Fitzgerald, House Republicans Pass Historic Parents Bill of Rights
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, House Republicans passed the Parents Bill of Rights Act, historic legislation ensuring school districts put parents and students first.
This legislation is the product of thoughtful consideration by the Republican Conference and is based on five core principles:
1. Parents have the right to know what their children are being taught;
2. Parents have the right to be heard;
3. Parents have the right to see the school budget and spending;
4. Parents have the right to protect their child’s privacy; and
5. Parents have the right to be updated on any violent activity at school.
The Parents Bill of Rights includes Congressman Fitzgerald’s CRT Transparency Act, to ensure local school districts post the curriculum, for each grade of their elementary and secondary schools, on a publicly accessible website as a condition of federal funding.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald
I don’t understand why no Democrats in the House voted for this bill. Can the paper ask for an explanation from one of our Democrat Representatives?
The bill seems straightforward. Not sure why the federal government is telling the states what they must do. But, again, the law appears clear and something that most people would agree with.
As the reactionary right continues its effort to put historically excluded groups (women, racial minorities, lgbtq people and those with disabilities) “back in their place,” there are going to be a number of consequences.
Mark Twain once said that “The art of prophesy is very difficult, especially with respect to the future.” But, here is a prediction for the future that would seem to be a near certainty: a major consequence, actually a national disaster, of these Republican reactionary efforts will be the destruction of the teaching profession in the United States. Young people are already declining to go into teaching, and the flight from the classroom of very good teachers is accelerating.
Who would want to teach in an environment in which there is no trust, you are being spied upon, and what you can teach is being monitored by a small – but well organized – group of far-right activists who are oblivious to the consequences of what they are doing?
And, while thinking about the collapse of the teaching profession, we might also want to think about the same trends among nurses and doctors, also targets of far-right groups.
I’m not a fan of Representative Fitzgerald. I don’t believe that he has done anything to stop government waste or even look into failures in the military and holding those that failed accountable. Billions wasted, US Security put in jeopardy, and there are lives lost.
However, the Parent’s Bill of rights seems benign, and something and something already happening. What appears to have happened in there is now a bill seeking Senate approval for a law that reflects the current state of affairs.
Which of the following is problematic?
1. Parents have the right to know what their children are being taught;
2. Parents have the right to be heard;
3. Parents have the right to see the school budget and spending;
4. Parents have the right to protect their child’s privacy; and
5. Parents have the right to be updated on any violent activity at school.
While I only taught for 10 years back in the 70’s, I don’t see anything new here.
School board meetings where budgets were presented and discussed were public; we met with parents at open houses twice per semester and parents were able to request and get a meeting with any teacher; all parents knew what courses the kids were taking.
I am unclear what “protecting a child’s privacy” means nor am I clear on what the definition of “any violent activity” is. Could be name calling? Possibly. And who defines the parameters?
I have zero trust in any republican politician and certainly Mr. Fitzgerald fits the bill of sketchy for me.
When it comes to education, the republicans are leading the fight to ban books, limit discussion and prevent legitimate discussion of complex issues. I see these apparently benign ‘rights’ as vague enough to allow the republican ‘morality police’ to reign supreme.
To clarify, I taught HS and back then we did indeed discuss many current events as part of speech and persuasion classes.
The kids were not afraid to disagree with me or one another as long as civility reigned.
I keep hoping that the newspapers will take on the role of asking our elected leadership hard questions. Instead of questioning what Representatives vote for and why – we see a copy of a politician’s press release.
What has Representative Fitzgerald done to hold anyone in government accountable for waste or criminal activity? Where is the Congressional Oversight? Fitzgerald talks about waste and then does nothing.
I have a few questions for Representative Fitzgerald:
1. Why did you vote against an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would have allowed, not required, the Active US Military to help people in the United States when there was a Presidential declaration of a major disaster? Active Army Soldiers, paid every day of the year, are sitting around wondering why they can’t help their neighbors. There is a cost to the community and US Government when the National Guard is activated – money has to come from somewhere to pay part-time National Guard salaries. The Active Military already being paid isn’t allowed to help?
2. You voted for the Burn Pit PACT Act, and we must care for our veterans. Why aren’t you holding the military leadership accountable for exposing our military to burn pits? Why isn’t Congress holding military leadership accountable – reduced on the retired list? Is it true that the Congressional Budget Office projected costs are more than one hundred billion? Does the law, you voted for, also increase the pay for those at the highest levels of the Veterans Health Administration? Does the bill eliminate the dollar limit on employee bonuses?
3. What have you done to hold anyone in the government accountable for failures or breaking the law? 10 US Code Section 1370, when substantial evidence of misconduct during active duty comes to light after retirement, a Regular Commissioned Officer can be reduced. Look at Afghanistan; Colonel Vergez was convicted in federal court for accepting bribes while on active duty, and he is rewarded with more than $6,000 per month in retirement. There is Brigadier General Reheisher with the G222 and more than $500 million wasted, and he’s receiving $10,897 a month in retirement. What have you done to hold those that have failed our country accountable?
4. What are your thoughts on the expulsion of Representative Santos, an admitted liar?
Like most Americans, I have a job, house, family, and little free time. I read the newspaper, hoping to understand what my representatives in Congress are doing.
I hope that Representative Fitzgerald reads the newspaper and will respond. I also hope that newspapers will ask our elected leaders to explain why they voted for or against a bill or amendment. Perhaps this could be a weekly column. Citizens send in questions, and those who represent explain why they voted for or against a bill or amendment.
Lest we forget, Fitzgerald was one of the members of Congress who voted to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
What I don’t understand is how he was reelected. The newspapers didn’t report on what Representative Fitzgerald was doing (or not doing) in Congress. Not knowing what Representative Fitzgerald was actually doing – there is the assumption that he was in the military, he is a good person, he is . . . rather than the hard facts – this is what he is doing or not doing.
I don’t understand why reporters or the people aren’t allowed (encouraged) to use the newspaper to ask questions of their Congressional Representatives.
What is wrong with this?
1. It provides parents with nothing they do not already have.
2. It is the first step towards censorship of teaching and banning books.
3. Public schools are funded with tax money. The vast majority of tax funds for schools do not come from parents. They come from all who pay taxes. Where are their rights? Nowhere to be seen.