issa
Ivey
Jackson (IL)
Jackson (NC)
Jackson Lee
Jacobs
James
Jayapal
Jeffries
Johnson (GA)
Joyce (OH)
Kamlager-Dove
Kaptur
Kean (NJ)
Keating
Kelly (PA)
Khanna
Kiggans (VA)
Kildee
Kilmer
Kim (CA)
Kim (NJ)
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster
Kustoff
LaHood
LaLota
LaMalfa
Landsman
Langworthy
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Latta
LaTurner
Lawler
Lee (CA)
Lee (FL)
Lee (NV)
Lee (PA)
Letlow
Levin
Lieu
Lofgren
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Lynch
Magaziner
Malliotakis
Mann
Manning
Matsui
McBath
McCaul
McClain
McClellan
McCollum
McGarvey
McGovern
McHenry
Meeks
Menendez
Meng
Mfume
Miller (WV)
Miller-Meeks
Molinaro
Moore (UT)
Moore (WI)
Morelle
Moulton
Moylan
Mrvan
Murphy
Napolitano
Neal
Neguse
Newhouse
Nickel
Norcross
Norton
Nunn (IA)
Obernolte
Ocasio-Cortez
Omar
Owens
Pallone
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Payne
Pelosi
Peltola
Perez
Peters
Pettersen
Pfluger
Phillips
Pingree
Plaskett
Pocan
Porter
Pressley
Quigley
Ramirez
Raskin
Reschenthaler
Rodgers (WA)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rose
Ross
Rouzer
Roy
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Rutherford
Ryan
Sablan
Salazar
Salinas
Sanchez
Sarbanes
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Scholten
Schrier
Scott (VA)
Scott, Austin
Scott, David
Sessions
Sewell
Sherman
Sherrill
Simpson
Slotkin
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (WA)
Sorensen
Soto
Spanberger
Stansbury
Stanton
Stauber
Steel
Stefanik
Steil
Stevens
Stewart
Strickland
Strong
Swalwell
Sykes
Takano
Thanedar
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Thompson (PA)
Titus
Tlaib
Tokuda
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres (NY)
Trahan
Trone
Turner
Underwood
Valadao
Van Orden
Vargas
Vasquez
Veasey
Velazquez
Wagner
Walberg
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson Coleman
Wenstrup
Westerman
Wexton
Wild
Williams (GA)
Williams (NY)
Wilson (FL)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Yakym
Zinke
NOT VOTING--13
Blumenauer
Bucshon
Castro (TX)
Cleaver
Cohen
Costa
Cuellar
Kelly (IL)
Leger Fernandez
Moskowitz
Mullin
Nadler
Radewagen
{time} 1818
Announcement by the Acting Chair
The Acting CHAIR (during the vote). There is 1 minute remaining.
Mr. PFLUGER changed his vote from ``aye'' to ``no.''
So the amendment was rejected.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
Amendment No. 8 Offered by Mr. Fitzpatrick
The Acting CHAIR. The unfinished business is the demand for a
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Fitzpatrick) on which further proceedings were
postponed and on which the ayes prevailed by voice vote.
The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
The Clerk redesignated the amendment.
Recorded Vote
The Acting CHAIR. A recorded vote has been demanded.
A recorded vote was ordered.
The Acting CHAIR. This will be a 2-minute vote.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 386,
noes 39, not voting 15, as follows:
[Roll No. 153]
AYES--386
Adams
Aderholt
Aguilar
Alford
Allen
Allred
Amodei
Armstrong
Arrington
Auchincloss
Babin
Bacon
Baird
Balderson
Balint
Banks
Barr
Barragan
Bean (FL)
Beatty
Bentz
Bera
Bergman
Beyer
Bice
Bilirakis
Bishop (GA)
Blunt Rochester
Bonamici
Bost
Bowman
Boyle (PA)
Brown
Brownley
Buchanan
Budzinski
Bush
Calvert
Cammack
Caraveo
Carbajal
Carey
Carl
Carson
Carter (GA)
Carter (LA)
Carter (TX)
Cartwright
Casar
Case
Casten
Castor (FL)
Chavez-DeRemer
Cherfilus-McCormick
Chu
Cicilline
Ciscomani
Clark (MA)
Clarke (NY)
Clyburn
Clyde
Cole
Collins
Comer
Connolly
Correa
Courtney
Craig
Crawford
Crenshaw
Crockett
Crow
Curtis
D'Esposito
Davids (KS)
Davis (IL)
Davis (NC)
De La Cruz
Dean (PA)
DeGette
DeLauro
DelBene
Deluzio
DeSaulnier
DesJarlais
Diaz-Balart
Dingell
Doggett
Donalds
Duarte
Duncan
Dunn (FL)
Edwards
Ellzey
Emmer
Escobar
Eshoo
Espaillat
Estes
Evans
Ezell
Fallon
Feenstra
Ferguson
Finstad
Fischbach
Fitzgerald
Fitzpatrick
Fleischmann
Fletcher
Flood
Foster
Foushee
Foxx
Frankel, Lois
Franklin, C. Scott
Frost
Fry
Fulcher
Gallagher
Gallego
Garamendi
Garbarino
Garcia (IL)
Garcia (TX)
Garcia, Mike
Garcia, Robert
Gimenez
Golden (ME)
Goldman (NY)
Gomez
Gonzales, Tony
Gonzalez, Vicente
Gonzalez-Colon
Gooden (TX)
Gottheimer
Granger
Graves (LA)
Graves (MO)
Green (TN)
Green, Al (TX)
Grijalva
Guest
Guthrie
Hageman
Harder (CA)
Harshbarger
Hayes
Hern
Higgins (NY)
Hill
Himes
Hinson
Horsford
Houchin
Houlahan
Hoyer
Hoyle (OR)
Hudson
Huffman
Huizenga
Hunt
Issa
Ivey
Jackson (IL)
Jackson (NC)
Jackson (TX)
Jackson Lee
Jacobs
James
Jayapal
Jeffries
Johnson (LA)
Johnson (OH)
Johnson (SD)
Jordan
Joyce (OH)
Joyce (PA)
Kamlager-Dove
Kaptur
Kean (NJ)
Keating
Kelly (MS)
Kelly (PA)
Khanna
Kildee
Kiley
Kilmer
Kim (CA)
Kim (NJ)
Krishnamoorthi
Kuster
Kustoff
LaHood
LaLota
LaMalfa
Lamborn
Landsman
Langworthy
Larsen (WA)
Larson (CT)
Latta
LaTurner
Lawler
Lee (CA)
Lee (FL)
Lee (NV)
Lee (PA)
Letlow
Levin
Lieu
Lofgren
Lucas
Luetkemeyer
Luttrell
Mace
Magaziner
Malliotakis
Mann
Manning
Massie
Mast
Matsui
McBath
McCaul
McClain
McClellan
McClintock
McCollum
McCormick
McGarvey
McGovern
McHenry
Meeks
Menendez
Meng
Meuser
Mfume
Miller (IL)
Miller (OH)
Miller (WV)
Miller-Meeks
Mills
Molinaro
Moolenaar
Mooney
Moore (AL)
Moore (UT)
Moore (WI)
Moran
Morelle
Moulton
Moylan
Mrvan
Murphy
Napolitano
Neguse
Nehls
Newhouse
Nickel
Norcross
Norton
Nunn (IA)
Obernolte
Ocasio-Cortez
Omar
Owens
Pallone
Palmer
Panetta
Pappas
Pascrell
Peltola
Pence
Perez
Peters
Pettersen
Pfluger
Phillips
Pingree
Plaskett
Pocan
Porter
Pressley
Quigley
Ramirez
Raskin
Reschenthaler
Rodgers (WA)
Rogers (AL)
Rogers (KY)
Rose
Ross
Rouzer
Ruiz
Ruppersberger
Rutherford
Ryan
Sablan
Salazar
Salinas
Sanchez
Sarbanes
Scalise
Scanlon
Schakowsky
Schiff
Schneider
Scholten
Schrier
Schweikert
Scott (VA)
Scott, Austin
Scott, David
Self
Sessions
Sewell
Sherman
Sherrill
Simpson
Slotkin
Smith (MO)
Smith (NE)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (WA)
Smucker
Sorensen
Soto
Spanberger
Spartz
Stanton
Stauber
Steel
Stefanik
Steil
Stevens
Stewart
Strickland
Strong
Swalwell
Sykes
Takano
Tenney
Thanedar
Thompson (CA)
Thompson (MS)
Thompson (PA)
Tiffany
Timmons
Titus
Tokuda
[[Page H1389]]
Tonko
Torres (CA)
Torres (NY)
Trahan
Trone
Turner
Underwood
Valadao
Van Drew
Van Duyne
Van Orden
Vargas
Vasquez
Veasey
Velazquez
Wagner
Walberg
Wasserman Schultz
Waters
Watson Coleman
Weber (TX)
Webster (FL)
Wenstrup
Westerman
Wexton
Wild
Williams (GA)
Williams (NY)
Williams (TX)
Wilson (FL)
Wilson (SC)
Wittman
Womack
Yakym
Zinke
NOES--39
Biggs
Bishop (NC)
Boebert
Brecheen
Buck
Burchett
Burgess
Burlison
Cardenas
Cline
Cloud
Crane
Davidson
Gaetz
Good (VA)
Gosar
Greene (GA)
Griffith
Harris
Higgins (LA)
Johnson (GA)
Kiggans (VA)
Lesko
Loudermilk
Luna
Lynch
Neal
Norman
Ogles
Payne
Pelosi
Perry
Posey
Rosendale
Roy
Santos
Stansbury
Steube
Tlaib
NOT VOTING--15
Blumenauer
Bucshon
Castro (TX)
Cleaver
Cohen
Costa
Cuellar
Grothman
Kelly (IL)
Leger Fernandez
Moskowitz
Mullin
Nadler
Radewagen
Waltz
{time} 1822
Announcement by the Acting Chair
The Acting Chair (during the vote). There is 1 minute remaining.
So the amendment was agreed to.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
{time} 1830
Amendment No. 9 Offered by Mr. Garbarino
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 9
printed in House Report 118-12.
Mr. GARBARINO. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Add at the end the following:
TITLE VII--RULE OF CONSTRUCTION ON STUDENT ACCESS TO BOOKS AND OTHER
READING MATERIALS
SEC. 701. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION ON STUDENT ACCESS TO BOOKS AND
OTHER READING MATERIALS.
Nothing in this Act, or the amendments made by this Act,
shall be construed as authorizing or granting parents the
right or ability to deny any student who is not their child
from accessing any books or other reading materials that are
otherwise available in the library of their child's school.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 241, the gentleman
from New York (Mr. Garbarino) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
Mr. GARBARINO. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Chair, every parent has the inherent right and responsibility to
decide what is best for their child, how to raise them, how to care for
them, and what information to expose them to or to protect them from.
My amendment protects the ability of parents to participate in the
education of their own child by reaffirming parental choice and
ensuring that children are not subject to the censorship of adults who
are not their parents.
I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to claim
time in opposition, although I am not opposed to it.
The Acting CHAIR. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman
from Virginia?
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, this amendment exposes a problem
with the underlying bill.
You should not be able to ban books for other parents' children. In
fact, this amendment exposes the bill as actually doing exactly that.
That is why this amendment is appropriate, and I would hope that it
would be adopted.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GARBARINO. Mr. Chair, I appreciate the gentleman's words and his
support of this. I also appreciate the chairwoman's support of this
amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my
time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Garbarino).
The amendment was agreed to.
Amendment No. 10 Offered by Mr. Green of Tennessee
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 10
printed in House Report 118-12.
Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 9, line 4, strike ``and''.
Page 9, line 9, strike the punctuation after ``event'' and
insert ``; and''.
Page 9, after line 9, insert the following new
subparagraph:
``(O) the right to timely notice of any major cyberattack
against their child's school that may have compromised
student or parent information.''.
Page 11, line 4, strike the punctuation after ``school''
and insert a period.
Page 11, after line 4, insert the following new clause:
``(v) Cyberattacks.--A local educational agency receiving
funds under this part shall ensure that each elementary
school and secondary school served by such agency provides
the parents of each child who is a student in such school
notifications described in paragraph (1)(O).''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 241, the gentleman
from Tennessee (Mr. Green) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.
Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, our Nation's critical
infrastructure and cybersecurity are increasingly under attack by
malicious actors who seek to extort and do harm to the American people.
Hospitals, financial institutions, utilities, and government agencies
are all popular targets, but cyberattacks are now targeting the next
generation of Americans, K-12 students.
While the total number of cyberattacks on K-12 schools is unknown,
recent reports have indicated that ransomware attacks on K-12 schools
increased between 2020 and 2022.
Local and State officials report that loss of learning following a
cyberattack can range from 3 days to 3 weeks, and recovery time can
take anywhere from 2 to 9 months. Officials also reported monetary
losses to school districts ranging from $50,000 to $1 million due to
expenses from a cyber incident.
Cyberattacks often result in the disclosure and theft of students'
personal information. In a 2020 report, the GAO found that such
information compromised included students grades, their Social Security
numbers, and medical information.
In December 2021, a vendor for Chicago Public Schools was a victim of
a ransomware attack in which more than 500,000 students' and staff
members' personal information was disclosed. The data included the
students' names, schools, dates of birth, gender, school identification
numbers, State student identification numbers, and course information
from previous school years. One study found that between 2018 and 2021,
roughly 3 million students were impacted by ransomware attacks.
Parents who entrust their students' information to public
institutions have the right to know when that information is
compromised. We must do the work to ensure these attacks are not
successful and that malicious actors are brought to justice.
Parents need to know when their students' personal information has
been compromised so they can take the necessary steps to protect them.
Transparency is essential to protecting the privacy of students.
We need schools that are both transparent and accountable to parents.
Parents shouldn't be stonewalled when asking for information about
their child's personal records. The FBI should focus on investigating
these cyber incidents and informing parents on the irreparable harm
done to their children's cybersecurity rather than monitoring their
parents' free speech and shutting down parent involvement.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to put parents before politics and
support this amendment.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to claim
the time in opposition, although I am not opposed to it.
[[Page H1390]]
The Acting CHAIR. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman
from Virginia?
There was no objection.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I have some concern with some of
the terms in the amendment, like what constitutes a major cyberattack
or who determines whether an attack has been made, or if notice is
required if it may have compromised information and exactly what is
concerned there.
Generally speaking, if information is exposed during a cyberattack,
people expect to be notified so that they can take appropriate action
to protect themselves. These schools should be no exception. I support
the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GREEN of Tennessee. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my
time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Green).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Tennessee
will be postponed.
The Chair understands that amendment No. 11 will not be offered.
Amendment No. 12 Offered by Ms. Jacobs
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 12
printed in House Report 118-12.
Ms. JACOBS. Mr. Chair, I have amendment No. 12 at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 6, line 14, strike ``, at no cost,''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 241, the gentlewoman
from California (Ms. Jacobs) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.
Ms. JACOBS. Mr. Chair, I rise today to fight for kids, parents and
guardians, and educators in San Diego and across the country.
All parents and guardians want for their kids is for them to grow up
safe, healthy, and happy, and have the tools needed to confidently and
successfully go out into the world. Obviously, they should be involved
in their kids' education and shaping their minds and lives, but H.R. 5
is not the solution.
I think we can all agree that educators can be some of the most
influential people in our kids' lives. They have the power to inspire
lifelong learning. They can help foster creativity and curiosity and
teach children new information and perspectives, but H.R. 5 fails to
value educators.
It fails to acknowledge or even address that teachers are overworked
and underpaid, fueling the burnout that has created a nationwide
teacher shortage that was exponentially worsened by the pandemic.
H.R. 5 fails to address school safety. There have been 322 school
shootings this year alone. Just yesterday, there was a shooting at a
Denver high school. By failing to act on gun violence in schools, we
are allowing an entire generation to grow up with so much trauma: The
trauma of school shooting drills, of growing up watching school
shootings on the news, wearing bulletproof backpacks to school and
knowing that one day it could save your life.
However, H.R. 5 does not even attempt to proactively end the gun
violence epidemic at schools. It only permits parents and guardians the
right to a notification when violence at a school occurs.
My colleagues glaze over the causes of real violence at our Nation's
schools, like proper investments in school-based mental health
programs, social, emotional, and cultural competency professional
development for educators and administrators, disciplinary measures
that eradicate the cradle-to-prison pipeline, and, more importantly,
gun control measures to ensure that our youth are safe from school
shootings.
We need parents and guardians to be involved in the classroom because
too often it is all on teachers to make up for emotional support,
learning, and care in the classroom that should also be provided at
home.
H.R. 5 doesn't give all parents and guardians the tools for
constructive involvement and unfairly empowers a very narrow set to
dictate what all students learn about.
It will open the door to book bans and censorship to control what
students learn and read about, neglecting important parts of history
like the civil rights movement and learning about people's identities.
It would also mandate schools to out LGBTQ+ students to their
parents, violating students' privacy and potentially exposing them to
harm in the process.
While I am thankful that the Rules Committee supported two of my
amendments, it is shameful that they rejected my amendment to ensure
that teaching about the Holocaust and anti-Semitism in schools should
be taught with the acknowledgement that those actions were immoral.
Amid skyrocketing anti-Semitic rhetoric, especially from some of my
colleagues in this body, and growing violence targeting the Jewish
community, Congress needs to use its power to end hatred and
discrimination against Jews.
That work starts with our actions and ensuring that ``Never Again''
is a reality by teaching about the Holocaust and the lingering hate
that still exists today.
In the height of irony, this bill even includes a sense of Congress
that all public elementary and secondary schools should have
opportunities to learn the history of the Holocaust and anti-Semitism,
but that means very little if we are unwilling to mandate how wrong and
immoral those actions were.
This bill is a disservice to our kids, parents and guardians,
teachers, and to our future by not providing kids the tools to be
engaged, thoughtful citizens. So we should take the opportunity to
improve this bill.
Mr. Chair, my amendment eliminates the ``at no cost'' unfunded
mandate embedded within the bill that would require schools--that are
already underfunded and under-resourced--to be burdened with printing
out professional development and curriculum materials at zero cost.
I agree that parents should have access to school curriculums, most
of which are already published online.
However, if my colleagues believe parents should have this right so
strongly, then they should provide additional funding for school
systems to be able to comply. We want all parents and guardians to be
involved in the classroom.
This is a simple, commonsense solution that removes a potentially
costly barrier for school systems that are already struggling to
maintain their budgets.
I urge my colleagues to support my amendment to remove the ``at no
cost'' provisions in H.R. 5 to bring all parents and guardians to the
table for their kids' learning.
Parents and guardians should be active participants in kids'
education, but that doesn't mean we should lose sight of school safety,
ending discrimination, supporting teachers, and ensuring a well-rounded
curriculum that prepares kids for the future.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized
for 5 minutes.
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Chair, parents have a fundamental right to know what their
children are being taught, and it should not depend on how rich or poor
they are.
The amendment under consideration would strike the phrase ``at no
cost'' from the clause stating that parents have the right to review
and make copies of curricula. In other words, this amendment would
allow schools to charge parents for copies of what their children are
being taught.
On principle, that is a terrible idea. Republicans believe that every
parent, no matter how much money they have, should be free to know what
their child is being taught.
This amendment is also terrible policy. Under the provision, schools
could charge every parent exorbitant
[[Page H1391]]
amounts for copying curricula and effectively make it impossible for
parents to access the curriculum of their children. We know that
schools can use cost as a weapon to keep curriculum a secret.
I spoke earlier about a Rhode Island mother of two, Nicole Solas, who
became concerned that her child's school was teaching radical leftist
ideology. She asked for the school's curriculum but was persistently
stonewalled and told to file public records requests. She did, and the
school hit her with a $75,000 bill.
That kind of conduct is outrageous. No parent should have to pay
$75,000 to learn what their child is being taught. Just the threat of
this kind of a bill has a chilling effect on other parents.
That is why it is essential we defeat this amendment. Parents should
be able to see their child's curriculum without worrying the school
will slam them with an exorbitant bill.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote against this amendment and in
favor of the underlying bill. I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1845
Ms. JACOBS. Mr. Chair, I completely agree that parents should have
access to curriculum and know what their kids are learning. Schools
publish curriculums online already. Most of the information that they
would need is already publicly available.
Frankly, if we want to make sure that parents are able to access this
with no cost, we shouldn't be burdening the parents, and we also
shouldn't be burdening the already overburdened school districts. We
should be funding it. Right now, this is an unfunded mandate, which I
urge my colleagues not to support.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Again, we should defeat this amendment that would encourage schools
to throw up roadblocks in front of parents.
We should defeat this amendment that would make money a barrier to
parental engagement. We should defeat this amendment and support the
underlying bill.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Jacobs).
The amendment was rejected.
Amendment No. 13 Offered by Ms. Jacobs
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 13
printed in House Report 118-12.
Ms. JACOBS. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 7, beginning line 22, strike subparagraph (J) and
redesignate the succeeding subparagraphs accordingly.
Page 18, strike line 1 and all that follows through the
end of line 2.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 241, the gentlewoman
from California (Ms. Jacobs) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.
Ms. JACOBS. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Chair, we all know that our educators and school districts are
overburdened and overworked, as well as undervalued and underpaid. H.R.
5 worsens these systemic problems.
My amendment removes an unnecessary and burdensome provision
permitting parents and guardians to review professional development
materials for educators. This would impact educators' and school
districts' already limited time and resources without any positive gain
for parents, guardians, and students.
My colleagues have failed to define what constitutes professional
development, which ultimately may limit the types of professional
development available to educators.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support my amendment so that we
can ensure that educators' time is directed at enriching our kids'
education and not fulfilling onerous requirements.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized
for 5 minutes.
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
We all know the impact that a good teacher can have. A good teacher
can be motivating, challenging, and life changing for young students.
We all want to have good teachers.
I spent my career in education. I have met countless teachers over
the years who care deeply about students and want to do the right
thing.
Unfortunately, too many in the education bureaucracy are working
against teachers with professional development materials that seek to
push radical ideologies meant to be passed on to students. Furthermore,
there are numerous professional development groups that want to supply
teachers with these talking points.
That is why it is essential we know exactly what teachers themselves
are being taught, what kind of professional development they are
receiving, and who is providing it.
We Republicans believe that parents have a fundamental right to know
these answers. Parents need to know who is teaching the teachers, and
taxpayers have a right to know what kind of professional development
they are paying for.
Frankly, opposition to giving parents access to this information and
these materials is evidence of the need for this bill. What is it that
proponents of this amendment are trying to hide?
During the Rules Committee hearing, one of the Democrat Members even
recognized that reviewing professional development materials is a
fundamental right. He told me: ``I agree with you. These are really
important, vital rights every parent in the country ought to have. . .
. I would think that the best place to start would be . . . to ask the
local school board and make sure that the right to review, for example,
any professional development material is secured.''
I agree with the Democratic Congressman. Reviewing professional
development material is a vital right of every parent.
His mistake, however, is to think that every local school board will
voluntarily allow such. Many do not. That is why we need the Parents
Bill of Rights Act.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote against this amendment and in
favor of the underlying bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. JACOBS. Mr. Chair, I agree that parents deserve to see some
professional development. That is why I want the majority to define
``professional development'' so we can make sure that we are actually
doing what we intend to do.
As the bill is written, it includes specialized instructional support
personnel such as speech-language pathologists and audiologists who
have specific continuing education requirements that are sometimes
accessed through continuing education courses that have copyright
restrictions that limit use and distribution of materials and content.
My amendment would ensure that all teachers and specialized
instructional support personnel are able to access the professional
development courses they need to maintain their skills and even their
licenses and certifications, which this bill, as written, would get in
the way of.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Chair, this amendment seeks to remove information about
the education children are receiving from parents. We should defeat
this amendment and support the underlying bill.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Jacobs).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Ms. JACOBS. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from California
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 14 Offered by Mr. Lawler
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 14
printed in House Report 118-12.
[[Page H1392]]
Mr. LAWLER. Mr. Chair, I have amendment No. 14 at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Add at the end the following:
TITLE VII--INAPPLICABILITY TO NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS
SEC. 701. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this Act may be construed to impose any
requirements on non-public elementary or secondary schools.
SEC. 702. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that local educational agencies
do not have the authority to exercise any direction,
supervision, or control over the curriculum or program of
instruction of non-public elementary or secondary schools.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 241, the gentleman
from New York (Mr. Lawler) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
Mr. LAWLER. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Chair, I rise today to offer an amendment to H.R. 5, the Parents
Bill of Rights Act.
In my district and in districts across the country, our education
system is a balance of public schools, private schools, charter
schools, parochial schools, vocational schools, and home schools.
My amendment would make clear this bill only applies to schools that
take funds from the Department of Education and would ensure that non-
public schools are able to determine their own curriculum and not have
curriculum imposed on them by local school boards and States that
disregard that right.
In New York, for instance, this is of great concern as the current
Governor and her administration have attempted to impose severe
restrictions on private schools, including Catholic schools and
yeshivas in school districts across the State. A key provision of this
new State regulation was actually thrown out in court today.
Parents choose to send their children to the school they feel best
fits their needs and beliefs. It is not the role of any government to
dictate to parents and children what they should believe or practice,
and in my district, that certainly is a concern held by many parents.
I have parents contact my office every day with concerns about their
children's education and the State trying to force itself into the
relationship between educators and students.
I am hopeful that my colleagues will join me in supporting this
amendment, which protects non-public schools from being forced to adopt
questionable practices forced on them by school boards and States.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Virginia is recognized for 5
minutes.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, in the first part of the bill,
it says nothing is actually to be construed to oppose any requirements
of non-public elementary and secondary schools. I am unaware of
anything the bill does to impose requirements on non-public elementary
or secondary schools, so it seems to me to be unnecessary.
Second, it is the sense of Congress that says local agencies do not
have the authority to exercise any direction, supervision, or control
over curriculum or program of instruction of non-public elementary and
secondary schools. Again, I am unaware of local school boards'
authority to exercise such supervision, direction, or control, so that
seems also to be unnecessary.
I am not sure what the amendment speaks to that is relevant, so I
oppose the amendment.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Lawler).
The amendment was agreed to.
Amendment No. 15 Offered by Mr. Massie
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 15
printed in House Report 118-12.
Mr. MASSIE. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Add at the end the following:
TITLE VII--SENSE OF CONGRESS RELATING TO TERMINATION OF CERTAIN
FUNCTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
SEC. 701. SENSE OF CONGRESS RELATING TO TERMINATION OF THE
ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION FUNCTIONS OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
It is the sense of Congress that the authority of the
Department of Education and the Secretary of Education to
operate or administer any office or program related to
elementary or secondary education should be terminated on or
before December 31, 2023.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 241, the gentleman
from Kentucky (Mr. Massie) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Kentucky.
Mr. MASSIE. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Chair, my amendment is quite simple. It expresses the sense of
Congress that the Department of Education and the Secretary of
Education should no longer have any authority to administer any program
related to elementary or secondary education in the United States.
Some people may confuse the purpose of my amendment, and let me be
clear: It is to strengthen public education in the United States.
I am a product of public education, K-12. I attended public schools,
as did my wife and all of our children.
We are proud of our schools in this country, but it is time to turn
in the grade card for the Department of Education. They have been at it
for 40 years, and they get an F. Education has not improved, but
spending has doubled per pupil.
It is time to return the power back to the States, back to the
people, and back to the school boards to allow them to make these
decisions locally.
Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr.
Brecheen).
Mr. BRECHEEN. Mr. Chair, September 24, 1981, in his address to the
Nation on the program for economic recovery, President Ronald Reagan
made the following comment: ``As a third step, we propose to dismantle
two Cabinet Departments, Energy and Education. Both Secretaries are
wholly in accord with this. Some of the activities in both of these
Departments will, of course, be continued either independently or in
other areas of government. There is only one way to shrink the size and
cost of Big Government, and that is by eliminating agencies that are
not needed and are getting in the way of a solution. . . . By
eliminating the Department of Education less than 2 years after it was
created, we cannot only reduce the budget but ensure that local needs
and preferences, rather than wishes of Washington, determine the
education of our children.''
The Federal Department of Education was created in 1979. Many people
can't even remember a time when it was not a creation, but there was
such a time.
Mr. Chair, for 200 years, our Nation flourished and had rigorous
education absent the Federal Department of Education.
I, too, am a product of public education, but I contend if we want to
empower parents in the hypersexualized, woke culture that is invading
our classrooms, we need to give school board members and parents the
ability to determine the education of their children and empower them
by returning to the brilliance of our Founding Fathers.
In the 18 enumerated powers that list those things that the Federal
Government should do, education is not mentioned. That is why Thomas
Jefferson made the comment that in order for the Federal Government to
be involved in education, you have to have a constitutional amendment.
We need to follow the advice of our Founding Fathers and put this
back in the hands of our States. They can determine what is happening
in the classroom. That is a success for our children and this country.
{time} 1900
Mr. MASSIE. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the
amendment.
[[Page H1393]]
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, whenever we encounter an attempt
to dismantle the Department of Education, it is clear that we are
undermining public education. Yet, even the Founders of our great
Nation were committed to education.
Moreover, without a Federal role in education, when States were left
to their own devices, we lacked a common set of standards for high-
quality education, high-quality teachers, and high expectations for
student outcomes. Many students were left behind, such as racial
minorities, low income, those with disabilities, those with English as
a second language.
The Federal role in education ensures a level playing field for all
of our students and especially provides funding to help the most needy
students.
Moreover, the Federal role in education is still striving to live up
to the promise of Brown v. Board of Education, the 1954 decision. In
that decision, the Supreme Court said that education is a right, which
must be made available to all on equal terms, and further, that
racially segregated so-called separate but equal education was
inherently unequal.
The GAO first revealed in 2016 that public schools, unfortunately,
are still segregated--as a matter of fact, more segregated now than the
late 1960s.
In July 2022, GAO found that more than one in three public K-12
students attend essentially racially segregated schools, so we still
have work to do in that area. We still have work to do to fulfill the
promise of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. We are not
fulfilling that promise.
So we still have a lot of work to do on the Federal level. There is a
Federal role for education. The Department of Education is working on
fulfilling that responsibility.
For these reasons, I oppose the amendment, and I urge my colleagues
to vote ``no.''
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MASSIE. Mr. Chair, as my colleague from Oklahoma pointed out,
Congress lacks the constitutional authority to create what amounts to a
national school board of unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats.
How many are there; 4,000 bureaucrats in Washington, D.C.?
My colleague on the other side of the aisle said that basically every
school would like to have more money.
How could we do that without raising taxes?
Quit wasting it in Washington, D.C., on 4,000 bureaucrats who cost us
about $100,000 apiece.
These bureaucrats make more than the teachers. Yet, they don't teach
a single class. They don't write books. They don't help with that.
In fact, the Federal Government is responsible for about 90 percent
of the red tape that local schools have to deal with and only about 10
percent of the funding. It is time to change that equation.
Imagine if we could hire 4,000 more teachers in this country using
that money and pay them each $100,000, pay them what the bureaucrats
get in Washington, D.C.
How many more kids would get a better education?
I suspect a lot more kids would get a better education.
This was a reelection ploy that was foisted on America by Jimmy
Carter and Congress at the time in 1979. It did not work. He did not
get reelected. It was not a good idea, but here we are. We are stuck
with it.
It is time, as I said before, to reevaluate this.
Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote for this amendment to show
that we support public education. We support the rights of parents to
determine through their school boards the rights of teachers. The
teachers know what to teach and how to teach. They don't need the
Federal Government telling them.
What your child learns or how your child learns shouldn't be
dependent on who won the Presidential election and who became Secretary
of Education. It is too important to leave it up to that. You need to
leave it up to your community, to the teachers and the parents.
Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of this amendment and the underlying bill,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, this is not a complicated
amendment. It just asks whether you want a Department of Education. I
think we should have a Department of Education, therefore, I ask for a
``no'' vote on this amendment.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Fallon). The question is on the amendment
offered by the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Massie).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Mr. LAWLER. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Kentucky
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 16 Offered by Mr. McCormick
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 16
printed in House Report 118-12.
Mr. McCORMICK. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk to H.R.
5.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 11, line 23, insert ``and on any violations of the
rights specified in paragraph (1)'' after ``agency''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 241, the gentleman
from Georgia (Mr. McCormick) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.
Mr. McCORMICK. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to discuss my amendment to
H.R. 5, the Parents Bill of Rights Act.
I speak to all of you as a father of seven, an educator for 4 years,
both in public and private schools, and a youth minister for over 20
years.
It is important to note that as we discuss this legislation, we are
not guaranteed just local control in our Constitution, but we are also
guaranteed inalienable, individual rights even when inconvenient to the
local government, because the ultimate minority we need to protect is
the individual.
For amendment No. 16, it clarifies H.R. 5's language to ensure
parents have the guaranteed opportunity to address the school board
regarding any violation of their parental rights. This right is implied
within the bill but deserves stronger language.
As we have seen too frequently across the country, including two
counties within my district, concerned moms and dads have been
silenced, thrown out, and threatened when standing up for their
children. This is simply unacceptable.
Amendment No. 16 serves as a form of accountability. We must ensure
parents should be able to provide school boards with feedback to make
necessary changes when the rights of the parents or the children are
infringed upon.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, parents already have the right
to address their local school board. It should be done, unfortunately,
within reason, but a reasonable amendment was rejected in committee.
You don't need a Federal law to instruct school board members who are
elected to be polite to the public. The voters can take care of that.
This bill grants a Federal right of action to each and every person
who shows up for the school board, no matter how obnoxious, extreme,
irrelevant, or repetitive that person may be.
This amendment is unnecessary because it doesn't do anything to the
underlying bill. The underlying bill gives you that so-called right,
but we have heard that some parents have been arrested. As I have said
before, they were arrested because the police believed they were
committing a crime.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McCORMICK. Mr. Chair, the attitude that only some parents should
be considered, that only some parents
[[Page H1394]]
should be heard, and that some parents should be arrested is not what
we are talking about.
We are not talking about the parents who were arrested for doing
violent things, and that is a very rare exception. We keep on using
these rare exceptions to make a rule.
Clearly, there is a need for us to step up and represent these
parents that are unheard, because when parents are told they cannot
come before a school board, there is a reason for us to step up and
take action.
I think it is simply untrue to say that we already have laws that
cover this and you already have access to your school board when
clearly, just in my district alone, that right has been denied.
That is what we are fighting over right now, a parent's right to
address a school board when a school board says: Nope, I don't want to
listen to you. That is what we are arguing about right now.
If it weren't happening, I wouldn't be standing in front of you right
now. In fact, I probably wouldn't have been elected, because this is
one of the main things that parents want, are their rights back for
them and their children.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, may I inquire how much time I
have remaining?
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman has 4 minutes remaining.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Kamlager-Dove).
Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to speak on the
amendment and in strong opposition to H.R. 5.
Today, I spoke with teachers, principals, and superintendents who
have all gone to school to learn how to educate, manage, and supervise
the education of our young people. They oppose this bill and the
usurping of their expertise in their field and their ability to teach.
H.R. 5 declares that we have now decided that we don't trust our
teachers.
I have to say the title of this bill is a lie. It is a Trojan horse
when it comes to what is best for educating our children. It is really
about the evisceration of public education.
I am a parent. I know what is best for my child, but that doesn't
mean I know what is best for your child. This bill will take the
participation of parents out of the decisionmaking process and truly
create anarchy in our education system.
Earlier today, I was in a committee hearing listening to Republicans
talk about China, and this is what I heard them say:
They said, shame on China. China is bashing access to education,
stifling access to free thought, and banning access to information. The
hypocrisy in that talking about bashing China, this bill does exactly
what they say they don't want to see happen.
The poison pill in this bill will actually promote violence and
bullying in our schools and of our young kids who are finding
themselves and trying to learn who they are.
If you support mob rule, then you support H.R. 5. If you support
autocracy, then you support H.R. 5.
The Americans that I know, the constituents in my district, support
democracy, and that is not H.R. 5.
Democracy is about everyone having a voice. Hypocrisy is about
silencing people.
No one is suggesting that parents can't and shouldn't be involved in
the education of their children and in the activities that are going on
in schools.
Absolutely.
In fact, if more parents were engaged, teachers would feel supported,
principals would feel empowered, and communities would thrive. But that
is not what H.R. 5 is about.
So I am here to defend our education system and ensure that our
students and our teachers go to school unencumbered by political
agendas so that they can live and learn freely about who they are and
the history of this country and the world.
Mr. McCORMICK. Mr. Chairman, may I inquire how much time I have
remaining?
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Georgia has 2\1/2\ minutes
remaining.
Mr. McCORMICK. Mr. Chair, I take offense in thinking that mob rule is
a parent standing up for their child.
I take offense in thinking that teachers and school systems are the
only ones that can say so.
I take offense that just given the opportunity for a parent to give
feedback to a school board is something other than the most
representative sort of government that we have.
The First Amendment allows us to speak openly against our government,
against our elected officials, and to express our opinions freely, and
that is what my amendment is about.
There couldn't be any more constitutional amendment. There couldn't
be any more freedom and democratic process. There couldn't be any more
representative thing for your child than you.
I am empowering you as a woman, as a mother; me as a father--all of
us. This isn't just for Democrats or Republicans. This is for every
parent to be able to speak freely to their representative body of
governance for their schools. That is what this amendment is about.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my
time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. McCormick).
The amendment was agreed to.
{time} 1915
Amendment No. 17 Offered by Mr. McCormick
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 17
printed in House Report 118-12.
Mr. McCORMICK. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 9, line 4, strike ``and''.
Page 9, line 9, strike all punctuation after ``event'' and
insert ``; and''.
Page 9, after line 9, insert the following new
subparagraph:
``(O) the right to be informed of any non-curriculum-based
celebratory initiatives or non-curriculum-based events for
students (other than initiatives or events related to
birthdays or Federal legal pubic holidays) that are organized
by the school and that will be made available to their
child.''.
Page 5, line 9, strike ``and''.
Page 5, line 18, strike all punctuation after ``speaker''
and insert ``; and''.
Page 5, after line 18, insert the following new paragraph:
``(12) ensure that each elementary school and secondary
school served by the local educational agency provides to the
parents of students enrolled at such school, before any non-
curriculum-based celebratory initiative or non-curriculum-
based event described in subsection (e)(1)(O)--
``(A) timely notice and a description of such initiative or
event; and
``(B) timely notice that a parent of a student is required
to grant permission, in written or electronic form, in order
for the child to participate or attend such an initiative or
event, and the procedure required for the parent to provide
such permission.''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 241, the gentleman
from Georgia (Mr. McCormick) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.
Mr. McCORMICK. Mr. Chair, my amendment No. 17 is a simple addition to
H.R. 5 that states that parents have the right to be informed of any
non-curriculum-based initiatives or events, and parents have the right
to opt-in their child to such events, excluding birthday celebrations
and Federal holidays.
Examples of these events that my amendment seeks to address include:
National French Week, Firefighter Appreciation Day, Democracy Day, or
any other politically motivated or controversial extracurricular
activities.
Some of these activities are great. However, it is important that
parents aren't simply aware of the activities their children are
participating in, we also want to give parents the ability to be
proactive in their child's education and especially their
extracurricular activities. This is their right.
This amendment has nothing to do with technical careers or college
prep. It only applies to initiatives and events outside of the
curriculum.
The American Psychological Association has confirmed what common
sense already tells us, which is that parental involvement in education
is vital. Students with parents who are involved
[[Page H1395]]
have a higher chance to get better grades and test scores, have better
school attendance, and even better social outcomes.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I am having a little trouble
understanding the amendment. As I understand it, a student couldn't
participate in a non-curriculum-based activity, event, or initiative
unless the parents have affirmatively opted in. Otherwise, the students
would be prevented from participating in that event.
If that is my understanding, if the parents don't get the paperwork
in, the students can't participate in the event.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McCORMICK. I think that is an excellent point. What do we require
opt-in for right now?
Right now, for free and reduced lunch, you have to opt in. For a
field trip, you have to opt in. For lots of activities you have to opt
in. Things that are good for the children.
If the child wants to go, I guarantee, as a father of seven, they are
going to come to me and say, Dad, I want to go to this, and I am going
to opt in if it is something that I want them to participate in.
This is not unprecedented. This is something that gives you power,
once again, control of what you want your children to be exposed to,
that has nothing to do with academics. Nothing to do with academics.
This could be used in positive ways or negative ways, depending on
you how view your children's education.
There are already plenty of measures to make the content and the
curriculum accountable to parental oversight, but the non-curriculum-
based events and initiatives don't have these measures.
Further, this amendment doesn't state how schools have to get consent
from parents; one event at a time. The language is drafted so that the
school can determine how to best inform and receive a parent's consent.
It can be done for the entire year all at once. That is up to the
school.
Once again, it empowers parents to have control of things that are
outside of academics, which we already have a precedent for.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Chair, I yield myself 1 minute.
Mr. Chairman, I am advised that in some Montgomery County, Maryland
schools, they have a celebration on Halloween with a costume parade and
a Valentine's Day with a class party. If the parents didn't get the
paperwork in on time, the children can't participate.
I don't know if recess is a non-curriculum-based initiative, but my
guess is, until you get your paperwork in, you can't go out and play in
recess.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McCORMICK. Mr. Chair, clearly, I am not talking about recess.
Let's not get crazy about what kind of things we are claiming right
now.
I am talking about--you're right, it could be anything from let me
dress up as something vulgar, or let me--it could be anything
controversial or noncontroversial. It doesn't really matter.
Once again, we get back to the content of something we already do.
You are right, your kids might benefit greatly from going down to the
power station for a field trip, but you already have to opt them in.
You are doing that already.
I am talking about things that have nothing to do with academics.
This has to do with empowering parents, just like they already are on
several occasions, to have control of what their children are exposed
to. That is what parental rights are all about. That is empowering each
individual, as a parent, and each student, to be exposed to only what
they think is pertinent to their education in a way that they want to
be presented.
Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
I think we understand that now we need a Federal law to determine how
schools will handle recess and Halloween or Valentine's Day parties. We
need a Federal law to tell them how to handle it.
I don't think so. I hope we oppose the amendment.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. McCormick).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Georgia will
be postponed.
Amendment No. 18 Offered by Mr. Miller of Ohio
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 18
printed in House Report 118-12.
Mr. MILLER of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
In title I, insert ``(including secondary career and
technical education schools)'' after ``secondary school''
each place such term appears.
Page 13, after line 21, add the following new section:
SEC. 106. DEFINITION OF SECONDARY CAREER AND TECHNICAL
EDUCATION SCHOOL.
Section 8101 the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (45) through (52) as
paragraphs (46) through (53), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (44) the following new
paragraph:
``(45) Secondary career and technical education school.--
The term `secondary career and technical education school'
means a secondary school that is an area career and technical
education school described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of
paragraph (3) of section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and
Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2032(3)(A);
(B)).''.
Page 29, line 13, insert ``(including public secondary
career and technical education school)'' after ``secondary
school''.
Page 29, line 18, insert ``(including public secondary
career and technical education school)'' after ``secondary
school''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 241, the gentleman
from Ohio (Mr. Miller) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio.
Mr. MILLER of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I believe that kids do better in
school and better in life when their parents are involved in their
education.
Parents have a right to know what their children are being taught.
They have a right to be heard by teachers, by administrators, and
certainly by their school board members and other policymakers. They
have a right to protect their children's privacy and to keep them safe,
and they have a right to know how schools are spending their tax
dollars.
These rights are being threatened because some people believe that
the government knows better than parents about what their kids need to
succeed. They may be comfortable with bureaucracies standing between
students and parents, but I am not.
For these reasons and others, I am proud to be a cosponsor of the
Parents Bill of Rights Act to enshrine these principles into law. I
thank Chairwoman Foxx and Congresswoman Letlow for their leadership in
bringing this important legislation forward.
Today, I am offering an amendment to further strengthen this bill. My
amendment is simple. It includes language to ensure that the rights
defined in the Parents Bill of Rights extend to families of students
who choose to pursue career and technical education.
One of the great challenges facing our economy is meeting the needs
of a changing labor market in the United States. Specifically, we must
address the skills gap. CTE achieves this goal.
In my home State of Ohio, 54 percent of jobs require skills training.
During the 2020-2021 school year, Ohio had over 127,000 secondary CTE
participants, and the Class of 2021 earned over 51,000 industry-
recognized credentials while graduating high school.
These are among the hardest working students that you will find,
regardless
[[Page H1396]]
of educational route, and these students matter just as much as those
who go to college.
My amendment ensures that families of CTE students are protected by
the law in the same way that students on the traditional route are
protected.
A vote in support of this amendment sends the message that career and
technical education is not only good for students, but it is great for
students. It is great for business, and it is great for our
communities.
I urge our colleagues to vote ``yes.''
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, this amendment, you actually
would assume that this was part of the bill to begin with. Since it is
a bad bill, making sure that this is in it is just another bad idea.
For example, it brings in the provision that you have to notify the
parents in advance of all the speakers that may be participating, so if
you are in a career in technical education and you have a Career Day,
you have got to identify all the speakers that are coming to Career Day
so the parents--if you can get that list, all of them--they have to be
notified.
It would limit the use of employers as speakers because you would
have to know exactly which one is going to show up, and that would
limit the students' ability to learn the high-wage, in-demand jobs
available at a Career Day.
Basically, this just makes sure that the career and technical
education is part of the bill, and insofar it is a bad bill, I would
hope the amendment would be rejected.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MILLER of Ohio. Mr. Chair, I fundamentally believe that our
colleagues on the other side of the aisle mean well, but I am shocked
and appalled that we don't support technical education. This is a solid
amendment.
What I just heard, Mr. Chair, is that some of our colleagues on the
other side of the aisle don't like our union counterparts, who don't
like our carpenters, who don't like our pipe fitters, who don't like
our welders, and who don't like our steelworkers that we support.
That is what I am hearing. I am disturbed by the fact that we cannot
support the silent majority within this country, the backbone of our
Nation in technical education throughout this country really is tough
for me to swallow right now. I am glad that the American people can see
this for what it is.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 1 minute.
Mr. Chairman, that is exactly not what I said. There is nothing wrong
with carpenters or other careers.
It said that if you have a Career Day you may not be able to have the
Career Day unless you can get all the speakers lined up well in advance
and notify all of the parents in advance who they are going to be.
If you have a plumbing firm wanting to participate, you have to
figure out which plumber is going to actually show up so you can notify
the parents of the right one.
This adds too much confusion to it. You may not even be able to have
a Career Day. To suggest that I am not in favor of career and technical
education is ridiculous.
If you want a reasonable program, you have to allow for the
participation of people to come in and speak, talk about the high-wage,
in-demand jobs that are available. Forcing the school to outline each
and every speaker, know each and every person that is going to show up
at a Career Day, before the Career Day, in time to notify the parents
is absurd.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MILLER of Ohio. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my
time.
The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Carter of Georgia). The question is on the
amendment offered by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Miller).
The amendment was agreed to.
{time} 1930
Ms. FOXX. Mr. Chair, I move that the Committee do now rise.
The motion was agreed to.
Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr.
Fallon) having assumed the chair, Mr. Carter of Georgia, Acting Chair
of the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, reported
that that Committee, having had under consideration the bill (H.R. 5)
to ensure the rights of parents are honored and protected in the
Nation's public schools, had come to no resolution thereon.
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