Rep. Miller, Senator Banks, Cotton Introduces Bill to Protect Children in the United States

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Mary Miller (IL-15) introduced the Empower Parents to Protect Their Kids Act. This bill prohibits K-12 schools from concealing or supporting a student's adoption of an identity that does not align with their biological sex. The bill also grants parents the right to sue school districts that violate this Act by withholding information about their child. Senators Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) introduced the bill in the Senate.

"Parents have the God-given right and duty to raise their children without being deceived by extremists in public education," said Congresswoman Mary Miller. "We must end the radical gender ideologies being pushed on our children and give parents the power to fight back."

"Parents should never be kept in the dark about their own kids," said Senator Jim Banks. "This bill makes sure schools can't push radical gender ideology behind parents' backs and puts families back in charge where they belong."

"Schools should never be allowed to impose radical, harmful ideologies on children - especially without their parents' consent," said Senator Tom Cotton. "Our bill protects students and ensures parents are in control of their children's education. Schools should remain institutions of education, not a place for radical liberal propaganda."

Key Provisions of the Empower Parents to Protect Their Kids Act are:

• Prevents K-12 schools from hiding or facilitating a child's adoption of an identity that is incongruent with their sex.
• Empowers parents to sue school districts that violate this Act by withholding information about their child.
• Bans school employees from providing any accommodation to affirm the purported identity unless the employees have express parental consent to do so.
• Prevents school employees from withholding and encouraging children to withhold information from their parents about their discomfort with their sex.
• Includes a rule of construction to ensure that school employees who contact legal authorities about an imminent threat to a student's physical safety are protected.

Background:

Across the U.S., over 1,200 school districts have policies that tell staff to withhold information from parents if a child expresses gender discomfort, according to Defending Education. This violates long-established parental rights upheld by the Supreme Court. Parents deserve the right to take legal action when schools interfere with raising their children.

On January 29, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order #14191 to enforce parental rights in federally funded K-12 education.

Rep. Mary Miller cosponsored the Empower Parents to Protect Their Kids Act in 2023.

Supporting Organizations: Family Research Council, American Principles Project, Family Policy Alliance, Eagle Forum, Advance USA, Moms for America, American Family Project, Parents Defending Education, and Family Policy Alliance.

House Cosponsors: Reps. Anna Paulina Luna, Sheri Biggs, Keith Self, Lauren Boebert, Pat Harrigan, Barry Moore, Diana Harshbarger, Elise Stefanik, and Nancy Mace.

Senate Cosponsors: Senators Roger Marshall, Rick Scott, Tommy Tuberville, and Marsha Blackburn.

Read more about the bill on the Daily Caller.