Ricketts Joins Scott, Lankford Effort to Restore Parental Rights
January 12, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) joined Senators Tim Scott (R-SC) and James Lankford (R-OK) to introduce the Families’ Rights and Responsibilities Act. The bill affirms parents have a fundamental right to control the upbringing of their child and prevents the federal government from infringing on the fundamental rights of parents without first passing the strict scrutiny test. It also allows parents to use the violation of this right in judicial or administration proceedings on the federal and state levels.
“Liberal activists are using every tool they can, including federal regulations and courts, to attack families’ and parents’ rights,” said Senator Ricketts. “We can’t let that keep happening. Families are the most important institution in our society. This bill clarifies that respecting parental rights is in fact fundamental to any federal law.”
“Parents have a fundamental right to control the upbringing of their child, whether it’s in the classroom or at home,” said Senator Scott. “Yet, far too often, parents are being pushed out of their child’s lives, and kids are paying the price. I’m fighting to put parents back in the driver’s seat and ensure they remain the lead decision maker in their child’s life.”
“Moms and dads have the right – and responsibility – to determine what’s best for their kids,” said Senator Lankford. “Good parents should not live in fear of their own government every day. Whenever parental rights are threatened by federal government overreach, families deserve a fair hearing before a court. The Families’ Rights and Responsibilities Act preserves the rights of parents and restricts government overreach into our homes and families.”
The Families’ Rights and Responsibilities Act aims to protect parents’ rights to direct their children’s upbringing. Specifically, the Act:
- Affirms parents have the fundamental right to direct the upbringing of their children;
- Prevents the federal government from substantially burdening this fundamental right of parents without first passing the strict scrutiny test; and
- Allows parents to raise a violation of the Act as a claim or defense in judicial or administrative proceedings at the federal and state levels.
The full text of the Families’ Rights and Responsibilities Act can be found here.