Focus on the Family Urges Congressional Leaders to Respect Parental Rights

This June, Focus on the Family is urging congressional leaders to respect parental rights by passing federal legislation that would protect those rights for parents nationwide.

Promise to America’s Parents Coalition led the effort and brought together over 50 diverse organizations on behalf of millions of American parents who feel increasingly sidelined in decisions impacting their children.

The letter coincided with the 100th anniversary of the landmark United States Supreme Court decision Pierce v. Society of Sisters ruling, which recognized “the liberty of parents and guardians to direct the upbringing and education of children under their control.”

The letter called on congressional leaders to protect families and parental rights by passing the Families’ Rights and Responsibilities Act, S. 204 and H.R. 650.

Parental rights are deeply rooted in our cultural traditions and constitutional law. Still, recently, some courts have failed to apply the highest standard of review, strict scrutiny, when considering whether a government’s actions have infringed on parental rights.

Strict scrutiny is reserved for fundamental rights protected by the U.S. Constitution. It requires that the government’s action must serve a compelling interest and be narrowly tailored to avoid unnecessary harm. When courts neglect to use that standard of review, they are downgrading parental rights.

The Families’ Rights and Responsibilities Act, S. 204 and H.R. 650, would require any federal government action that burdens parental rights must be reviewed using the strict scrutiny legal standard.

In addition, the proposed federal law recognizes that parents have the constitutional right to make decisions about their children’s education, healthcare, and moral upbringing.

It promotes accountability, prevents government overreach into parental authority, protects parental rights to choose healthcare and education options that are best for their child, and requires transparency by guaranteeing parents have access to their child’s medical and school records.

Unfortunately, in recent years, federal law and policies have been weaponized against parents at “an alarming rate and to a greater degree.” The letter cites several actions taken by agencies that undermine parental rights, including:

• The Department of Defense’s education arm intentionally withholds information from parents about their child’s medical records.
• The Department of Agriculture’s education arm encourages leaders to ignore parental concerns and address students according to their preferred gender identity.
• The Department of Health and Human Services is funding a national suicide hotline that connects kids to trans activist organizations without parental knowledge or consent.
• Medicaid funding goes to school health centers that refer students for mental health and reproductive services, including the abortion pill “Plan B” for kids as young as 12 years old without parental consent.

At Focus on the Family, we know parents have the God-given, fundamental right to direct their children’s upbringing, education, healthcare decisions, and religious training.  Children also have the right to be loved and guided by their parents.

Our nation needs strong families because they are the building blocks of thriving communities and, ultimately, a flourishing country.

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