Adrian Daily Telegram: House Republicans pass parents' rights bill with Rep. Tim Walberg measure

A measure written by U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg regarding younger students' names, pronouns and other gender-related information was included in legislation that House Republicans on Friday narrowly passed.

The legislation would fulfill a campaign promise to give parents a role in what's taught in public schools. It has little chance in the Democrat-run Senate, and critics said it would propel a far-right movement that has led to book bans, restrictions aimed at transgender students and raucous school board meetings across the country. 

Walberg's part of the legislation is called the Parental Rights Over the Education and Care of Their (PROTECT) Kids Act, a news release from the Tipton Republican's office said. It would require any U.S. Department of Education-funded elementary or middle school to seek and acquire parental consent before changing their child’s pronouns, gender markers or preferred name on any school form. This also includes allowing a child to change their sex-based accommodations, such as locker rooms or bathrooms.

“My colleagues and I are committed to ensuring that parents always have a seat at the table when it comes to their child’s upbringing and education,” Walberg said in the release. “Today, we kept a key promise made in the Commitment to America by passing the Parents Bill of Rights. After talking with concerned parents from Berrien County to Monroe County, I was proud to author the PROTECT Kids Act, which was included in H.R.5 and will safeguard parental rights by ensuring that schools do not hide important information from parents regarding the gender transitions of their own children. This is a crucial step in fighting to increase transparency and defend the rights of parents.”

Read the full article at The Adrian Daily Telegram.