Today, Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) delivered the following remarks, as prepared for delivery, on the House Floor in support of H.R. 5, the Parents Bill of Rights Act:
Chairwoman Foxx’s Remarks:
“I rise today to recognize the profound importance of H.R. 5, the Parents Bill of Rights Act, and what it means for families across the country.
“Over the past several years, parents witnessed the consequences of lessons taught in classrooms firsthand. Math scores declined by the largest margin ever and reading scores plummeted to the lowest levels in over three decades.
“These results are devastating.
“Teachers unions and education bureaucrats worked to push progressive politics in classrooms while keeping parents in the dark. The Parents Bill of Rights Act aims to end that and shine a light on what is happening in schools. This bill will reaffirm a parent’s right to review course curriculum, meet with the child’s teacher, and be heard at school board meetings without fear of reprisal.
“My colleagues on the other side of the aisle seem convinced Republicans are using this bill to punish teachers or push an extreme right-wing agenda. This is false.
“Our education system is spiraling out of control as parents are pushed further outside of the classroom. This bill will restore the role of parents in schools and provide new mechanisms to promote parent-teacher partnerships.
“When parents are involved in their child’s education, students thrive. That is the guiding principle of this bill. With the Parents Bill of Rights Act, Republicans will help parents steer the educations of their children back onto the correct path where they can learn the skills they need for a lifetime of success.”
