Bonamici, Takano, Bowman, Hayes Call for Divisive “Parental Rights” Language to Be Removed from NDAA

WASHINGTON, DC [11/17/23] – Today Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Mark Takano (D-CA), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), and Jahana Hayes (D-CT) led 23 colleagues in calling for language imposing so-called “parental rights” requirements on public schools run by the Department of Defense to be removed from the proposed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24).

“This section would impose burdensome, unnecessary, and redundant requirements on public schools funded and managed by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), an organization within the Department of Defense that provides military connected students and families with access to a high-quality public education,” the Representatives wrote.

The Representatives outlined the following reasons for their opposition to Section 651 in the House-passed NDAA, titled, “Rights of parents of children attending schools operated by the Department of Defense Education Activity”:

• DoDEA schools have a strong track record of high performance that should be recognized and supported.
• Effective family-school partnerships are best achieved by a collaborative, complementary relationship between educators, families, and community leaders to advance programs, practices, and policies that empower every parent to make their child’s potential a reality.
• The final Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) NDAA excluded similar language as the result of a thoughtful bipartisan compromise.

In addition to Bonamici, Takano, Bowman, and Hayes the letter was signed by Representatives Norcross, Carbajal, Norton, Grijalva, Wilson (FL), Sablan, Schakowsky, Porter, Williams, Trone, Chu, Adams, and Crockett.

The full text of the letter can be read here and below.

Earlier this year Bonamici led more than 60 colleagues in introducing the Bill of Rights for Students and Parents, a resolution to advance an inclusive, aspirational, and affirmative vision for public education. Bonamici’s resolution serves as a direct contrast to recent proposals that are unproductive, burdensome, and pit parents against educators. Statements in support of the resolution can be found here. Bonamici also led the Democratic response on the floor of the House of Representatives to H.R.5, the Parents Bill of Rights Act.

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