Pregnant Students’ Rights Act

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Bill ID: 119/s/3627
Last Updated: January 30, 2026

Sponsored by

Sen. Moody, Ashley [R-FL]

ID: M001244

Follow the money

The bill

Pregnant Students’ Rights Act

S. 3627, 119th Congress — read as touching For-Profit Education & Student Loans.

The sponsor

Sen. Moody, Ashley [R-FL]

Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.

The alignment

66% match to Project 2025

This bill's text tracks the "Introduction" section, p. 377-379 of the Mandate for Leadership.

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 47 - 45. Record Vote Number: 12. (CR S286)

January 26, 2026

Introduced

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill will be reviewed by relevant committees who will debate, amend, and vote on it.

🏛️

Committee Review

🗳️

Floor Action

Passed Senate

🏛️

House Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another exercise in legislative theater, courtesy of our esteemed Congress. Let's dissect this farce, shall we?

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The Pregnant Students' Rights Act (PSRA) claims to promote the well-being and education of pregnant students by requiring institutions of higher education to disseminate information on their rights, accommodations, and resources. How noble. In reality, this bill is a thinly veiled attempt to appease conservative voters and further entrench the culture wars in our education system.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The PSRA amends Section 485 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 by adding a new subsection that mandates institutions to provide information on resources, accommodations, and complaint procedures for pregnant students. This includes:

* A list of campus and community resources to support pregnant students * Information on available accommodations (e.g., academic adjustments, leave policies) * Procedures for filing complaints with the Department of Education or the institution itself

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects are involved in this legislative charade:

* Institutions of higher education: forced to comply with new regulations and disseminate information that may not be relevant to their student body * Pregnant students: supposedly benefited by this bill, but let's be real, they're just pawns in a larger game of ideological one-upmanship * Conservative voters: the true beneficiaries of this bill, as it allows politicians to grandstand about "protecting life" and "supporting families"

**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill is a masterclass in symbolic politics. It will have minimal practical impact on pregnant students but will serve as a rallying cry for conservative activists. The real consequences include:

* Increased administrative burdens on institutions, which may lead to more bureaucratic red tape and less actual support for pregnant students * Further politicization of education, as institutions are forced to take sides in the culture wars * A distraction from meaningful policy changes that could genuinely improve the lives of pregnant students and families

In conclusion, the Pregnant Students' Rights Act is a legislative placebo – it may make some people feel good, but it won't actually cure anything. It's a cynical ploy to exploit the emotions of voters while ignoring the real issues facing our education system. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have better things to do than diagnose this obvious case of "Legislative Theater-itis."

Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

💰 Campaign Finance Network

No campaign finance data available for Sen. Moody, Ashley [R-FL]

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 10 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]

ID: B001243

Top Contributors

10

1
FRIENDS OF COMMUNITY ONCOLOGY PAC
PACVIRGINIA BEACH, VA
$5,000
Apr 12, 2023
2
THE COGGIN GROUP
OrganizationMURFREESBORO, TN
$2,900
Mar 9, 2023
3
THE COGGIN GROUP
OrganizationMURFREESBORO, TN
$2,500
Mar 9, 2023
4
DOSS BROTHERS FARM
OrganizationLAWRENCEBURG, TN
$1,000
Apr 17, 2024
5
DOSS BROTHERS FARM
OrganizationLAWRENCEBURG, TN
$1,000
Mar 18, 2024
6
BL PARTNERS GROUP LLC
OrganizationARLINGTON, VA
$500
Mar 17, 2023
7
KING, RODNEY W.
SELF-EMPLOYEDATTORNEY
IndividualGERMANTOWN, TN
$13,200
Apr 4, 2024
8
BEAN, BILL G.
HANNING & BEAN ENTERPRISES INC.REAL ESTATE INVESTOR
IndividualCOLUMBIA CITY, IN
$10,000
May 1, 2024
9
SMITH, THOMAS
PRESCOTT INVESTORS INC.INVESTOR
IndividualBOCA RATON, FL
$10,000
May 13, 2024
10
GAMBLE, KATHRYN
UNAKA COBUSINESS EXECUTIVE
IndividualDALLAS, TX
$9,900
Jul 15, 2024

Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC]

ID: B001305

Top Contributors

10

1
MACFARLANE, RON
IndividualBUFFALO GROVE, IL
$13,068
Apr 10, 2024
2
HEGYI, ALBERT P MR.
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$6,600
Dec 31, 2024
3
NAZIROV, ATABEK
UZDIFCEO
IndividualCHARLOTTE, NC
$6,600
Sep 14, 2023
4
NAZIROV, ATABEK
IndividualCHARLOTTE, NC
$6,600
Sep 26, 2023
5
FROST, BRANT IV
SELF-EMPLOYEDFINANCIAL SERVICES
IndividualNEWNAN, GA
$3,300
Dec 31, 2024
6
FROST, KRISTA
HOMEMAKERHOMEMAKER
IndividualNEWNAN, GA
$3,300
Dec 31, 2024
7
TAYLOR, WILLIAM MR.
VETERANS GUARDIAN VA CLAIM CONSULTINGBUSINESS OWNER
IndividualPINEHURST, NC
$3,300
Dec 7, 2023
8
TAYLOR, WILLIAM MR.
VETERANS GUARDIAN VA CLAIM CONSULTINGBUSINESS OWNER
IndividualPINEHURST, NC
$3,300
Dec 7, 2023
9
GREENBLATT, SCOTT MR.
VETERANS GUARDIANCEO
IndividualPINEHURST, NC
$3,300
Dec 8, 2023
10
GREENBLATT, SCOTT MR.
VETERANS GUARDIANCEO
IndividualPINEHURST, NC
$3,300
Dec 8, 2023

Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS]

ID: H001079

Top Contributors

10

1
POARCH BAND OF CREEK INDIANS
OrganizationATMORE, AL
$2,900
Feb 28, 2023
2
MS BAND OF CHOCTAW INDIANS
OrganizationCHOCTAW, MS
$1,500
May 31, 2023
3
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,000
Jun 20, 2024
4
THE CHICKASAW NATION
OrganizationADA, OK
$250
Mar 11, 2024
5
LUROS, HILARY
HOUSEWIFEHOUSEWIFE
IndividualSUGAR LAND, TX
$6,600
Oct 21, 2024
6
LUROS, HILARY
HOUSEWIFEHOUSEWIFE
IndividualSUGAR LAND, TX
$6,600
Oct 21, 2024
7
BESSENT, SCOTT
KEY SQUARE GROUPINVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
IndividualCHARLESTON, SC
$6,600
Dec 31, 2024
8
FREEMAN, JOHN
HIGH PLAINS ACRES LLPATTORNEY/AGRICULTURE
IndividualCHARLESTON, SC
$6,600
Dec 31, 2024
9
CASTLE, JOHN
CASTLE HARLANMERCHANT BANKER
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$6,600
Mar 26, 2024
10
SEEMANN, WILLIAM III
SEEMANN COMPOSITESCHAIRMAN
IndividualPASS CHRISTIAN, MS
$6,600
Jun 20, 2024

Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK]

ID: L000575

Top Contributors

10

1
MUSCOGEE CREEK NATION
OrganizationOKMULGEE, OK
$1,000
Oct 29, 2024
2
HUNTON ANDREWS KURTH LLP
OrganizationRICHMOND, VA
$1,000
Aug 4, 2023
3
SAMPLES, RYAN
SAMPLES GROUPMANAGEMENT
IndividualOKLAHOMA CITY, OK
$6,600
Aug 30, 2023
4
KAY, ALISON
KIDS CAPITALHEDGE FUND MANAGER
IndividualBEVERLY HILLS, CA
$6,600
Jun 20, 2023
5
KANADY, CHRISTIAN
ECHO INVESTMENT CAPITAL, LLCCEO
IndividualNICHOLS HILLS, OK
$6,600
Jun 10, 2024
6
MANDELBLATT, DANIELLE
RETIRED
IndividualASPEN, CO
$6,600
Jul 31, 2024
7
MANDELBLATT, ERIC
SOROBAN CAPITAL PARTNERS LPMANAGING PARTNER
IndividualASPEN, CO
$6,600
Jul 31, 2024
8
ROWAN, CAROLYN
CAROLYN ROWAN COLLECTIONOWNER
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$6,600
Sep 30, 2024
9
ROWAN, MARC J.
APOLLO GLOBAL MANAGEMENTCEO
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$6,600
Sep 30, 2024
10
ARMSTRONG, SINCLAIR WALKER JR.
ARMSTRONG BANKCHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
IndividualVIAN, OK
$6,600
Aug 30, 2023

Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]

ID: C001075

Top Contributors

10

1
YAWITZ, JESS B. MR.
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualSAINT LOUIS, MO
$14,000
Jun 11, 2024
2
MANDELBLATT, DANIELLE
DMM PROPRIETA MANAGEMENTMANAGER
IndividualASPEN, CO
$9,900
Nov 2, 2023
3
MANDELBLATT, ERIC
SOROBAN CAPITAL PARTNERS LPMANAGING PARTNER
IndividualASPEN, CO
$9,900
Nov 2, 2023
4
JAYASINGHE, SAMAN K. DR.
SELF-EMPLOYEDPHYSICIAN
IndividualBATON ROUGE, LA
$9,900
Jun 13, 2024
5
KARP, ALEXANDER C.
PALANTIR TECHNOLOGIESCEO
IndividualBEDFORD, NH
$9,900
Apr 16, 2024
6
OBERNDORF, SUSAN
HOMEMAKERHOMEMAKER
IndividualSAN FRANCISCO, CA
$9,900
Jun 5, 2024
7
OBERNDORF, WILLIAM
OBERNDORF ENTERPRISESOWNER
IndividualSAN FRANCISCO, CA
$9,900
Jun 5, 2024
8
YAWITZ, ALICE G.
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualST. LOUIS, MO
$9,900
Jun 18, 2024
9
GRIGSBY, BOBBI F. MRS.
HOMEMAKERHOMEMAKER
IndividualBATON ROUGE, LA
$6,600
Dec 23, 2024
10
GRIGSBY, L. LANE MR.
CAJUN INDUSTRIES LLCCHAIRMAN EMERITUS
IndividualBATON ROUGE, LA
$6,600
Dec 23, 2024

Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN]

ID: B001299

Top Contributors

10

1
STOCKAMP FOUNDATION
OrganizationCOLUMBIA CITY, IN
$100
Feb 26, 2024
2
NEAL, ROLLIE
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualCLARKSBURG, WV
$13,068
Mar 12, 2023
3
NEAL, ROLLIE
IndividualCLARKSBURG, WV
$13,068
Mar 21, 2023
4
SALAMONE, CHRISTOPHER J
IndividualFAIRPORT, NY
$12,000
Feb 8, 2024
5
BARKLEY, JOSH
BARKLEY BUILDERS INCGENERAL CONTRACTOR
IndividualOSSIAN, IN
$6,700
Apr 3, 2023
6
THRIFT, PAUL
THOMPSON THRIFTCEO
IndividualTERRE HAUTE, IN
$6,700
Feb 28, 2023
7
MUSELMAN, ROGER C.
DRG HOLDINGS, LLCCHAIRMAN
IndividualBERNE, IN
$6,700
Mar 28, 2023
8
WALTERS, KENNETH
JAYCOPRESIDENT AND CEO
IndividualGRANGER, IN
$6,700
Sep 1, 2023
9
DUMEZICH, DANA A.
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualMARCO ISLAND, FL
$6,600
Jun 15, 2023
10
RAMSEY, JASON
IndividualBREVARD, NC
$6,600
May 8, 2023

Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]

ID: D000618

Top Contributors

10

1
CONFEDERATED SALISH AND KOOTENAI TRIBES OF THE FLATHEAD NATI
OrganizationPABLO, MT
$6,600
Mar 30, 2023
2
BARONA BAND OF MISSION INDIANS
OrganizationLAKESIDE, CA
$5,000
Jun 18, 2024
3
BLUECHIP FINANCIAL
OrganizationBELCOURT, ND
$3,300
Jun 20, 2024
4
HPUL PROJECT OPERATION
OrganizationUPPER LAKE, CA
$3,300
Jun 20, 2024
5
EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS
OrganizationCHEROKEE, NC
$3,300
Nov 5, 2024
6
SUQUAMISH INDIAN TRIBE
OrganizationSUQUAMISH, WA
$3,300
Sep 20, 2024
7
ALABAMA-COUSHATTA TRIBE
OrganizationLIVINGSTON, TX
$2,500
Oct 31, 2024
8
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
OrganizationPRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,000
Jun 5, 2024
9
MUSCOGEE CREEK NATION
OrganizationOKMULGEE, OK
$1,000
Jun 20, 2024
10
CHOCTAW NATION OF OKLAHOMA
OrganizationDURANT, OK
$765
Oct 17, 2023

Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]

ID: S001217

Top Contributors

0

No contribution data available

Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]

ID: G000386

Top Contributors

10

1
SAC & FOX TRIBE OF THE MISSISSIPPI IN IOWA
COMTAMA, IA
$2,000
Aug 8, 2023
2
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
COMPRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,000
Jul 23, 2024
3
WINRED
PACARLINGTON, VA
$25
Jul 4, 2024
4
SCHWARZMAN, CHRISTINE
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$6,600
Jan 10, 2024
5
SCHWARZMAN, STEPHEN
BLACKSTONECEO
IndividualNEW YORK, NY
$6,600
Jan 16, 2024
6
KUMAR, SHALLI
AVG ADVANCED TECHNOLOGYCHAIR
IndividualBETTENDORF, IA
$6,600
Jun 11, 2024
7
STARRETT, RONALD
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualCENTENNIAL, CO
$5,800
Jan 24, 2023
8
COLLINS, RICHARD
RETIREDRETIRED
IndividualMARSHALLTOWN, IA
$5,523
Oct 1, 2024
9
COLLINS, RICHARD
IndividualMARSHALLTOWN, IA
$5,523
Oct 7, 2024
10
WEISS, LUKE
HOOVER'S HATCHERYPRESIDENT
IndividualMASON CITY, IA
$3,300
Dec 11, 2024

Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]

ID: W000437

Top Contributors

10

1
EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS
OrganizationCHEROKEE, NC
$25,000
Sep 13, 2024
2
MISSISSIPPI BAND OF CHOCTAW INDIANS
OrganizationCHOCTAW, MS
$15,000
Nov 5, 2024
3
WT CONSULTANTS LLC
OrganizationJACKSON, MS
$2,500
Jan 12, 2023
4
WAYPOINT CONSULTING, LLC
OrganizationWASHINGTON, DC
$1,000
Mar 26, 2024
5
HEDERMAN BROTHERS, LLC
OrganizationMADISON, MS
$1,000
Oct 9, 2024
6
CHOUEST, GARY
EDISON CHOUEST OFFSHORE, LLCCEO
IndividualGALLIANO, LA
$100,000
Dec 1, 2023
7
HALE, ROBERT T. JR.
GRANITE TELECOMCEO
IndividualBOSTON, MA
$100,000
Jun 28, 2023
8
BLUE, J. NEAL
GENERAL ATOMICSCEO
IndividualLA JOLLA, CA
$50,000
Dec 21, 2023
9
HALE, ROBERT T. JR.
GRANITE TELECOMCEO
IndividualBOSTON, MA
$50,000
Apr 12, 2024
10
DUFF, THOMAS M.
SOUTHERN TIRE MARTPRESIDENT
IndividualHATTIESBURG, MS
$50,000
Sep 30, 2024

Donor Network - Sen. Moody, Ashley [R-FL]

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Total contributions: $84,468

Industry Impact

Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 1 harmed.

  • Section 2 of the bill requires institutions of higher education to disseminate information on rights and resources for pregnant students, which may lead to increased regulatory burden on for-profit education institutions.

Project 2025 Policy Matches

This bill shows semantic similarity to the following sections of the Project 2025 policy document.

Introduction

Moderate66.2%
Pages: 377-379

— 345 — Department of Education financial assistance. Investigations can take months if not years. The department has never suspended or terminated the funding for an educational institution or agency for violating FERPA or PPRA. In essence, Congress has granted parents and students important statutory rights without an effective remedy to assert those rights. l The next Administration should work with Congress to amend FERPA and PPRA to provide parents and students over the age of 18 years with a private right of action to seek injunctive and declaratory relief, together with attorneys’ fees and costs if a prevailing party, against educational institutions and agencies that violate rights enshrined in these statutes. This will empower parents and students, level the playing field between families and education bureaucracies, and encourage institutional compliance with these statutory requirements. Protect Parental Rights in Policy In addition to strengthening legal protections for parents, the next Adminis- tration should: l Prioritize legislation advancing such rights. Promising ideas have appeared in bills introduced in the 117th Congress such as H.R.8767, the Empowering Parents Act,15 sponsored by Representative Bob Good (R-VA); H.R. 6056, the Parents’ Bill of Rights Act,16 sponsored by Representative Julia Letlow (R-LA); and H.J.Res. 99,17 proposing an amendment to the Constitution relating to parental rights, sponsored by Representative Debbie Lesko (R-AZ). l These congressional actions should be carefully reviewed to make sure they complement state Parents' Bills of Rights, such as those passed in Georgia (2022), Florida (2021), Montana (2021), Wyoming (2017), Idaho (2015), Oklahoma (2014), Virginia (2013), and Arizona (2010). As documented by writers such as Abigail Shrier and others, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons documented a four-fold increase in the number of biological girls seeking gender surgery between 2016 and 2017. Larger increases were found in the U.K. from 2009 to 2019 and 2017 to 2018. These statistics and others point to a social contagion in which minor children, especially girls, are attempting to make life-altering decisions using puberty blockers and other hor- mone treatments and even surgeries to remove or alter vital body parts. Heritage Foundation research finds that providing easier access to such treatments and — 346 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise surgeries without parental involvement does not reduce the suicidality of these young people and may even increase suicide rates. l The next Administration should take particular note of how radical gender ideology is having a devastating effect on school-aged children today—especially young girls. School officials in some states are requiring teachers and other school employ- ees to accept a minor child’s decision to assume a different “gender” while at school—without notifying parents. In California, New Jersey, and certain districts in Kansas and elsewhere, educators are prohibited from informing parents about children’s confusion over their sex if the children do not want their parents to know. Such policies allow schools to drive a wedge between parents and children. The next Administration should work with Congress to provide an example to state lawmakers by requiring K–12 districts under federal jurisdiction, including Wash- ington, D.C., public schools, Bureau of Indian Education schools, and Department of Defense schools, with legislation stating that: l No public education employee or contractor shall use a name to address a student other than the name listed on a student’s birth certificate, without the written permission of a student’s parents or guardians. l No public education employee or contractor shall use a pronoun in addressing a student that is different from that student’s biological sex without the written permission of a student’s parents or guardians. l No public institution may require an education employee or contractor to use a pronoun that does not match a person’s biological sex if contrary to the employee’s or contractor’s religious or moral convictions. State lawmakers should use this model and adopt similar provisions for public schools within their borders. Federal lawmakers should not allow public school employees to keep secrets about a child from that child’s parents. Advance School Choice Policies The D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, a voucher program providing scholarships to children from low-income families living in the nation’s capital to attend a private school of choice, is capped at $20 million annually and limited to

Introduction

Moderate62.4%
Pages: 377-379

— 344 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise pronouns). The federal government could demand that schools include curriculum or lessons regarding critical race or gender theory in a way that violates parental rights, especially if it requires minors to disclose information about their religious beliefs, or beliefs about race or gender in violation of the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (20 USC Sec. 1232h). To remedy the lack of clear and robust protection for parental rights, the next Administration should: l Work to pass a federal Parents’ Bill of Rights that restores parental rights to a “top-tier” right. Such legislation would give families a fair hearing in court when the federal government enforces any policy against parents in a way that undermines their right and responsibility to raise, educate, and care for their children. The law would require the government to satisfy “strict scrutiny”—the highest standard of judicial review—when the government infringes parental rights. l Further ensure that any regulations that could impact parental rights contain similar protections and require federal agencies to demonstrate that their action meets strict scrutiny before a final rule is promulgated. At the same time, Congress should also consider equipping parents with a private right of action. Two federal laws provide certain privacy protections for students attending educational institutions or programs funded by the department. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the privacy of student education records and allows parents and students over the age of 18 to inspect and review the student’s education records maintained by the school and to request corrections to those records. FERPA also authorizes a number of excep- tions to this records privacy protection that allow schools to disclose the student’s education records without the consent or knowledge of the parent or student. The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) requires schools to obtain paren- tal consent before asking questions, including surveys, about political affiliations or beliefs; mental or psychological issues; sexual behaviors or attitudes; critical appraisals of family members; illegal or self-incriminating behavior; religious prac- tices or beliefs; privileged relationships, as with doctors and clergy; and family income, unless for program eligibility. The difficulty for parents is that FERPA and PPRA do not authorize a private right of action. If a school refuses to comply with either statute, the only remedy is for the parent or student (if over the age of 18) to file an administrative complaint with the U.S. Department of Education, which must then work with the school to obtain compliance before taking any action to suspend or terminate federal — 345 — Department of Education financial assistance. Investigations can take months if not years. The department has never suspended or terminated the funding for an educational institution or agency for violating FERPA or PPRA. In essence, Congress has granted parents and students important statutory rights without an effective remedy to assert those rights. l The next Administration should work with Congress to amend FERPA and PPRA to provide parents and students over the age of 18 years with a private right of action to seek injunctive and declaratory relief, together with attorneys’ fees and costs if a prevailing party, against educational institutions and agencies that violate rights enshrined in these statutes. This will empower parents and students, level the playing field between families and education bureaucracies, and encourage institutional compliance with these statutory requirements. Protect Parental Rights in Policy In addition to strengthening legal protections for parents, the next Adminis- tration should: l Prioritize legislation advancing such rights. Promising ideas have appeared in bills introduced in the 117th Congress such as H.R.8767, the Empowering Parents Act,15 sponsored by Representative Bob Good (R-VA); H.R. 6056, the Parents’ Bill of Rights Act,16 sponsored by Representative Julia Letlow (R-LA); and H.J.Res. 99,17 proposing an amendment to the Constitution relating to parental rights, sponsored by Representative Debbie Lesko (R-AZ). l These congressional actions should be carefully reviewed to make sure they complement state Parents' Bills of Rights, such as those passed in Georgia (2022), Florida (2021), Montana (2021), Wyoming (2017), Idaho (2015), Oklahoma (2014), Virginia (2013), and Arizona (2010). As documented by writers such as Abigail Shrier and others, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons documented a four-fold increase in the number of biological girls seeking gender surgery between 2016 and 2017. Larger increases were found in the U.K. from 2009 to 2019 and 2017 to 2018. These statistics and others point to a social contagion in which minor children, especially girls, are attempting to make life-altering decisions using puberty blockers and other hor- mone treatments and even surgeries to remove or alter vital body parts. Heritage Foundation research finds that providing easier access to such treatments and

Introduction

Moderate62.4%
Pages: 377-379

— 344 — Mandate for Leadership: The Conservative Promise pronouns). The federal government could demand that schools include curriculum or lessons regarding critical race or gender theory in a way that violates parental rights, especially if it requires minors to disclose information about their religious beliefs, or beliefs about race or gender in violation of the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (20 USC Sec. 1232h). To remedy the lack of clear and robust protection for parental rights, the next Administration should: l Work to pass a federal Parents’ Bill of Rights that restores parental rights to a “top-tier” right. Such legislation would give families a fair hearing in court when the federal government enforces any policy against parents in a way that undermines their right and responsibility to raise, educate, and care for their children. The law would require the government to satisfy “strict scrutiny”—the highest standard of judicial review—when the government infringes parental rights. l Further ensure that any regulations that could impact parental rights contain similar protections and require federal agencies to demonstrate that their action meets strict scrutiny before a final rule is promulgated. At the same time, Congress should also consider equipping parents with a private right of action. Two federal laws provide certain privacy protections for students attending educational institutions or programs funded by the department. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the privacy of student education records and allows parents and students over the age of 18 to inspect and review the student’s education records maintained by the school and to request corrections to those records. FERPA also authorizes a number of excep- tions to this records privacy protection that allow schools to disclose the student’s education records without the consent or knowledge of the parent or student. The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) requires schools to obtain paren- tal consent before asking questions, including surveys, about political affiliations or beliefs; mental or psychological issues; sexual behaviors or attitudes; critical appraisals of family members; illegal or self-incriminating behavior; religious prac- tices or beliefs; privileged relationships, as with doctors and clergy; and family income, unless for program eligibility. The difficulty for parents is that FERPA and PPRA do not authorize a private right of action. If a school refuses to comply with either statute, the only remedy is for the parent or student (if over the age of 18) to file an administrative complaint with the U.S. Department of Education, which must then work with the school to obtain compliance before taking any action to suspend or terminate federal

About These Correlations

Policy matches are calculated using semantic similarity between bill summaries and Project 2025 policy text. A score of 60% or higher indicates meaningful thematic overlap. This does not imply direct causation or intent, but highlights areas where legislation aligns with Project 2025 policy objectives.

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