Senator Tim Scott Supports Parents’ Voices in Education

WASHINGTON  – This week, U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) joined a resolution led by Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Richard Burr (R-N.C.), and Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.), supporting parents’ rights to be fully and actively involved in the education of their children. Recently, President Joe Biden and his administration have politicized and weaponized the Justice Department, threatening to use federal law enforcement resources to intimidate and silence parents who speak out to protect their children’s education from far-left influences. Biden’s dangerous tactics are a clear violation on parents’ rights of free speech.

The resolution is also cosponsored by Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), John Kennedy (R-La.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

“Washington Democrats want to tell Americans how their money should be spent, how their businesses should be run, and now, how their children should be educated,” said Senator Tim Scott. “Unfortunately, we’ve already seen how dangerous it can be to lock parents out of that conversation. Last year’s school closures were the prime example, resulting in heartbreaking learning loss and mental health issues for our nation’s youth. President Biden and the Democrats must start putting our children first, and that means giving their parents—those who know best—a voice in how their kids are educated. The education of future generations of Americans is simply too important to use for political gain.”

“The Democrats’ war on parents is disgusting,” said Senator Rick Scott. “As a proud father of two, and grandfather to seven, it makes me furious to hear people say that the government knows better than a mom or dad when it comes to the education of their child. That’s why today I am proud to have Leader McConnell, Ranking Member Burr and nearly thirty other Republican senators join me in introducing a simple resolution supporting parents’ rights to be engaged and have a say in their child’s education. It’s not controversial or radical to say that we support the right of parents to be the leading voices in the education of their children. And it’s not controversial or radical to expect teachers, schools and school districts to regularly engage parents in constructive and open dialogue about school policies, curriculum, and instructional materials – and to LISTEN to their feedback. Moms and dads know what is best for their children, and it is a great thing when they get involved. We won’t let the Democrats use their radical, socialist agenda to drive parents out of education and replace them with the failed ideas of big government.”

“In the middle of a border crisis and a national surge in homicides, the Attorney General seems to think the DOJ’s top priority should be intimidating parents out of their free speech rights,” said Leader McConnell. “Violence and threats are already crimes. If Democrats want fewer concerned citizens speaking up, the solution is to stop trying to indoctrinate children on the taxpayers’ dime. Holding elected officials accountable for their failures isn’t intimidation, it’s democracy.”

“Washington bureaucrats and labor unions do not know better than parents on what’s best for their children, especially when it comes to their education,” said Ranking Member Burr. “Our nation’s school systems encourage constructive debate, but the Biden Administration is threatening this long-held model by restricting parental free speech at public school board meetings. I’m proud to work with my colleagues on this critical resolution to support parents across the nation advocate for what’s best for their children.”

Background: 

Senator Scott is leading efforts to keep parents at the forefront of children’s education.

• In September, he held a virtual parent town hall to hear from parents and address their top concerns as the new school year began.
• This month, he joined his colleagues in sending a letter to Attorney General Garland, demanding clarification on the DOJ’s recent memo restricting parents from expressing concerns about their children’s education. 

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