Representative Debbie Lesko (R-AZ-08) introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives an amendment to the Constitution that would embed “the traditional liberty of parents to direct a child’s upbringing, education, and care as a fundamental right,” her office announced Tuesday.
“Parents have a fundamental right to be involved in their children’s education and to be able to choose the best educational options for their families,” said Lesko, who heads the Protect Kids Caucus in the House. “I am pleased to introduce this Constitutional Amendment to protect parents from far-left school board officials and government bureaucrats in the Biden Administration who have actively worked to undermine parental rights and eliminate educational choices for their families.”
🚨🚨I introduced a Constitutional Amendment to protect the fundamental rights of parents to be involved in their children's education and to be able to choose the best educational options for their families.
READ MORE HERE⬇️https://t.co/P5d9ADi3NL
— Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (@RepDLesko) October 18, 2022
Lesko’s office explained the House Joint Resolution (H.J. Res. 99) to introduce the amendment:
This legislation amends the U.S. Constitution to guarantee the fundamental right of parents to choose an alternative to traditional public education and make reasonable choices within public schools for their children. It also ensures parental rights are not denied due to a disability of a parent. This legislation does not apply to a parental action or decision that would end life.
The measure has the support of parentalrights.org and Alliance Defending Freedom.
“The Supreme Court has recognized parental rights for a century, but parental rights are just too important to be left to Supreme Court precedent alone,” said Will Estrada, president of ParentalRights.org and the Parental Rights Foundation. “This Amendment will enshrine these traditional rights in the black-and-white of the Constitution, preserving that parental role for generations to come. We are honored to work with Rep. Lesko to protect children by making this Amendment a reality.”
You can view it here: https://t.co/RvyYBsi3NH legislative text is forthcoming. (2/2)
— Parental Rights (@ParentalRights) October 19, 2022
Jim Mason, chairman of the board for the Parental Rights Foundation and ParentalRights.org, added, “The Supreme Court in 1923 said ‘the child is not the mere creature of the State,’ but many of today’s bureaucrats have lost sight of that.”
“This Amendment will permanently codify that precedent and restore a proper respect for the vital parent-child bond in America,” Mason said.
“It marks the eighth straight Congress in which the Amendment has been introduced,” the organization noted.
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Susan Berry, PhD, is national education editor at The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Debbie Lesko” by Debbie Lesko.
