‘Families’ Rights and Responsibilities Act’ Introduced in Congress

Senators Tim Scott and James Lankford introduced the “Families’ Rights and Responsibilities Act” (FRRA), legislation to protect “the fundamental right of parents to direct the upbringing, education, and health care of their children.”

Pro-family groups applauded FRRA, which was introduced in the Senate on January 10, while Representative Virginia Foxx is introducing the measure in the House.

The proposed legislation says:

The nature of the parent child relationship endows parents with the primary responsibility and obligation to care for their child.

From these responsibilities and obligations comes the pre-political, natural right of parents to care for their children.

FRRA points to numerous Supreme Court decisions that have “consistently recognized the primary role of parents in caring for children.”

The measure goes on to explain that federal courts and government agencies have encroached on parents’ rights.

Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) Senior Counsel Matt Sharp said in a statement supporting the act:

Parents love and know their child best, and they have the right and duty to direct the upbringing and care of their children. Yet parental rights have been eroded by government actions that view children as the property of the state and that exclude parents from critical educational and healthcare decisions.

As its website explains, “Alliance Defending Freedom is one of the leading Christian law firms committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, marriage and family, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.”

Sharp, who directs the ADF Center for Legislative Advocacy, explains it’s not just government actions that threaten parental rights: “Federal courts are not as protective of families as they should be with some courts treating parental rights as a second tier right.”

He added:

These concerns are what led to the creation of the Promise to America’s Parents — a coalition of grassroots and policy organizations that work to preserve the fundamental right of parents to direct their children’s upbringing, education, and care through sound laws and policies like this bill.

Focus on the Family partners with ADF in the Promise to America’s Parents, along with family-friendly groups like The Heritage Foundation, the Ethics and Public Policy Center, Family Policy Alliance and numerous state-based family policy councils.

The Daily Citizen has documented numerous instances where parental rights have been usurped, such as:

• Schools across the country have indoctrinated children into racist ideology – often against parents wishes.
• Parents in many states are fighting back against schools that help their children “transition” to an opposite-sex identity – without parental knowledge or consent.
• Educators and librarians have promoted age-inappropriate, sexualized, explicit and profane books to children.
• California passed legislation allowing courts to take away parents’ rights if their child comes to the state for so-called “gender-affirming health care.”

The Daily Citizen contacted Family Policy Alliance, which supports FRRA. CEO Craig DeRoche told us:

Parental rights have been under unprecedented attack by the federal government in recent years. Senator Tim Scott’s Families Rights and Responsibilities Act is an excellent piece of legislation that would ensure impositions on parental rights by the federal government must meet the highest level of legal scrutiny, known as “strict scrutiny” to be considered legal.

This legislation is critically needed to mandate the highest legal standard in the nation in order to protect parents and families from discrimination by the government, and we applaud Senator Scott and the bill’s sponsors for advocating for parents in Congress.

Concerned about the erosion of parent’s rights? Take action by encouraging your representative to co-sponsor and support the Families’ Rights and Responsibilities Act.

Related articles and resources:

ADF applauds Congress for introducing key legislation protecting parental rights

ADF: Promise to America’s Parents

Fairfax County Puts Obscene Books Back in School Libraries

Florida Parents Sue School for Helping Teen ‘Transition’ – Without Their Knowledge or Consent

Is ‘Critical Race Theory’ Being Taught in Public Schools? CRT Deniers Claim it Isn’t

Mom Banned from School Library after Confronting School Board Over Pornographic Books

Parents and Teachers Battle Radical Sexual and Political Education Agenda – This Resource Can Help

Senators to Introduce Legislation Protecting Parental and Families’ Rights

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