Florida’s two U.S. senators–Republicans Marco Rubio and Rick Scott–are backing U.S. Sen. Tim Scott’s proposal “to protect parental rights and prevent school administrators from concealing information about students’ gender from their parents.”
Last week, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-SC, brought out the “Parental Rights Over the Education and Care of Their (PROTECT) Kids Act” with six co-sponsors, including the two Florida Republicans.
“The PROTECT Kids Act would restrict federal funding for any elementary or middle school that allows students to change their pronouns, gender markers, or sex-based accommodations, including locker rooms and bathrooms, without the consent of their parents,” Tim Scott’s office noted about the bill.
“Far too often, parents are pushed out of their child’s education—and kids are paying the price. As the party of parents, Republicans are committed to ensuring that parents are always in the driver’s seat when it comes to their child’s upbringing. I am proud to stand for parental rights and put forth my PROTECT Kids Act to ensure parents remain the lead decision maker in their child’s life,” said Tim Scott.
“I have long believed that parents, not the government, know what is best for their children. It is time for schools to stop pushing these woke ideologies on our kids and let them focus on reading, writing and arithmetic. I am proud to stand with my colleagues in supporting the PROTECT Kids Act to stop the indoctrination and ensure parents have a say in what happens at their kids’ school,” said Rick Scott.
The bill will “require elementary and middle schools that receive federal funds to obtain parental consent before changing a minor child’s gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on any school form or allowing a child to change the child’s sex-based accommodations, including locker rooms or bathrooms.”
The proposal was sent to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee though it will have a hard time passing the chamber which is controlled by Democrats.
U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., will champion the bill in the U.S. House.